ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Extension Office is pleased to announce the following Commercial Horticulture Programs, for September 2011. These programs are offered by Aparna Gazula, Commercial Horticulture agent. All of these programs are held at the Extension Office (2800 NE 39th Avenue, Gainesville).
Orchard Management Workshop - September 14, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
This workshop is designed to provide training in orchard management for anyone that has a fruit orchard.
Topics of this workshop include: weed management, orchard pruning, irrigation and nutrient management.
The class is provided free of cost, but pre-registration is required. Class is limited to first 60 registrants. Please pre-register by September 13, by calling 352-337-6209.
Green Industries Best Management Practices - September 22, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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 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.
* Earn CEUs for pesticide license holders. For CEUs, get the form signed before you leave.
*(2) CORE, (2) Ornamental & Turf, Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance categories.
Cost $25.00 (includes materials and lunch). Pre-register by September 21, by calling 352-337-6209.
Basics of Turfgrass Pest Management - September 28, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Topics of this pest training class include: Florida pesticide licensing requirements, label language and how to avoid common mistakes that may result in fines. Also included are the best practices for liquid and granular applications, identification of key pest insects and beneficial insects. This hands-on pest control workshop will also introduce grass identification and growth requirements, and teach attendees how to identify and manage the major turfgrass pests of the Southeast.
Pre-registration is required, please register by September 27. Registration fee is $30 (includes lunch and class materials). This class is designed to give hands-on experience to lawn technicians.
CEUs will be offered in the following categories: 7 CEUs Total; 2 General Standard/Core, 5 Limited Lawn & Ornamental, 5 Limited Landscape Maintenance, 5 Commercial Lawn & Ornamental
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.