Strawberry Festival Youth Plant Show and Sale 2017

When I travel to national horticulture meetings, I often hear the statement "How do we get the next generation interested in horticulture?"  One way to do that is to give kids opportunities to practice horticulture skills and then encourage and financially reward them in their efforts at growing plants.

Hillsborough County youth in 4-H and FFA clubs have been growing plants for the Strawberry Festival Youth Plant Show and Sale and will be entering their projects on Wed. March 1, 2017.  Plants will be judged for best of class and best of show awards and then all plants will be auctioned off in a silent and live auction on Sunday, March 5th, 2017.  The silent auction starts at 11:30 am the live auction will start at 2:30 pm.  The best part about buying plants at the auction is that you will get free tickets to next year's festival when you get on the buyer list.  If you are one of the top buyers you will get tickets and free parking right up close to the action for next year's event.

This is a great opportunity to motivate youth to continue to flex their "green thumbs" and reward their efforts.  Not only are they learning to grow plants but they are building business, marketing, social, and personal skills that they will need later in life.  Please come out and support the Strawberry Festival Youth Plant Show and Sale and continue to keep Hillsborough youth growing.  If you have any questions about this event please give Shawn Steed a ring at the Extension office 813-744-5519.

Manatee County WPS Class

Martha Glenn our the Commercial Horticulture Agent in Manatee County would like to let you know that there is a class available for the new Worker Protection Standards.  If you already have the Train-the-Trainer certificate this will need to be updated.  This is a great time to get it done and get a lunch as well.  You can also get 4 Private Applicator CEUs as well.  Here is the information....

Worker Protection Standards, Train the Trainer has changed.  If you have a certificate for Train the Trainer you now need to update that training and receive a new certificate (I know that we were all told that the certificate would not expire – BUT that has changed.).  As of right now, we are all to be retrained by January 2, 2017 as per the EPA.  Also, many of the regulations pertaining to the training of agricultural workers have changed. 
Come join us for the new revised training.  You will receive a certificate in the mail once you have completed this new training.  You will be able to receive the following CEUs (max of four) – Private Applicator, Aerial application, Ag Row Crop, Ag Tree Crop, Forestry, Ornamental & Turf, Soil and Greenhouse Fumigation.   
CEUs Available (max of four):  Private Applicator, Aerial application, Ag Row Crop, Ag Tree Crop, Forestry, Ornamental & Turf,   Soil and Greenhouse Fumigation
When:  February 23
Time:  9:00am – 1:30pm
Cost:  $25.00 (lunch included)
Register online at:  https://wps2017.eventbrite.com

Review of Worker Protection Standard Topics Including:
Basic pesticide information and regulations
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS)
WPS Agricultural Worker and Pesticide Handler Training
How to conduct training
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Inspection and Enforcement Perspective
 CEUs are available and include:
  4 Private Applicator
  4 Aerial Application
  4 Ag Row Crop
  4 Ag Tree Crop
  4 Forestry
  4 Ornamental & Turf
  4 Soil & Greenhouse Fumigation

Soft Skills Drive Leadership Performance Harder

I read an interesting article about key attributes of business leaders that make them and the businesses they run perform successfully.  I was fairly surprised to find that one of the skills that was ranked at the top of the list is not usually considered a core business skill but more on the order of a "soft" skill.  Empathy was considered the most critical driver of performance. This is what rose to the top after interviews with 15,000 leaders from 300 organizations from 18 different countries.  In a world of tweets,emails and decreasing face-to-face conversations it may confound thinking that brevity in the business world for the sake of productivity might be a fallacy.  Here is a link to the article if you would like to read more about the research findings.
 http://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/the-science-behind-what-really-drives-performance-its-going-to-surprise-you.html

Polk County WPS Class

UF/IFAS Extension Polk County is conducting a WPS Train-The-Trainer Class to get certified in the new Worker Protection Standards.  The class is on February 9, from 9:00am - 1:30pm  (lunch is included).

Review of Worker Protection Standard Topics Including:
 Basic pesticide information and regulations
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS)
WPS Agricultural Worker and Pesticide Handler Training
How to conduct training
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Inspection and Enforcement Perspective
 CEUs are available and include:
  4 Private Applicator
  4 Aerial Application
  4 Ag Row Crop
  4 Ag Tree Crop
  4 Forestry
  4 Ornamental & Turf
  4 Soil & Greenhouse Fumigation

 CCAs will also be available.
 Registration is required.  You may register on-line with credit card or register to pay at the door with cash, or check made payable to "BOCC". If you have any questions pertaining to class information , please contact Gail Crawford at 863-519-1042.
 If the class has low registration, it may be cancelled. You will be notified via email the day before the class.  To register on-line here is the link  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/worker-protection-standards-train-the-trainer-2017-tickets-30967292004

Core and Private Pesticide Applicator Class

On February 8, 2017, UF/IFAS Polk County will be conducting a class for those who would like to become certified Private Pesticide Applicators or for those who need a few more CEUs towards their license.  The class will be divided into two segments: Core 8:30 am-10:30 am, Private 10:45 am-12:45 pm.  Exams will be offered immediately following the classes. However, you do not have to take the exams the same day. You may schedule a time to take the exams at your convenience.  You may take one class without the other, if needed.

          

If you are already a license holder, 2 CEUs in Core and 2 Private are offered for the classes, respectively. Light snacks will be offered.  The fee is $15 per class. Here is the link to register.  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-core-and-private-applicator-exam-preps-and-exams-tickets-20041021234   You can pay online via the link. If you have any questions please give Mary Beth a call at (863) 519-1049 or email mbhenry@ufl.edu.

Whitefly Update with Dr. Lance Osborne

I have seen a few more whitefly infestations around greenhouses late last year and early this year and some of them have been the more resistant Q-biotype.  I thought I would let you know about this opportunity being offered in Manatee County from Commercial Horticulture Agent Martha Glenn.  You can also gain a few Core CEUs.  If you have any questions follow the link below.

 

4 CEUs at Whitefly Hort Talk

Feb. 16 from 9:00am - 1:00pm
$25 includes a mid-morning snack

Dr. Lance Osborne, Professor of Entomology, Associate Center Director, University of Florida, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center in Apopka, presenting information on Whiteflies.  Dr Osborne is an expert and conducts ongoing research on whiteflies.

Whiteflies feed on more than five hundred species of host plants. If proper management steps are taken, a healthy landscape can be maintained. There are a number of cultural, biological and pesticide strategies that can be effective to help manage whiteflies.

Core topics will also be presented.

CEUs applied for 2 - 487 and 482 Core; 2 PVT, 2 LLO, 2 LCLM, 2 O&T, 2 Nat. Areas, 2 ROW

Register Here