Changes at FDACS Pesticide License Websites and Updates

 

FDACS Pesticide Website Update Coming

FDACS is in the process of modernizing and updating their databases and web pages related to pesticide licensing. Consequently, there will be major changes to the look, feel, and location of the FDACS website. The update is set to launch very soon, in late March/early April.  

FDACS web pages to be combined

The following separate web pages will all be combined into a single website and all their functions will be found in one place.

• https://aesecomm.fdacs.gov/  - Application process, testing vouchers, and forms.
• https://aessearch.fdacs.gov/  - Public database search for license numbers, pesticide business locations, CEUs, and other public database information.
• https://ceu.fdacs.gov/  - Database for CEU program providers—this may affect county Extension offices the most; see section below on legacy web pages.
• https://fumigation.fdacs.gov/  - Fumigation notification form.

 All of these web pages will soon be housed in a single location. UF/IFAS will share the address of the website as soon as it is available.

Website Navigation

• Upon first visit to the new website, all users will need to register with an email and create a password. Remember this password. Users will need it anytime they access the site.
• FDACS will provide the specifics of the website’s layout and functionality. Tutorials may also be forthcoming from FDACS in the near future.
• UF/IFAS will develop materials and be prepared to assist with navigating the new FDACS website just as soon as we have been granted access.

Important Dates

March 28^th all FDACS websites related to pesticides will be shut down to turn on the new platform. The new platform will turn on April 1^st. This means: 

• NO exams can be scheduled March 28^th – March 31^st
• NO exams can be completed or hosted March 28^th – March 31^st
• NO data on vouchers, CEUS, anything pesticide related will be accessible March 28^th – March 31^st
• April 1^st the new website turns on and we should be good to resume testing as per normal procedures

All questions about the website and its functionality should be directed to FDACS:

AESCares@FDACS.gov  

1-850-617-7997

What happens to legacy web pages?

1. The Public Database searches will be live and all historical data will be maintained for stakeholders in read-only format.
2. All previously uploaded CEU attendance records will be accessible by FDACS and used to confirm CEU renewal where applicable.
3. Over the next weeks after launch, all the previously approved CEU programs will be migrated into the new system. This will make them accessible to CEU providers and stakeholders alike.
4. It is imperative that you ensure you email and information in the current system is up-to-date AND you will need to make sure it matches when you log in to the NEW system.

What about Vouchers in the system?

All vouchers that are unused before the shutoff of the old FDACS websites on March 28^th will no longer be valid on April 1^st. If you have anyone scheduled currently for exams in your office that occur after March 28^th, you should let your testers know they will need new vouchers.

 

• Chapter 482 vouchers WILL be reissued BUT only if the examinee contacts FDACS directly

• People will miss this information and we will have to help people either call FDACS to get it reissued or for chapter 487 and 388 vouchers, perhaps just get a new voucher

• ALL vouchers unused by March 28^th will be invalid. All vouchers from April 1^st moving forward will be in the new system

I hope this isn't too confusing to you and all of us at UF/IFAS are learning alongside with you with all the FDACS website changes.  If I can help in any way, please let me know.

Manatee County Pesticide Training and CEU Opportunity.

UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County is hosting a Core and Private Pesticide Exam Training Course on Wednesday, March 18, 2025, at 9:00 am at the Extension Office Location in Parrish, 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  

Here are a few more opportunities if you can't make this class.

Do Rice Hulls Prevent Weeds in Woody Ornamental Container Production in a Central Florida Growing Environment? Part II

Exploring Rice Hulls as a Cost-Effective Mulch in Florida's Nursery Production*

In the world of ornamental container production, weed control is a formidable challenge, consuming significant time and resources. While methods like preemergent herbicides, mulches, and hand labor are commonly employed to combat weeds, each has its drawbacks. An innovative approach gaining traction in west-central Florida is the use of rice hulls (RH) as a mulch. I have mentioned rice hulls in a previous post (https://hortagent.blogspot.com/2023/05/do-rice-hulls-prevent-weeds-in-woody.html) and wanted to follow up with the research that we conducted. We have determined that rice hull scan stop small weds from germinating but the question that lingered was the economic cost; our research delved into this question.  

The Rise of Rice Hulls in Weed Control

Nursery production in Florida is heavily reliant on hand labor to manage weed growth, particularly in aged crops. Traditional methods such as preemergent herbicides and mulches have been effective in reducing weed emergence and biomass, but they come with certain limitations. Preemergent herbicides, for instance, can impact the growth of ornamental plants and pose environmental risks through runoff. On the other hand, mulches can drive up production costs due to material and labor expenses.

Rice hulls have emerged as a promising alternative. These hulls are the waste product left behind after rice grains are processed. When processed and dried, they form a dry, granular material that can be used as mulch. Research has shown that rice hulls can reduce the germination of small-seeded weeds like bittercress and creeping woodsorrel. However, until now, there has been a lack of cost/benefit analysis to guide growers in making informed decisions about their use.

The Research Methodology

Two studies conducted at a container nursery in Plant City, Florida, aimed to evaluate the efficacy of rice hulls as mulch. The first study, conducted in June 2023, involved recycled rice hulls re-used from the previous season. Bottlebrush liners were potted into containers, and preemergent herbicide was applied. Containers were then divided into two treatments: one with no rice hulls (NH) and one with a top-dress of rice hulls (RH) at about an inch thick on the surface of the pot. The study monitored weeding time and weed fresh weight over 12 weeks.

The second experiment, conducted in February 2024, used newly purchased rice hulls and involved Eagleston holly liners. This study was similar in design to the first, with data collected over eight weeks.  In both studies, overhead irrigation was used.

