FNGLA Meeting/Chili Cook-Off and Weed CEUs

Come join Lake Region FNGLA at Bartow on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 for their Chapter Meeting and 3rd Annual Chili Cook Off!!!
Bring your best pot of CHILI to Share and win a prize for the best Chili!

WE WILL BEGIN AT . . . . . . 6:00 P.M with a social hour.  We will also have a talk with free – 1 pesticide CEU associated with pre-emergent herbicides for summer weed control.
The location is at the Polk County Extension Office in Bartow.

HOPE YOU CAN ATTEND.

PLEASE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS FOR DINNER BY Monday, February 1, IF YOU CAN COME.  CALL KAREN NORRIS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS 863-644-6491.

El Nino Summarized

Here is a great presentation of what a strong El Nino event means for the possible near-term Florida weather.  Click on the link below and then scroll down on the left hand side to see more information.  In summary a cooler and wetter period should be ahead of us.  Another good thing is that generally there is a less active tropical storm season.  However, usually we experience higher than normal severe weather in the winter with events like tornadoes.  Make sure you have a plan for your operation and your family!  https://noaa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/?appid=f57f90ea438b4fb18bb982e568ac9950

Get Rid of Old Pesticides...For Free!

If you are an ag operation in Hillsborough County and have any unwanted or unusable pesticides that you would like to legally get rid of we have an opportunity for you.  Hillsborough County agricultural operations can dispose of stored pesticides that are out-of-date, suspended, or unusable during an Agriculture Pesticide Collection on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at EQ Tampa, 7202 E. 8th Ave. in Tampa.  There will be no charge for dropping off chemicals and no questions asked.  There will be a very brief survey to help us gauge the value of this type of program for the future.
 
This program, hosted in partnership between Hillsborough County Economic Development Agriculture Industry Development Program, the Hillsborough County Extension Service, and the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, provides farmers a safe and economical way to dispose of their unwanted pesticides, to avoid the potential public health and environmental risks associated with long term storage of these pesticides. The initiative also educates agricultural pesticide users on proper handling, storage, and management practices.
 
Funding for the collection is being provided through a grant from the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County Pollution Recovery Fund. This funding is limited and the collection will be closed when funding is exhausted.  This happened last year and we were forced to shut down earlier than expected due to the high amount of pesticides we received.
 
Pesticide manufacturers and distributors, homeowners, universities and government institutions, including state, county and local government pesticide users, are not eligible to participate.
 
For more information on the collection, contact Simon Bollin, Agriculture Industry Development Program Manager, Hillsborough County Economic Development Department, at (813) 276-2735 or bollins@hillsboroughcounty.org.