Water Supply Webinar for Central Florida

Water supply and quality are important topics nowadays and have far reaching impacts on how business is done. Here is an chance to see how water supply will be planned for through the Central Florida Water Initiative. If you are a Polk County grower I would encourage you to attend this webinar. Interactive Webinar about Regional Water Supply Planning in Central Florida – August 29 at 1:30 p.m. The St. Johns River, South Florida and Southwest Florida water management districts are working collaboratively with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and regional utilities to address near- and long-term water supply needs in the central Florida region. Through the Central Florida Water Initiative, the agencies are engaging stakeholders in the development of a Regional Water Supply Plan for the area, which includes Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and southern Lake counties. Webinar Agenda: Overview of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) Highlights of the regional water supply planning process Question and answer session You are invited to take part in this free webinar to learn more about the CFWI, find out how you can become involved in the regional water supply planning process and get your questions answered by a panel of CFWI experts. Date: Thursday, August 29, 2013 Time: 1:30–2:30 p.m. Visit: Polk-County.net/icast to join the webinar (no pre-registration is required) For more information, please visit CFWIwater.com. Webinar sponsored by Polk County Board of County Commissioners

FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional Training at HCC

Do you enjoy working outdoors? Do you like growing plants? Are you an existing professional in the nursery or landscape industry? Register today for the FCHP Training course! This course will enhance your knowledge of plant ID, soils, fertilizers, pests, pruning techniques, irrigation, BMP’s and safety. The FCHP course will also prepare you for the FCHP certification exam offered at the end of the course. FCHP certification will increase your earning power in the horticulture industry by promoting professional commitment, knowledge, and skill among horticulture and closely associated professions. This certification may lead to better paying jobs and career advancement, and is the core for other FNGLA Certificates. Contact Sean Nordquist at HCC for more information. 813-757-2186.

Survey to Move Research Forward

I would like to invite you to take 2 minutes to take a survey to help benefit your operations by letting the Center for Applied Nursery Rersearch know what produciton or marketing issues you face in producing plants. Let them know what areas you would like research done to help solve these problems. We need YOUR help getting grower input on a short online survey. The UGA Horticulture Department and Center for Applied Nursery Research ask growers from across the nation to take 2 minutes or less and fill out a 4 question - one page survey on the most pressing nursery industry needs pertaining to research. This is our growers opportunity to let us know what they need - so do not be shy! http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DRWZ552 DEADLINE --- SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 If anyone wants a summary of responses, let me know and I will be happy to distribute. Matthew Chappell, Asst. Professor & Ext. Horticulturist- Nursery Production UGA Horticulture Department 211 Hoke Smith Building Athens, GA 30602 Office Phone: 706-542-9044 Mobile Phone: 770-580-9715 (NEW!!!) Skype: hortprod E-mail: hortprod@uga.edu

IPM in the Nursery CEU

Would you like to earn one FDACS CEU for a private applicator pesticide license? Here is a link to our free, industry supported, UF/IFAS Hillsborough/Polk County Extension online CEU webpage. You can read an article about integrated pest management in the nursery and then click on the link to take the quiz. If you pass the quiz you will earn one CEU.

IPM in the Nursery

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is nothing new in horticutlure. As an extension agent I continually preach using the IPM approach to those who commercially grow plants. IPM is an effective way to reduce pests below economic injury while minimizing negative impact to the environment. Here is a link to a good video of different nursery growers using IPM in their opperation to reduce costs and pests. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvELHa5lx_c#at=71