Posts Tagged: ipm

IPM and CEUs?

Disease threats to nuts. The other A-list. Questioning accepted ideas of integrated pest management. UC IPM is kicking off autumn with three webinars about high-stakes issues of pest management. Sign up to learn something new! Register now and get free continuing education units.

September 20, 2023 (3:00 to 4:00 pm) Decision Thresholds: The Fatal Attraction at the Heart of IPM Economic thresholds have been a cornerstone of IPM since the development of the concept of integrated management. The premise for using thresholds is simple: below critical population sizes, pests are not damaging enough to warrant treatment, so over the long term using a threshold to trigger pesticide use will result in fewer pesticide applications, lower costs to the grower, less environmental impact and improved operator safety. Dr. Neil McRoberts will provide a refresher to the basic ideas underlying the use of thresholds and then take a different perspective on the subject that raises some interesting questions about the validity of the generally accepted ideas about what thresholds do.  One DPR CE unit (other) and one CCA CE unit (IPM) are pending. REGISTER NOW

 

October 25, 2023 (3:00 to 4:00 pm) The Blight Phase of Botryosphaeria Disease of Pistachio and Walnut and its Management In the last two decades, diseases caused by Botryosphaeria fungi have become a major problem in nut crops (almond, pistachio, and walnut) and other tree crops in California. Significant research has been completed in these serious diseases over a span of 20 years. In this presentation, Dr. Themis Michailides will focus on the blight phase of the disease that results in infection of the fruit and reduction of yields. In addition, historical approaches to managing this disease will be discussed. One DPR CE unit (other) and one CCA CE unit (IPM) are pending.

REGISTER NOW

 

November 8, 2023 (3:00 to 4:00 pm) Branched Broomrape: A Parasitic Weed Threat to the Tomato Industry Branched broomrape is currently classified in California as an “A” pest, that is, “an organism of known economic importance subject to California State-enforced action involving: eradication, quarantine regulation, containment, rejection, or other holding action”. As a potentially severe economic pest and as a California “A-list” pest, the establishment and spread of a branched broomrape in California tomato production regions could cause severe consequences for individual growers and for the entire tomato industry. In this webinar, Dr. Brad Hanson will provide regulatory and quarantine status and management updates. One DPR CE unit (other) and one CCA CE unit (IPM) are pending.

REGISTER NOW

 

To qualify for Continuing Education Units (CEUs), be sure to register with your own email address and log in from your own device, participate in the entire hourlong session, complete and pass a final test with 70% or higher; if not passed, the test can be retaken.

 

Visit the UC Ag Expert Talk webpage for more information. Visit the UC IPM YouTube channelto watch recordings of past webinars.

 

IPM labels

Ants Come Marching In - UC IPM Citrus Update

UC IPM supports research and extension programs in integrated pest management (IPM). UC Agriculture and Natural Resources scientists adapt research for practical application, and Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists develop and deliver IPM programs to a variety of clientele, including professional pest managers, growers, residents, and agencies. UC IPM staff work with UC ANR scientists to develop "how-to" materials that help the clientele carry out programs and solve pest problems.

To complement the extension programs, UC IPM staff members coordinate development of a variety of materials that explain how to carry out pest management tactics and strategies. Working with UC ANR experts, program staff produce and maintain an extensive array of print and Web-based publications, databases, training materials, and interactive tools for decision making.

Examples are the pest management guidelines and a home and landscape database of pest solutions for residential audiences, IPM manuals for specific crops, books about IPM in landscapes and gardens, a variety of books on pesticide safety, and an extensive weather database that supports interactive pest models.

And now they are happy to announce the publication of a new update to the Citrus PMG. The Year-Round Program has been updated, Ants, Asian Citrus Psyllid, and Huanglongbing

And to learn more about Ant control in citrus, cherimoya and passion fruit, look into the upcoming workshops, September 19 and 21:

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=57442

https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=57622

argentine ant and hydrogels

Happy IPM New Year Courses

What Are the UC Ag Experts Talking About?

