35th Texas Tree Conference, Academy, EHAP, Tree Schools and Trade Show 

Online registration is closed
Registration will be at the door - See you in Waco!

Join us in Waco on October 1-3, 2014 for the largest and best Texas Tree Conference ever! We anticipate over 800 attendees as we explore "Surviving ExTREEmes". 

You can attend several events this year including:

• The Thursday and Friday Tree Conference and Trade Show that includes educational tracks for Commercial, Municipal and Utility Arborists, an awards luncheon, receptions and more.
• The Wednesday pre-conference Tree Academy or Electrical Hazard Awareness Program. 
•  And the Friday Tree School for English and Spanish-speaking tree workers.
  

Click here for the registration brochure

The link for online registration for all these events is at the bottom of the page.

2014 Texas Tree Conference and Trade Show
Thursday - Friday, October 1-3, 2014 

At this years Texas Tree Conference and Trade Show, we will continue our history of providing outstanding education programs featuring nationally known speakers, the latest in tree research and arboriculture, an expanded trade show, an awards luncheon, and numerous networking opportunities. 

Learn from national leaders in research, commercial and utility arboriculture and urban forestry.

Featured speakers include: Dr. Tom Smiley, Researcher, Bartlett Tree Laboratory, Charlotte, NC, Dr. Francesco Ferrini, Professor, University of Florence (Italy), Dr. John Ball, Professor, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, Skip Kincaid, Consulting Urban Forester, Davey Resource Group, St. Louis, MO., Dr. David Appel, Professor & Associate Department Head, Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University, Dr. Todd Watson, Plant Health Care Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Texas A&M University, Barbara Neal, President Elect, American Society of Consulting Arborists and President, Green Legacy Consultants, Dr. Leonard Burkhard, Senior Scientist, Western North America, Davey Tree, Will Nutter, Senior Vice President, COO, Wright Tree Service and many others!

The 2014 conference theme is "Surviving ExTREEmes" and topics will include:

What’s Up Doc? Tree Diagnosis Workshop
Extreme Times Call for Tree Diversity
Evaluating Root and Trunk Damage
Urban Tree Management—What Research Tells Us
Surviving ExTREEmes—Disaster Recovery
ExTREEmes and Outbreaks: Are you Ready?
Planning for the Future of Your Urban Forest
International Ideas for Big Trees in Texas
Team Lorax—The Power of Public Speaking
Urban Forests in Peril—Coping with Drought
Trunk and Root Decay
An Introduction to Single Rope Technique
Human Error in Utilities
Emerald Ash Borer—Don’t Wait!
Panel Discussion: UVM Safety Awareness:
When Dealing with the Public Goes South....
Lightning Round: Non-Profits—Key Players in Urban Forestry
TRAQ—When to Pull the Trigger on High Risk Trees
Reporting for a Tree Risk Assessment
The Effects of Fire and How Trees Respond
ExTREEme Answers
Job Behavior Observation: Improving Site Safety with Mobile Technology
Extreme Survival— The Life of a Tree Worker 

and more!
 

(The Wednesday Tree Academy and EHAP Training and the Friday Tree Schools are separate events from the Tree Conference and Trade Show)

The link for online registration for all events is at the bottom of the page

2014 Texas Tree Academy
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Waco Convention Center
10:00 to 5:00

What’s Up Doc? Tree Diagnosis Workshop

Dr. David Appel, Professor & Associate Department Head, Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University

Dr. Todd Watson, Plant Health Care Consultant and Adjunct Professor, Texas A&M University

Bill Ree, Extension Program Specialist II-IPM, Statewide Pecan IPM Programming, Texas A&M University

Sheila McBride, Extension Program Specialist, Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University

How many times are you asked, what’s wrong with this tree?  This can be both your favorite question and your hardest question.  We have designed a full day of discussions to comprehensively address the topic of tree and landscape diagnosis from four different perspectives.  These are clinical approaches to plant disease diagnosis, the science behind tree response to pathogens and symptom development, diagnosis in the field for the commercial arborist, and an entomologist’s view of identifying insect issues.  The four areas will be covered in concurrent sessions so that there will be the opportunity for interactions with the experts. 

(The Tree Academy requires a separate registration from the Conference and includes lunch)

The link for online registration for all events is at the bottom of the page

Electrical Hazard Awareness Program (EHAP)
Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Waco Convention Center
8:00 am—5:00 pm
(Class size limited)

Electricity is a serious and widespread hazard to arborists.  In fact, electricity causes about 30 percent of all fatalities in the tree care industry, making it the leading cause of worker fatalities.  Workers don’t even have to touch a wire to be electrocuted – about half of all electrocution fatalities are the result of indirect contact.  Tree branches and other conductive objects are an ever-present threat to arborists. 

Since even a street lamp circuit or phone line can be energized with enough voltage to kill, most arborists in the field have at least some exposure to this hazard. The ANSI Z133.1 safety standard for arboriculture operations requires all arborists to be trained to recognize and avoid these electrical hazards.  Qualified line-clearance arborists must have additional knowledge about electrical hazards and the special techniques used to work safely near electrical conductors. 

This EHAP course is a great way to keep workers safe, ensure OSHA and ANSI compliance, and document training.  EHAP will also enhance your work in three other areas:

• OSHA Safety Requirements:  EHAP helps you meet the OSHA 1910.269 safety standard.

• ANSI Safety Requirements:  EHAP meets the ANSI Z133.1 requirement for electrical hazard training.

• Storm Cleanup:  EHAP is often required by the US Army Corps of Engineers in order to qualify for storm-related clean-ups.

 (The EHAP training requires a separate registration from the Conference and includes lunch)

The link for online registration for all events is at the bottom of the page

Texas Tree Schools
Friday, October 3, 2014
Waco Convention Center
10:00am - 3:30 pm

Track 1 - Basic Tree Care and Safety Workshop - 5.0 CEUs

A great review or introduction to basic tree care for tree workers.  A stand-alone one day workshop that will be a combination of classroom and filed demonstrations.  Topics covered will include basic tree biology, tree pruning, ascent techniques review, tree hazard assessment, job site safety and chain saw operation and safety.  Master instructors are Guy LeBlanc, Owner of Arbor Vitae Tree Care, Austin and Brad Hamel, Regional Urban Forester with the Texas A&M Forest Service, Austin. 

Pista 2 - Jornadas para Trabajadores de Arboles - 5.0 CEUs

A Spanish language workshop covering tree biology, soil science, tree selection, installation & establishment, pruning, and diagnosis & plant disorders. Expert speakers include Salvador Alemany and Mark Duff from the Texas A&M Forest Service.

(The Tree School requires a separate registration from the Conference - includes lunch)

The link for online registration for all events is below