FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shawna McGregor, shawna@rosengrouppr.com, 917 971 7852
urban-gro employs industry best practices to ensure compliant Cannabis customers
Lafayette, Colo. (April 25, 2016) – As the Cannabis industry grapples with ever-changing and ambiguous pesticide rules and regulations, product solutions expert urban-gro continues to expand its Integrated Pest Management capabilities including advanced certifications such as the Maryland Nutrient Management Program certification and Certified Crop Advisor, as well as exclusive biologics for the Cannabis Industry.
With Maryland preparing to announce cultivation license winners, Vice President of Cultivation Technologies J. Chandler has been certified in Maryland’s Nutrient Management Pro gram, which trains and certifies qualified applicants to provide crop producers with nutrient management plans that maximize crop yields while minimizing nutrient losses to the environment. Nutrient Management Plans are designed to specify how much fertilizer or other nutrient sources may be safely applied to crops to achieve yields and prevent excess nutrients from impacting waterways. All successful Maryland medicinal Cannabis cultivation applicants will be required to have their nutrient management plan reviewed and approved by an advisor with this certification.
“Providing the Cannabis industry with the latest technologies for their crop is my top priority,” Chandler said. “With official designation from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, I am certified to enhance urban-gro clients’ profitability and efficiency, with an eye toward protecting the region’s natural resources.”
In addition to providing guidance on nutrient management, Chandler is a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA). The CCA certification program was established in 1992 by the American Society of Agronomy to provide a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals in the United States and Canada. Certified Crop Advisor certification demonstrates that the horticulture professional is committed to the latest knowledge and has relevant experience to deliver proper horticultural services. When a professional becomes a CCA, he joins a select group of peers in the most recognized agriculturally oriented certification program in North America.
Chandler employs large agricultural techniques including organic pesticides and biological controls for commercial scale grow operators’ integrated pest management (IPM) programs. urban-gro has formed an exclusive partnership with Biobest, a Belgian-based global leader in biological control of pests. Biobest’s biological solutions for natural crop care help growers achieve high yields of premium quality residue-free crops. Their range of biocontrol products serve as the cornerstone of a successful integrated pest management strategy and helps cultivators grow a successful organic harvest.
With pesticide recalls grabbing headlines in the Cannabis industry, Chandler has been able to leverage his extensive background in organic farming and offer unique pesticide options such as Procidic2, an organic, systemic fungicide designed to rid Cannabis crops of powdery midlew. Procidic2 has been approved for use on Cannabis in Nevada, Massachusetts and Colorado. It is also working its way through the approval process at the Washington Dept. of Agriculture, as well as every other state that allows for medical or adult-use commercial Cannabis cultivation. Procidic2 works on contact to kill powdery mildew spores and is rapidly absorbed into the plant and moves towards the apex, allowing new tissues to be free of infection and reducing the risk of future bacterial and fungal growth. Testing is underway for control of bud and root rots.
As the Cannabis industry continues to evolve and deal with the challenges of mitigating pests, Chandler employs large agricultural techniques including biologics and standard operating procedures for commercial scale grow operators’ integrated pest management programs. For over a decade, Chandler has managed and consulted for large-scale organic vegetable farms and greenhouses, as well as Cannabis production facilities. He has a wide breadth of knowledge of integrated pest management, fertility and automation in large-scale agricultural operations.
urban-gro will meet with the industry at Marijuana Business Daily’s 2016 Spring Conference in Orlando from May 9-10 Booth #700; Chandler will participate in the NCIA panel “The Wild West of Marijuana Pesticides” at NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit & Expo 2016 in Oakland from June 20-22 (Booths #122-123). He will also present at Imperious Expo in Tacoma, Wash., July 20-21; the Southwest Cannabis Conference San Diego August 6-7 and Phoenix Oct. 22-23; and the 5th Annual Marijuana Business Conference & Expo, November 16-18, Las Vegas, Booth #501.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Shawna McGregor, 917-971-7852 or shawna@rosengrouppr.com.
about urban-gro
urban-gro provides product solutions for the commercial Cannabis cultivator. We provide commercial grade LED and HPS grow light systems, integrated pest management, automated fertilization / irrigation solutions, and a complete line of water treatment solutions. We understand that each grow is unique and every facility presents a different set of opportunities and challenges. By taking the time to understand your unique circumstances, we offer customized product solutions to help you meet your cultivation goals. Visit www.urban-gro.com to learn more. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.
