THE DAVEY INSTITUTE
Innovation is core to the future of plant health and landscape
stewardship. The Davey Institute is our innovation center, with
education and training programs on the latest plant care techniques
and products, and environmental programs to promote the
protection of natural resources through policy and management.
Research and Development: Our research focuses on
ecosystem services, pest management strategies, screening of
new products/materials, biomechanics of trees and plant health
care. The Davey Institute, along with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Arbor Day Foundation, Society
of Municipal Arborists, International Society of Arboriculture and
Casey Trees, have spent 10 years developing the i-Tree software
suite to help communities improve their urban forest management.
The suite provides forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools,
enabling communities to quantify the structure of community
trees and environmental services they provide.
Technical Services: The Institute provides support for all of
Davey Tree's business units, with emphasis on solutions for plant
nutrition disorders, proactive plant health care, insect management
and disease management. We create unique value additions for
our customers, including our in-house USDA-certified diagnostics
clinic, which helps identify disorders for proper treatment
recommendations. Our in-house diagnostics capabilities allow
us to respond to customer needs faster than our competitors
and enables the Davey Institute to research novel approaches
to plant health care.
Product Responsibility: The Davey Institute conducts
comprehensive testing of new organic and synthetic products,
and reviews university research before introducing products to
our service teams. Our Plant Health Care booklet, which provides
product safety and tree health care guidelines, is readily available
to employees and is used in communication with clients.
Education
and Training
Putting Knowledge
Into Practice
In April 2014, Davey Tree
announced the graduation of
nearly 60 Davey Tree employees
from the Davey Institute. As
Davey Tree's flagship training
program, the Davey Institute
has been an annual tradition
for more than a century. The
month-long training program
includes classroom and field
exercises in climbing and safety
procedures, tree and plant care,
disease and pest diagnosis,
management practices and team
building. The program is unique
amongst our industry. According
to R.J. Laverne, manager of
education and training at Davey
Tree, "not many companies
have departments dedicated
to education or college degree
programs partnered with a
university. Our goal is to help
Davey Tree employees work
smarter, be efficient and profitable,
and provide greater service to
clients, all while working safely."
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HIGHLIGHT
STORY