 For 2023

Event Name	Date
UC Ag Experts Talk: Vegetable IPM in the Sacramento Valley	2/22/2023
UC Ag Experts Talk: Insects in the Vineyard	4/19/2023
UC Ag Experts Talk: Flatheaded borer concerns in California walnuts	5/31/2023

What is involved in the webinars?

A series of usually 1-hour long webinars, designed for growers and pest management professionals, highlighting various pest management and horticultural topics for citrus, avocados, and other subtropical crops. Master Gardeners can benefit from participating, but the pest management methods presented, especially the pesticides, are not to be followed without a clear understanding of their legal use by homeowners.

During each session, a UC Expert on the subject makes a presentation and entertains write-in questions via chat during and/or after the presentation. As we develop this program, we may expand to other crops.  

What are the topics and how do I register?

Register for webinars using the links above.

Vegetable IPM in the Sacramento Valley by Dr. Amber Vinchesi-Vahl (February 22, 2023)

• Dr. Amber Vinchesi-Vahl will discuss IPM on vegetables in the Sacramento Valley, with a focus on tomatoes. One DPR CE unit (other) and one CCA CE unit (IPM) are pending.

Insects in the Vineyard by Dr. Cindy Kron (April 19, 2023)

• Dr. Cindy Kron will discuss the importance of proper insect identification in IPM and discuss many insects that are beneficial in vineyards. She will also discuss economic thresholds for pests that cause damage and vector diseases and include a pest to be on the lookout for: spotted lanternfly. One DPR CE unit (other) and one CCA CE unit (IPM) are pending.

Flatheaded Borer Concerns in California Walnuts by Dr. Jhalendra Rijal (May 31, 2023)

• Dr. Jhalendra Rijal will discuss flatheaded borer and how it is an old pest but has become a new problem in California walnuts. One DPR CE unit (other) and one CCA CE unit (IPM) are pending.

Are there Continuing Education units?

When the subject discusses pest or disease management, continuing education units (CEU) will be requested from DPR (1 unit per session) and when relevant also Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) continuing education units will be requested. To qualify for the CEU make sure to

• register separately with your own email address and log in from your own device
• participate in the entire hour session
• complete and pass a final test with 70% or higher; if not passed, the test can be retaken

If you are connecting by smartphone and need CEUs, be sure that you are using the zoom app (Android, iPhone) so that you have access to the presentation and we can track your presence in the webinar.

Certificates of completion will be emailed within one week to those who meet those requirements above.

The webinars are recorded and linked from this web site for future study. However, continuing education units are awarded only to the participants who attend the live version of the webinar.

Make a gift to support UC Ag Experts webinars

Your gift furthers UC's Integrated Pest Management's mission to help California residents, growers, land managers, and other professional pest managers prevent and solve pest problems with minimal impact on people and the environment by developing and promoting the use of integrated and ecologically sound pest management programs. Make a gift and use the Comment field to specify that your gift is for UC Ag Experts Talk webinars.

Who is involved in the UC Ag Experts webinars?

This webinar series is brought to you by Ben Faber (UC ANR Ventura Advisor) and Dr. Beth Grafton-Cardwell (Emeritus Entomology UCCE Specialist) with the technical support of Petr Kosina (UC IPM Content Development Supervisor) and Cheryl Reynolds (UC IPM Interactive Learning Developer). 

IPM character guiding course

February Is Safe Pesticide Use Month

Author: Petr Kosina, UC Statewide IPM Program

To raise awareness of pesticide safety practices, February is celebrated as National Safety Education Month. This year the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program offers help to refresh your knowledge about safe and effective pesticide use. Two frequently sought-after online courses focused on proper pesticide use to avoid illegal residues and proper selection, use, and removal of personal protective equipment are offered for free during the month of February. Use code safety100 at checkout to get your continuing education units (CEU) for free.

Pesticides are among the most regulated chemicals in the country. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of pesticides. All pesticides must be registered with the EPA, and the agency requires a battery of scientific tests to determine the potential risk to humans and the environment. 

