- Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu
- Contact: Erfan Vafaie, 903-834-6191, erfan.vafaie@ag.tamu.edu
OVERTON – A greenhouse and nursery regulatory compliance workshop for pesticide applicators is scheduled for Dec. 1 in Overton.
The workshop will be at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Overton, 1710 N. Farm-to-Market Road 3053 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The workshop is specifically designed for greenhouse ornamental and nursery growers, although some of the material may apply to greenhouse or outdoor vegetable growers, forage growers and orchards, said Erfan Vafaie, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service integrated pest management project leader, Overton.
Cost is $25 and includes lunch. Five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units — one laws and regulations, one integrated pest management and three general – are available.
Register online by Nov. 24 at: https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/horticulture or call AgriLife Extension Conference Services at 979-845-2604.
“Some of the most influential growers in East Texas considered this to be a great need for the industry and prioritized this program,” he said. “Some of these growers have already faced some large fines and ‘nightmares’ and would like their fellow industry-people to avoid the same fate.”
This year, special guests from the University of Texas Health Northeast will present some of the most common workplace hazards and injuries encountered by applicators and how to reduce risks of injury, Vafaie said.
Topics and speakers include:
– Gold Star Esperanza: Trouble in Paradise – Greg Grant, AgriLife Extension horticulturist, Smith County.
– Pesticides: Exposure, Health Effects and Safety Education – Dr. Shaadi Khademi and Dr. Vanessa Casanova, University of Texas Health Northeast, Tyler.
– How to Comply with the New Worker Protection Standard Revisions – Katherine Newton, pesticide inspector, TDA.
– Integrated Pest Management for Greenhouse and Nursery – Dr. Steve Arthurs, Texas A&M University department of entomology, College Station.
– Water U Doing for Texas Horticulture – Daniel Cunningham, Water University horticulturist, Dallas.
For more information, call Vafaie at 903-834-6191 or email erfan.vafaie@ag.tamu.edu.
“Aside from fulfilling CEU requirements for pesticide applicators, this workshop was created in response to growers’ concerns for staying compliant with EPA, WPS and TDA regulations,” he said. “Every year, we feature a TDA inspector who will review current and future regulations and will take questions to help growers feel more confident in how they are handling employees and pesticide applications.”
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