Private and Core Pesticide Training Classes in Polk County

If you are looking to take the Core or Private Applicator Pesticide exams or if you need CEUs for your current license, here is a class for you.  Registrants may attend classes for exam preparation or to gain CEUs if he/she already has a license. Exams will be administered at the conclusion of material review for those interested. Calculators, scratch paper, and pencils will be provided for exams.


February 28, 2014 or October 16, 2014

8:30am to 5:00pm

Instructors:

Mary Beth Henry - Small Farms Extension Agent, Polk County

Shawn Steed- Multi-county Ornamental Horticulture Extension Agent, Polk & Hillsborough Counties

Reviews

CORE - 8:30 am to 10:35 am

Topics to be Covered: Pesticide Law, Principles of Pest Control, Pesticide Labels, Environmental Hazards, Harmful Effects and Personal Protection Equipment; Mixing, Loading, and Application, Transportation, Disposal, and Spill Cleanup; and Pesticide Application Procedures.

Break 10:30 am to 11:30 am - Lunch on Your Own

Private Applicator - 11:45 am to 1:50 pm

Topics to be Covered: Licensing Private Applicators, Pests & Pest Control, Fumigants, The Worker Protection Standard, Application Equipment & Calibration, Dilution & Site Sizes, Pesticide Labels, and Calibration & Dilution Mathematics.

Exams administered from 2 pm to 5 pm

If you would like to register please click on this link.  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/core-and-private-applicator-exam-preps-and-exams-tickets-9730972601

Worker Protection Train the Trainer Workshop and CEUs

Here is another class for those who may have missed the WPS TTT in Hillsborough County.  Crystal Snodgrass the vegetable agent in Manatee County will be hosting this one.

March 18: WPS Train-The-Trainer: Manatee County Extension Service, 10am-12pm


Need CEUs?

The WPS TTT workshop provides CEUs in several categories. Even if you don’t need to be WPS certified, don’t miss this opportunity for CEUs. CEUs available: 2 in the following categories: Aerial, Ag. Row, Ag. Tree, O&T, Private, Forest Pest Control, and Soil and Greenhouse Fumigation.

Need to become a WPS certified Trainer?

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a federal program designed to protect agricultural farm workers in the production of agricultural plants. A person is qualified to teach WPS to farm workers if he/she holds a restricted use pesticide license or if he/she has completed the WPS Train the trainer course. Once a person has completed the course he/she is certified for life.

For details and registration visit: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/worker-protection-standard-train-the-trainer-tickets-10589229671

New Virus in Roses for Florida

Rose Rosette Virus is a disease that has been around for a long time but has just been identified in Florida from a nursery in Quincy, in Knock-Out roses.   This virus is transmitted by microscopic mites (Eriophyid mites). The virus causes a proliferation of thorns and abnormal growth (witch's broom symptoms).  As of January, it was also found in Gadsden, Alachua, and Levy counties in Florida.  The disease will usually kill infected plant within 1 to 2 years.  Growers should be scouting for this new disease as DPI will quarantine a nursery with this virus until there is no more apparent risk at the site.  If you suspect that plants have the symptoms, you can submit them for proper identification at a UF plant disease clinic.  Growers should destroy infected plants. UF is recommending the use of insecticides for Eriophyid mite control in the early spring.  Always rotate Modes of Action!  For a general overview about the disease and pictures of symptoms, here is a link you can take a look at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2013-2014/RRV_PestAlert_Paret_2014.pdf.  For an extensive amount of grower information about Rose Rosette Virus, check out the site www.roserosettedisease.com.  For more information about the mite vector, here is a link to an EDIS publication http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN99900.pdf  Information from the above sources were used for this article.

New Insects and Factsheets

Photo credit:  Holly Glenn

Here are a couple of new insects to be on the look out for.  One insect is the Rugose spiraling whitefly.  This insect has been found in most of the coastal counties in Florida south of I-4.  This insect is extremely problematic in the amount of honeydew, sticky wax, sooty mold and dead insects that can accumulate on leaves and drop down to surfaces below.  The insect has a spiraling pattern of egg laying which is rather distinctive.  Here is a link to the new publication.  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN101500.pdf
There is also a list of host plants that you can click on in the online version of the publication.

Photo credit:  Anita Neal

Another new insect is the Sri Lankan weevil.  This little weevil has a big appetite for plants and has a rather large host range.  Over 150 plants are on the menu for this insect!  Typical damage is seen on the margins of leaves being notched.  This insect also has been found in most counties south of I-4.  Here is a factsheet on it. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN101600.pdf