Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Cooperative Extension Office is pleased to announce the following Commercial Horticulture Programs for May, 2013. These programs are being offered by Aparna Gazula, Commercial Horticulture Agent, at the Extension Office (2800 NE 39 Avenue, Gainesville).

Green Industries Best Management Practices – May 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 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 the purpose of 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.  Stay a step ahead of the new requirements.

·        Earn CEUs for pesticide license holders.  For CEUs, get form signed before you leave.

·        (2) CORE, (2) Ornamental & Turf, Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance categories.

Cost $25.00 includes materials and lunch.

Click to view the program brochure.

Pre-register by calling 352-337-6209 (voice mail) at least three working days prior to program.

Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance – May 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This class includes six hours of the required training for LCLM license applicants.  Participants needing recertification begin can attend the first four hours of class, but are encouraged to take the Advanced Landscape Training Workshop instead. The LCLM license exam will be given the same day as the class.  Participants must have all license application paperwork completed to sit for the exam.

Continuing Education Units will be offered in the following categories: 3 General Standard/Core, 3 General Standard/Core, 3 Ornamental & Turf, 3 Private Applicator Ag, 3 Limited Lawn & Ornamental, 3 Limited Landscape Maintenance, 3 Commercial Lawn & Ornamental.

The registration fee is $30.00 includes program materials refreshments and lunch for the day.

Pre-register at least three working days prior to the program by calling 352-337-6209 (voice mail).

For more information about these programs, call 352-955-2402. Visit the Extension Office calendar for additional programs offered by the Extension Office.

An Equal Opportunity Institution. Extension Service, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Nick T. Place, Dean. Single copies of Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county Extension offices. Information about alternate formats is available from IFAS Communications, University of Florida, PO Box 110810, Gainesville, FL 32611-0810.