(
It’s Like Having
GENEVA, N.Y. Imagine
rewriting the Bible “with God as
your co-author.”
That’s how Michael Villani,
Cornell University professor of
entomology, characterized writing
the second edition of “Turfgrass
Insects of the United States and
Canada” with original author Har
uo Tashiro, retired professor of
entomology at the New York State
Agricultural Experiment Station in
Geneva.
Patricia I. Vittum, associate pro
fessor of entomology at the Uni
versity of Massachusetts, also co
authored the recently released
book.
The first edition, which was
released in 1987 and written solely
by Tashiro, is considered the
“bible” of die turfgrass industry
and is the manual of choice among
golf courses from Pebble Beach to
Silver Creek. In 1992, because of
advances in such areas as Inte
grated Pest Management (IPM),
Tashiro decided it was time to
write a new edition.
Hie second edition took three
years to complete. Tashiro, who
has been retired for over IS years,
thought the book would benefit
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from having co-authors because he
was not comfortable with more
current topics like IPM, which was
just an emerging field when he
retired. Tashiro enlisted Villani,
his successor in the department,
and his last graduate student, Vit
tum, to co-author the new edition.
In addition to updating the origi
nal chapters, the second edition
includes new or extensively
rewritten chapters on areas such
as: IPM, the principles of biologi
cal control, sampling techniques,
setting thresholds, and chemical
control strategies. The new edition
also features more recent images
featuring the life stages of nearly
all turfgrass pests found in the
United States and Canada.
According to Villani, “The book
was a true collaboration. Vittutn
was the first author because she
tended to tackle those distasteful
tasks that go with the gloiy and
responsibility of first authorship.**
Before the rewrite started, the
three authors sent copies of the
original chapters to turf entomolo
gists around the country with the
request that they take a hard and
critical look at the chapters) and
offer feedback and suggestions.
IN-MAY 1
SOONER.
‘God As Your Co-Author ’
Vittum and Villani then split up the
original chapters and worked on
improving readability, adding new
citations, and reorganization.
Viliam's responsibilities were
the soil insect chapters. He credits
graduate student Paul Robbins
with having major input on several
of the scarab chapters. New life
sized line drawings by Robert
Jarecke, who worked in Villani’s
lab, were added to each chapter.
Species distribution maps were
drawn by Station graphic artist
Elaine Gotham. Vittum and Vil
lani then added new chapters on
IPM, chemical and biological con
trol tactics. Villani credits gradu
ate student Jennifer Grant with
major input on the biocontrol
chapter.
After each chapter was rewrit
ten, Tashiro read and made sug
gestions. All three authors then
reviewed the entire text
The 422-page edition features
576 photographs on 72 color
plates. Many of the photos were
taken by Tashiro himself who set
up a photo lab in the basement of
his home with the aid of Station
photographers Joe Ogrodnick and
Rob Way. Although Tashiro
U DAYS AFTER APPLICATION - MAY 10
SPEED WITH CONFIDENCE
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 5, 2000-D27
admits he is “very proud of the
entire book,” he is “most pleased"
with the new plates. Ogrodnick
took those photographs that
Tashiro did not
The new edition appears to be as
well received as the original.
“There is no book available that
offers such comprehensive, yet in
depth coverage of turfgrass insects
and associated pests,” said Dr.
Rick L. Brandenburg, professor of
New Seed Council Forms
HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.)
-The Pennsylvania Seedsmen
Association (PSA) fulfilled its
desire to merge with Penn Ag
Industries Association Jan. 17
when an agreement was made
between the two organizations.
By dissolving their current
association, the PSA, an unin
corporated association, will ben
efit immensely through its affili
ation with the larger Penn Ag, a
Pennsylvania nonprofit corpora
tion. All current members of the
PSA are recognized as members
of Penn Ag. A new council, the
Seed Council of Penn Ag, will be
created for these members to
entomology at North Carolina
State University. Many others join
Brandenburg in offering whole
hearted praise of the book and
believe it will continue to be
regarded with respect by the turf
community.
When asked about plans for a
third edition, Tashiro gave the nod
to Villani who said maybe he’ll
tackle that one in another 10 years.
address their issues and special
needs.
The new Seed Council will
operate independently on issues
of interest to its group and will
have the full strength and sup
port of the entire Penn Ag orga
nization when needed. In re
turn, Penn Ag will gain all of the
PSA business assets and bring
Penn Ag one step closer to its
goal of consolidating the agri
business community.
This is the third merger for
Penn Ag in the last three years.
Both the Agronomic Products
Council and Poultry Council
were formed for the benefit of
uniting the agribusiness com
munity.
Conference To Examine
(Continued from Page D 26)
session on March 30. On the evening of
March 28, a poster session and tabletop exhib
it will be held, and an evening discussion ses
sion is planned for March 29. There is no addi
tional charge for a university or government
professional who registers for the conference
to present a poster paper. Companies that
sponsor the conference are also welcome to
participate in the poster session. A post-con
ference workshop on developing comprehen
sive nutrient management plans will be
offered with sufficient audience interest.
Companies interested in sponsoring the
conference should contact NRAES.
Sponsorship will include display space during
the poster session, one conference registra
tion, a link to the company web site from the
conference web site, recognition in a news
release, and recognition in the published con
ference proceedings. Maximum benefits result
from commitment by Jan. 21. The cost of spon
sorship is $l,OOO.
The conference registration fee will be set
in late December after confirmation of
Federal funding. The fee will include break
refreshments, one lunch, a copy of the pro
ceedings, admission to the reception/ poster
session, and a pass to the conference.
A conference brochure including the com
plete program, a registration form, and other
information will be available in January.
Conference information can also be found on
the NRAES web site, <www.nraes.org>.
When the registration fee has been set, regis
trations will be accepted by mail or-for those
who wish to pay by credit card-by Internet,
telephone, or fax. For registration information
or to receive copies of the free conference
brochure, contact NRAES, Cooperative
Extension, 152 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY
14853-5701; phone (607) 255-7654; fax (607)
254-8770; e-mail nraes@cornell. edu.
A block of rooms has been reserved for par
ticipants at a special conference rate at the
Radisson Penn Harris Hotel and Convention
Center. To reserve a room, call the Radisson
Penn Harris Hotel at (717) 763-7117 or (800)
333-3333. Reserve by March 6 and mention
“Managing Nutrients” to receive the confer
ence rate of $6B, plus 6 percent tax, for a sin
gle, double, triple, or quad.
FFA