Results and Discussion

The first experiment revealed high weed pressure throughout the study period. No significant differences in weeding time and weed weight were observed between the RH and NH treatments. Despite the assumption that rice hulls would reduce weed growth, the recycled hulls did not prove effective, likely due to degradation that occurred from the first season's use and the water absorption property they exhibited.

The second experiment showed lighter weed pressure. While the RH treatment required less weeding time, it did not significantly reduce weed fresh weight compared to the NH treatment. Additionally, using recycled rice hulls did not offer any cost benefits, as they were more expensive to employ requiring additional handling and storage.

Economic Analysis

The economic analysis revealed that rice hulls were not a cost-effective solution for weed control. Fresh rice hulls added $105.18 per 1,000 containers in material and labor costs for application and season weeding, while hand weeding every two weeks, and preemergent herbicide costs were significantly lower ($28.54). The use of recycled rice hulls also proved uneconomical due to reduced effectiveness and additional costs.

Conclusion

Based on our research, the use of rice hulls as mulch for weed control in container plants is not recommended under the experimental conditions. While they show potential, the costs associated with their use outweigh the benefits. Hand labor combined with preemergent herbicides remains the more economical approach.  Future studies may explore ways to reduce costs, such as bulk purchasing, reducing transport costs, or automation of rice hull application, but for now, rice hulls do not offer a viable solution for Florida's nursery growers when they are applied by hand at planting.

*This study in its entirety will be published at a future date available at fshs.org.

New Grant to LEAP into the Future of Labor Efficiency

University of Florida/IFAS researchers including Dr. Chris Marble (weed scientist) were recently awarded a USDA-SCRI grant entitled ‘Labor, Efficiency, Automation, and Production: LEAP Nursery Crops Toward Sustainability. The project's goal is to help nursery growers evaluate and potentially adopt new forms of automation, improve production efficiency, and reduce labor. Dr. Marble is working on evaluating the efficiency of different types of herbicide application equipment. For this research, he will investigate the accuracy, uniformity, and efficiency of different types of granular and spray-applied application equipment and needs nursery cooperators! All you would have to do is let us know when you plan on making a regular herbicide application and we can collect the data which we will share back with you. Another project goal is to determine how efficient different forms of applications are so growers can make more informed decisions before making equipment investments and/or adopting new practices.

If you would be interested, please contact Shawn Steed at ststeed@ufl.edu. An additional portion of this research highlights grower’s successes with different forms of automation. If you are willing to share information on any form of equipment, production methods, or other tools you have adopted that have made your nursery more efficient, we would love to highlight your success and learn from you.

Lake Region Chapter Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association Annual Chili Cookoff

The Lake Region Chapter of the FNGLA is hosting its Annual Chili Cookoff and CEU event on February 4, 2025 at the Polk County Extension Office in the Valencia Room.  The cost of the event is $10.00.  The event will start at 6:00 pm with social time and your best pot of chili tasting.  Dinner will be followed with a Core Pesticide CEU in conjunction with a talk on "Minimizing Environmental Impact of Pesticide Applications; Methods and New EPA Rules.  The talk will be given by Dr. Caitlin Sollazo- the new Ornamental Production Extension Agent in Manatee County and Shawn Steed, the Environmental Horticulture Extension Agent serving Hillsborough and Polk Counties. 

Prizes will be awarded to the best chili!

If you have any questions please call Karen at 863-644-6491.

Two-spot Cotton Leafhopper Pest Alert

A new pest has been found in the Tampa Bay area that might affect your nursery plants. 

photo credit -USDA by Nisael J. Nieves López;

Pest Alert: Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper

The two-spot cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula), a significant pest of cotton, okra, and eggplant, has recently established itself in the Caribbean Basin. This pest, also known as the “cotton jassid” or “okra leafhopper,” was first detected in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the spring of 2023.

Photo by Daphne Zapsas, USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Biological Science Laboratory Technician, Miami, FL.

Description and Damage: The two-spot cotton leafhopper is a tiny green insect with distinctive dark spots on its wings and sometimes on its head. These pests feed on the lower surface of leaves, causing a condition known as “hopperburn,” which leads to yellowing, reddening, browning, wilting, and curling of leaves. The damage can be extensive, with yield losses exceeding 50% in some crops.

Photo by Alondra Nieves, graduate student, UPRM, PR.

Photo by Brittany Atkinson, Manatee County Community Gardens Program

Hosts and Economic Importance: This pest affects a variety of crops, including cotton, okra, eggplant, sunflowers, and roselle. However, it also poses a threat to ornamental plants, particularly certain cultivars of hibiscus. While some hibiscus varieties may only be lightly colonized, others can suffer extensive damage, impacting their aesthetic value and health.  This pest also feeds on marigolds in the Asteraceae family, mulberry in the Moraceae family, as well as some members of the grass family. 

Distribution and Action: The two-spot cotton leafhopper is native to the Indian Subcontinent but has spread to the Caribbean and several Florida counties. If large numbers of leafhoppers are found, samples should be sent to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for identification.

Conclusion: The establishment of the two-spot cotton leafhopper in the Caribbean and Florida poses a significant threat to both agricultural and ornamental plants. Early detection and proper management are crucial to mitigate the impact of this pest.

For more information or to report sightings, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at DPIHelpline@FDACS.gov or 1-888-397-1515

References :

USDA APHIS, 2023.  Amrasca biguttula (Ishida) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Indian cotton leafhopper.  Amrasca biguttula 18x24 PPQ.pdf

FDACS  DPI, 2023.  Two-spot cotton leafhopper, Hemiptera: Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae, Empoascini; Amrasca biguttula (Ishida) – A serious pest of cotton, okra and eggplant that has become established in the Caribbean Basin.  PEST ALERT: Two-spot cotton leafhopper