Best practices for using pesticides safely start with reading the label before each pesticide application. How will readingthe label help you? Pesticide labels answer most of the basic questions you need to know about the product, its safe application and handling. Always make applications in strict accordance with all label instructions. Following label instructions will ensure safe, effective, and cost-effective use of the pesticide. Apart from the label, it is important to know what your state regulations are because some state regulations that also have to be observed are not written into the label. Note that not all pesticides approved by the EPA and available for purchase in the United States can be used in California. California is one of the few states that have more strict pesticide regulations for certain pesticides than what is required by the EPA. Even if you have used a given pesticide in the past, make sure you have an up-to-date label, as EPA may occasionally change labels. To learn more about pesticide labels and how to extract information relevant to the specific setting and situation in order to apply pesticides safely, enroll in the online course Proper Pesticide Use to Avoid Illegal Residues. Pest management professionals will earn 2.0 hours of Laws & Regs CEUs.

Because pesticides have the potential to cause injury or illness to anyone working with them, it is important to wear personal protective equipment, or PPE, to reduce a person's exposure to pesticides. PPE includes clothing and certain devices worn to protect the human body from contact with pesticides or pesticide residues. Regular clothing is not considered PPE even though some pesticide labels may indicate that these specific items of regular work clothes can be worn during certain activities. All employees who handle pesticides in California are legally required to wear PPE. They must follow all PPE instructions on the pesticide label and follow all California laws and regulations. To learn how to select the proper PPE, use it, remove it, and dispose of it or clean and store it before, during, and after each incidence of pesticide handling and application, enroll in the online course Proper Selection, Use, and Removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Pest management professionals will earn 1.5 hours of Laws & Regs CEUs.

Visit the UC IPM website to see all 22 online courses that are available for continuing education credit.

OMG!!!What Caused that Damage?

New online course on diagnosing herbicide injury now available

—Petr Kosina, UC Statewide IPM Program

 

A brand-new online course on Diagnosing Herbicide Injury focusing on how an herbicide injury situation can arise, what information can help diagnose symptoms during field investigations, and what tools are available to you, is now available from the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management program (UC IPM).

When unexplained damage is noticed on a crop or other non-weed plant, herbicides are often a primary suspect. That is no surprise because herbicides are very powerful and effective tools used to control weedy plants in a wide variety of locations. However, symptoms of many other plant stresses, such as diseases and nutrient deficiencies or toxicities, can closely resemble the injury symptoms caused by herbicides. Economic implications of herbicide damage can vary–in some cases visible injury may have very little direct economic effect while in others, even slight herbicide symptoms can affect the marketability of affected plants. In addition, the presence of an unregistered herbicide on non-target crops can result in illegal residues which could have both safety and legal consequences.

The new online course was developed by Dr. Brad Hanson and Dr. Kassim Al-Khatib from the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis, and UC IPM instructional designers. If you are a grower, pest control adviser, or pesticide applicator, then this course is a great opportunity to learn about how to approach crop injury investigation when herbicide is suspected cause. You will learn how herbicides injure plants, how long herbicide symptoms may last and factors that may influence the time that herbicide injury symptoms are visible, possible scenarios of herbicide exposure based on uniform and variable injury patterns observed in the field, how to prepare samples for the laboratory analysis and more. 

The course content is free to anyone who wishes to view it. For those requiring a certificate of completion and continuing education units (CEUs), the regular cost is $30, but we are offering a reduced price of $15 through October 31, 2021. Diagnosing Herbicide Injury course has been approved by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) for 1.5 continuing education units (CEU) of Other, Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) for 1.5 units (IPM), and the Arizona Department of Agriculture for 1.0 Credit.

If you are a DPR license or certificate holder with a last name beginning with letters M through Z, then this will be your year to renew. Now is a good time to check out the other UC IPM online training courses offered. All are 50% off the regular price through October 31^st. DPR strongly suggests returning renewal packets back to them by October so that your license or certificate can be renewed before it expires. Many of our courses are accredited by DPR for continuing education hours and also by the California Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB), Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (WCISA), and the Arizona Department of Agriculture.

IPM character guiding course

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