Agritunity 2010

Sumter County, Florida will be hosting AGRItunity 2010 at the West Central Florida Agricultural Center located at 7620 State Road 471, Bushnell, Fl 33513 on Friday, January 22nd and Saturday January 23rd.Additional information and registration available at: http://sumter.ifas.ufl.edu/Agritunity/index.htm

Society of American Florists Pest and Production Management Conference

A great learning and networking opportunity for greenhouse producers! Registration and additional information available at: http://www.pestandproductionmanagement.com/

New University of Florida/IFAS Publications

For your reading pleasure! New or updated publications are available online. I encourage any of you who use pruning equipment to read the "Disinfection of Horticultural Tools!"

AE449 Using Reclaimed Water for Landscape Irrigation
AE449, a 6-page fact sheet by Christopher J. Martinez and Mark W. Clark, discusses how to manage for salinity and nutrients contained in reclaimed water when using it for landscape irrigation. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, July 2009.

ENH1121/EP380 Disinfection of Horticultural Tools
ENH-1121, a 2-page fact sheet by Geoffrey C. Dennny and Gary E. Vallad, provides assistance to producers and home gardeners in selecting the appropriate method to sterilize or disinfect horticultural tools and implements and prevent the spread of disease-causing pathogens. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, August 2009.

ENH1135/EP396 Adopting a Florida-Friendly Landscape: Steps for Converting a Typical Development Landscape to a Florida-Friendly Landscape
ENH-1135, a 15-page illustrated fact sheet by Gail Hansen, Jennifer Ramos, E.A. Felter, and Celeste White, lays out a process of incorporating more trees and plants in three phases, to make a traditional development landscape more environmentally sound and Florida-Friendly. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, August 2009.

ENY748/IN785 Swarm Trapping for Pest Control Operators
ENY748, a 6-page illustrated fact sheet by M. K. O’Malley, J. D. Ellis and C. M. Zettel Nalen, outlines the standard operating procedures for swarm trapping by certified Pest Control Operators as a means of capturing and removing a nesting Africanized bee colony before the bees become aggressive. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2009.

ENY855/IN811 The Female Mosquito's Quest for Blood: Implications for Disease Cycles
ENY855, a 4-page illustrated fact sheet by Stephanie L. Richards, Sheri L. Anderson, and Chelsea T. Smartt, tells the story of the female mosquito’s quest for blood and how it may affect our lives. It tells why only female mosquitos feed on blood, what makes a blood source suitable, why some people are more attractive than others, and why host preference is important for understanding endemic and emerging arthropod-borne disease cycle. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2009.

ENY856/IN825 Managing Pestiferous Freshwater Aquatic Midge Emergences From Storm Water Retention Ponds
ENY-856, a 3-page fact sheet by Kenneth T. Gioeli, Philip G. Koehler, R. Leroy Creswell, Jeffrey P. Gellermann, and Edward A. Skvarch, describes a recently developed integrated pest management plan for these tiny mosquito-like pests that can adversely impact the quality of life of residents living near storm water retention ponds. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2009.

SSAGR253/SC052 Backyard Sugarcane
Revised! SS-AGR-253, a 5-page fact sheet by L. Baucum, R.W. Rice, and L. Muralles, informs homeowners of the types and varieties of sugarcane, site selection, planting material, planting, early care, formation of the stool, pest management, harvesting, and overwintering. Published by the UF Department of Agronomy, October 2009.

2010 Pesticide License and CEU Schedule Available

It's hard to believe that 2009 is almost over! Where has the time gone? For those of you who are planning ahead (if you need CEUs, I hope that's everyone!), the 2010 Pesticide License and CEU Schedule is now available. You can pick up copies of the book at various locations throughout the county, or download the web version here.

Here are a few changes to the 2010 schedule:

• There will be a scheduled exam day bi-monthly, so anyone needing to take an exam can come during that time rather than trying to schedule an appointment with me. No fees are required for exam days, but you must register online just like you would for a class.
• Now for the biggest change to the schedule, no more Ornamental & Turf classes! Don't worry, you will still earn four (4) O&T Ceus per class, but now you have more choices. The Landscape Workshop Series features a class on tree and shrub maintenance, a class on palm maintenance, and a class on Integrated Pest Management. All of these classes will be held outdoors and will include both lecture and hands-on activities.
• There are now classes available for I.D. Cardholders!

Remember to earn those CEUs BEFORE your license expires!

GI-BMP

There is still time to register for the Green Industries Best Management Practices Certification class on November 5 at the Cocoa Extension Office. The fee is $25, which includes a BMP manual and lunch. Register at: http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu/ClassReg/EdClass.aspx

Canceled: Ornamental & Turf Exam & Review

This class has been canceled. The next O&T class is scheduled for December 17 at the Palm Bay Extension Office. If you need to take an exam, call our office to set up an appointment (no class necessary to take the exam). Call 321-952-4536 or 321-633-1702.

New and Emerging Landscape Pests

Learn how to identify and manage some of the newest pest problems in the landscape (this is a repeat of the spring class).

• Fee - $10
• Tuesday, November 3
• 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
• Cocoa Extension Office
• Two (2) CEU's available for Ornamental & Turf, Limited Lawn & Ornamental, Lawn & Ornamental, Commercial Landscape Maintenance Certification, and Private Agriculture Applicator

Register now at: http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu/ClassReg/EdClass.aspx