ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Extension Office is pleased to announce some upcoming programs. (If you have any questions about any of the programs listed below, please call the Extension Office at 352-955-2402 and speak to Aparna Gazula, Ph.D., Commercial Horticulture Agent)
Green Industries Best Management Practices Workshop will be held on March 3 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (Extension Office, 2800 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville).
This workshop is designed to provide training in Best Management Practices for anyone working in the lawn, landscape, pest control, or municipal grounds areas. This is a required training class for all commercial and institutional fertilizer applicators in Alachua County according to the Alachua County Fertilizer Standards and Management Practices Code.
A "Commercial Fertilizer Applicator" means any person who applies fertilizer on turf and/or landscape plants in Alachua County in exchange for money, goods, services or other valuable consideration.
An "Institutional Fertilizer Applicator" means any person, other than a non-commercial or commercial applicator (unless such definitions also apply under the circumstances), that applies fertilizer for the purpose of maintaining turf and/or landscape plants. Institutional applicators shall include, but shall not be limited to, owners and managers of public lands, schools, parks, religious institutions, utilities, industrial or business sites and any residential properties maintained in condominium and/or common ownership.
Best Management Practices are focused on reducing non-point source pollution resulting from fertilization or pesticide application. In some areas, you need to be certified in the BMPs to be able to bid on jobs or have commercial customers. It will be mandatory throughout the state in the near future. Stay a step ahead of the new requirements.
* Earn CEUs for pesticide license holders. For CEUs, get form signed before you leave.
*(2) CORE, (2) Ornamental & Turf, Limited Commercial Landscape.
Please pre-register by calling 352-337-6209.Cost to attend is $25.00 (includes materials and lunch). A complete brochure with registration form can be found at: http://alachua.ifas.ufl.edu/calendar.shtml
ID Card Holder Training will be held on March 4 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. (Extension Office, 2800 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville). This training is ONLY required for identification cardholders spraying under a licensed pest control operator.
Each employee who performs pest control for a licensee must have an identification card. Either the licensee or the licensee's certified operator in charge must apply to the department for an identification card for each employee who will perform pest control therefore within 30 days after employment of that employee, on a form prescribed by the department. The licensee and the licensee's certified operator in charge are jointly responsible for obtaining such identification cards. An identification cardholder must be an employee of the licensee and work under the direction and supervision of the licensee's certified operator in charge and shall not be an independent contractor. An identification cardholder shall operate only out of, and for customers assigned from, the licensee's licensed business location. An identification cardholder shall not perform any pest control independently of and without the knowledge of the licensee and the licensee's certified operator in charge and shall perform pest control only for the licensee's customers.
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. New Cardholders
Each new identification cardholder must receive 4 hours of classroom training 6 months after card is issued.
9:00 - 10:40 a.m. Existing Cardholders
Each existing cardholder must receive at least 2 hours of continuing training by the renewal date of the card.
Please pre-register by February 26 by calling 352-337-6209 (voicemail). Cost to attend is $5.00 (includes materials and refreshments). Complete agenda and registration form can be found at http://alachua.ifas.ufl.edu/calendar.shtml
The 2010 Vegetable and Melon Growers meeting will be held on March 4, 2010 from 4 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. (Extension Office, 2800 NE 39 Avenue, Gainesville). This meeting is for commercial growers.
Topics to be covered include Heirloom vegetables, weed management updates, insect management updates, disease management updates, irrigation management and good agricultural practices.
Please pre-register by February 26 by calling 352-337-6209 (voicemail). Cost to attend is $10.00 (includes dinner and materials). Complete agenda and registration form can be found at http://alachua.ifas.ufl.edu/calendar.shtml.
All Extension Programs and Services are open to all without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin or handicap. For persons requiring special accommodations, please contact the Extension office at (352) 955-2402 (voice) or TDD/TYY (352) 955-2406 or at the Alachua County Extension Service, 2800 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32609. Please contact the Extension Office at least five working days prior to the program so that proper consideration may be given to the request.