Summer Ag Student Looking for a Summer Job

If you are a nursery grower or allied trade looking for some summer help, there is a student who is staying this summer in the Tampa area. She’s a forestry major but is involved in the horticulture club at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Please email Shawn (ststeed@ufl.edu) if you'd like more information.

Growing Better/Cheaper Container Plants with Substrate Stratification

 

What if someone told you that you could fill your pots halfway with a less expensive soilless substrate (large pine bark) in your container production system and get amazing benefits from it; better moisture control in the growing media container, better rooting, better fertilizer management, reduced wilting, and overall similar to better growth, all while saving costs?

That is what the science of substrate stratification is pointing to.  Usually, soil moisture settles at the bottom of the pot and never really dries out while at the surface you have a very dry zone where the roots are establishing.  By layering a larger particle size (like large bark) on the bottom with a finer particle size media (peat and fine bark mix) on the top, the moisture balance is somewhat flipped and evens out over the entire pot keeping moisture levels more balanced in the pot.  Aside from the cost savings you also gain the production benefits mentioned above as well.

Here is a good video link to more information on the transformative and evolving science of substrate stratification that is coming out of Dr. Jeb Fields and other labs looking at rethinking the way we have been growing container plants for years. https://youtu.be/imA-BgHzluk?si=ZPFUPsIjsAppAbpk.  If you’d rather read about the research here is a link to a study on the same topic. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/8/1454

Private Applicator and Core Test Prep and CEU Opportunity

UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County is hosting a Core and Private Pesticide Exam Training Course on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 9:00 am at the Extension Office Location in Seffner, FL.  The cost is $60.00 for the class.

The Core training is needed by all license types and the Private Exam Prep portion of the class will help you review to pass the Private Applicator Exam.  With both tests passed you will be able to apply restricted use pesticides on your property or that of your employers as well as teach ag employees the mandatory EPA Worker Protection Standards.

If you already have a Private Applicator License, then this class will give you 2 Core CEUs and 2 Private CEUs for renewal of your license.  Here is a link to register. Private License Prep Class Link  We will provide a private testing time for the next day for those who would like to take the exam quickly after the class.

Here is a glance at the agenda:

09:00 a.m. Welcome, coffee & snacks

09:15 a.m. General Standards/Core Exam Preparation Class

11:30 p.m. Lunch (to be provided)

12:15 p.m. Private/Ag Row Crop Applicator Exam Preparation Class

02:30 p.m. Review

04:30 p.m. Adjourn

If you have any questions please give Shawn a ring 813-744-5519.