Sierra Consulting IPM June 2009 newsletter

(Volume 11 / Edition 19, August 2009)

In an effort to solicit your business and keep you informed on the latest vegetation management technologies, Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC is providing you with this technical newsletter, VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ONLINE©. It is with sincere hope that the information provided herein will increase the vegetation manager’s knowledge and awareness on issues such as Environmental Stewardship, Efficacy, Efficiency and Economics of Vegetation Management technologies.

Please post this newsletter in areas where all can read and learn. Promote communication and cooperation for the entire team; education for all is the key for success!

Costs vs. Budget

In today’s economic reality, concerns over budget cuts and cost saving decisions have left VM managers wondering, “How are we going to do this?” Vegetation management (VM) has a real cost, in as far as knowing what work needs to be done, as we move from year to year we can see what returns we received over the previous seasons efforts. Having 6 months of rain for weeds to emerge and grow, and then 6 months of dry conditions allow us the opportunity to assess current programs and shift to focus on new weeds, or old ones not being properly controlled.

Budgets can be fixed, and usually are, but costs are variable. You do have options, many, but sometimes it is difficult without experience to determine the proper course of action. Do you cut out certain tools, do you cut out certain applications, do you wait hoping it will all go away? When it comes to VM, there are always options. And remember, we are practicing Integrated Vegetation Management here, so there are many ways to go when it comes to managing exotic and invasive weeds. And they all have costs associated with them, not to mention varying degrees of overall results.

What I see and find most concerning is the approach of satisfying a budget at the sake of receiving maximum results. Another words, cutting costs on the basic program, and then you having to go back and eventually spend more money to get the situation corrected. What do you do when you have minimized your program throughout the fall and winter months, and then we have a wet spring and weed pressure is at maximum, or it decides to rain into June, testing all programs, even the most expensive? If you are on a weak program at this point, you will loose everything you have invested and then have to go back and spend more money than had you not done anything, it’s true!

Recent cost comparisons between various programs have come up with some startling figures, and there are huge differences, not only in costs but in results too. Manual vs. chemical, foliar vs. pre-emergent, brand name products vs. generic, who do you buy from, who has the best price? And how do you make these decisions based on limited knowledge? Do you simply relay on your salesman? If I listened to every sales pitch and followed that knowledge base in my business, I would have been sunk dead a long time ago. You do have options, many of them, but don’t expect yourself to know all the ins and outs.

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC and I have focused on the VM world for the past 40 years and watching statewide as to what is happening, as this is where I live. Knowing what options are available, what costs are known and what you can expect in results from each one, knowing how to accurately compare programs or products, or how to properly crunch numbers, and completely examining all the programs available is key to designing a successful VM program that will yield the results you want and need, and keeping it all within budget. This is what I do, please give me a call and we can get your program costs, results and budget on track!

Annual Pesticide Safety Training

It is the law, and Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC is here to assist you in the process of employee training. All employees that may handle, mix or apply pesticides must be annually training according to specific CA State requirements. This is typically a 2 to 4 hour training and includes all the CA requirements plus interesting and informative discussions on "Environmental Stewardship", "Calibration Made Easy", and "Drift Management".

As this season winds down, now is the time to begin thinking about setting up a training program that will inform your employees and keep them working in your best interest! Safety, precautions, knowledge, sensitive environmental sites, endangered species, and the public’s eye should have you considering the best training for employees possible, and Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC can launch your training program far cheaper than the seminars and meetings where not all the topics are of interest or concern to your program.

Basic training or even getting continuing education credits (CEU’s) is easy when Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC does it. Just give me a call at (530) 432-7845 or e-mail me and we can discuss your many options!

Summer Limb Drop or Hazard Tree?

Wow, with this summer heat, I am amazed at how many oaks, eucalyptus, and other tree species are loosing limbs, big ones, and typically casing damage when they land. This is a real phenomenon and unfortunately cannot always be prevented. But many times it can with proper tree inspections and summer pruning. How can you tell if a limb is going to fail? How can you tell if the tree is a hazard or not? Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC is available statewide for hazard tree assessments, and at less cost than your local tree company!

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC, advisory services with 40 years experience providing independent and non-biased Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Arborist advisory services, thanks all of you for your support and business. The client base for Sierra Consulting & IPM has expanded to include federal, state and county agencies, utilities, irrigation districts and water authorities, military bases, railroads, transportation departments, airports, school districts, commercial contract application companies, agricultural clients, noxious and invasive weed management programs. Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC also provides contract research services and forensic investigation including expert witness in all phases of pest management.

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC provides key services including IPM program design and implementation, on-site pest management evaluations (Vegetation, Rodents, Insects, Plant and Tree Health) throughout all of California, Licensed Pest Control Advisor (PCA) written pest control recommendations, and employee training on subjects such as:

Annual Pesticide Safety Training
Invasive Weed Management Strategies
Drift Management and Environmental Stewardship
Application Technology & Calibration
Laws & Regulations
Understanding and Using IPM
Certified Arborist Services

Let Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC help you, give me a call or e-mail me! (530) 432-7845 and/or donald.bartel@sbcglobal.net

Vegetation Management Online? Subscriptions are Free!

Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC wants you to encourage your coworkers, friends and relatives to submit for this free on-line newsletter specifically designed to present the most recent technological advances to vegetation managers’ worldwide. Just go to www.sierraconsultingipm.com, and provide your e-mail address to automatically place your name on the mail list for the newsletter Vegetation Management Online?. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please let me know what you think of the newsletter and the articles, as I always look forward to your comments. If you wish to be removed from this free subscription list, just let me know!

Newsletter Sponsorship Available

Sponsorship of this newsletter provides a direct market opportunity to reach the influencers and decision makers of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) business here in California, across the United States and around the globe. If your company wishes to learn more about advertising opportunities and the various levels of sponsorship available with this newsletter, please contact: Don Bartel, Sierra Consulting & IPM LLC.
Office phone: 530-432-7845 or 530-305-2228 or e-mail: donald.bartel@sbcglobal.net Thanks!