The 76th Texas A&M University Urban Pest Management Conference and Workshop will be held Jan. 5-7 at the Brazos Center at 3232 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan.
Texas A&M AgriLife faculty and other industry experts will be among the featured speakers and instructors. The program is co-sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Entomology.
Both registration and payment must be completed by Dec. 17 to receive the early bird rate of $200 for the full conference or $175 for a single day. After that date, onsite registration is $225 for the full conference or $200 for one day. Register at https://tx.ag/UPMCW21.
Texas Department of Agriculture approved continuing education units are available each day of the workshop. Refer to the complete workshop schedule to view which CEUs are offered each day.
“As in previous years, attendees will be provided excellent training opportunities that will be designed to increase their knowledge of pest insect biology, novel pest management approaches and pesticide safety,” said Robert Puckett, Ph.D., associate professor and AgriLife Extension entomologist in the Department of Entomology, Bryan-College Station.
The workshop runs from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Jan. 5-6. On Jan. 7, short courses will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon. Participants may select one to attend, but seating is limited to the first 30 people in each session. Short courses include Ant Management, Bed Bug Management and Structural Fumigation.
ACE training
The conference offers an Associate Certified Entomologist, ACE, program sponsored by the Entomological Society of America. The ACE training will be taught by Bob Davis, Ph.D., board certified entomologist with BASF, Ogallala, Nebraska, on Jan.6.
Contact Davis at 512-989-5618 or robert.davis@basf.com for any questions about the ACE program. Those also interested in taking the ACE exam must complete prequalification steps online prior to attending and be ACE members.
“One of the best ways to prepare for this exam is to learn from others on what to study for and review those insect orders you may not be familiar with,” said Janet Hurley, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service integrated pest management specialist, Dallas, one of the featured workshop experts.
“We find the biggest hurdles for pest management professionals wanting certification include uncertainty about how to prepare for the ACE exam and a fear of test-taking,” she said. “That is where the ACE training comes in. Classes provide a review of fundamental entomology and basic knowledge requirements for the exam. The training is intended as either a kickoff for the studying process or as a last-minute review and confidence-building class.”
Hurley said the ACE certification program is the fastest growing certification program for pest management professionals nationwide.
The certification was founded by Davis and Mike Merchant, Ph.D., retired AgriLife Extension professor of urban entomology, to promote the highest levels of professionalism within the industry.
Special programs
The event will also feature a special program for school integrated pest management coordinators and technicians led by Don Renchie, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension pesticide safety program coordinator, Bryan-College Station.
The eight-hour Technician Training Course will be offered Jan. 5. The state-approved training course is required for prospective technicians and non-commercial applicators. The course will also prepare commercial applicators for taking the general exam through the Texas Structural Pest Control Services. This training includes information on pesticides, equipment, application, laws, safety, labels, pests and integrated pest management.
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