On-line Greenhouse Scout School

Cornell University is partnering with the University of Vermont and the University of Maine to offer a 6-week webinar series in scouting for disease, insect and weed pests of greenhouse ornamentals, although the principles will apply to other crops. Learn how to identify the major pests of greenhouse floriculture crops, make scouting faster and easier, communicate with growers and owners, and find resources to help. 

Sessions will be led by Stephanie Barnett, Margery Daughtrey, Betsy Lamb, Elise Lobdell, John Sanderson and Cheryl Sullivan.
 

September 21-October 26

Learn to identify the major pests of greenhouse floriculture crops, make scouting faster and easier, communicate with growers and owners, and find resources to help.

Certificate Program: 6–7:30 p.m.
Webinar Series: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Registration Options

Register for our certificate program or select individual topics from the webinar series. 

Thursdays, September 21–October 26

  • Certificate Program Presentations: 6–7:30 p.m.
  • Webinar Series Presentations: 6:30–7:30 p.m.
a sticky card with insects on it in a greenhouse setting

Certificate Program

Earn a certificate demonstrating your knowledge and skills as a greenhouse scout. This option includes all presentations, scouting equipment, electronic resources and discussions with presenters and other students.

Cost: $300

Greenhouse Scout School Certificate Registration

Webinar Series

Choose only the sessions that match your area of interest. 

Cost: $25 per session or $125 for all six sessions. 

Please register at least one day before the webinar, especially if you wish to receive pesticide recertification credits.

Greenhouse Scout School Webinar Registration

Pesticide Recertification Credits

One NYS pesticide recertification credit is available for each webinar in categories 1a, 3a, 3c, 24 and 25. NYS DEC and New England Pesticide recertification credits have been applied for. To receive credits, you must be on your own computer or smart device so we can identify who is present. You will also need to send a photo of your pesticide license in advance of the program. More information will be sent upon registration.

Schedule

September 21

  • Introduction to scouting
  • Identification of

    • fungus gnats, shoreflies, drain flies and their biocontrols

    • root rot diseases

September 28

  • Mechanics of scouting and record keeping
  • Identification of
    • whitefiles and their biocontrols
    • mildew diseases

October 5

  • Resources and how to find information
  • Identification of
    • Scale and mealybug and their biocontrols
    • botrytis    

October 12

  • Techniques for scouting – greenhouse overview
  • Identification of
    • aphids and their biocontrols
    • abiotic issues

October 19

  • Techniques for scouting – use of traps and tools
  • Identification of
    • thrips and their biocontrols
    • virus diseases

October 26

  • Communicating scouting information to others
  • Identification of
    • mites
    • bacterial diseases