The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce the following Commercial Horticulture Programs for October 2021. These programs are being offered by Dr. Tatiana Sanchez, Commercial Horticulture Agent.
Tri-County Cost Share Program – October 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (with Luke Miller, Horticulture/Small Farms Extension Agent, Bradford County, and Luke Harlow, Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Agent, Union County), at the UF/IFAS Extension Union County Office (15120 S.W. 84 Street, Lake Butler).
Participants learn about multiple cost-share programs, grants, and other options available to them to enhance their agricultural operation. The event will have invited speakers, and the dinner is sponsored by Farm Credit of Florida.
There is no fee to attend this event, but participants must
register online.
Limited Landscape Maintenance and Limited Lawn and Ornamental Training – October 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (with Erin Harlow, Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent, Columbia County), available through Zoom or with limited in-person availability, at the UF/IFAS Extension Columbia County Office (437 N.W. Hall of Fame Drive, Lake City).
The Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Workshop trains commercial landscape maintenance personnel to make correct pesticide applications to ornamentals and plant beds only. Attendance to the full day is required before applying for the license exam.
Up to six Continuing Education Units will be available in the following categories: 3 General Standard/Core (Chapters 482 and 487), 3 Ornamental & Turf, 3 Limited Lawn & Ornamental, 3 Limited Landscape Maintenance, and 3 Commercial Lawn & Ornamental.
Individuals seeking recertification may attend the class for four hours if pre-registered on Eventbrite. The registration fee is $30.00. Participants must
register online. The face-to-face option for this class is limited to 15 participants. There are no refunds for the registration fees.
COVID-19 Precautions: Please practice social distancing during this event. Participants must wear facial coverings to enter the facility and while indoors. Those who cannot wear a facial cover, please purchase the virtual ticket (via Zoom) option for this class.
Private Applicator & Agricultural Row Crops – A Review – October 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (with Dr. Kevin Korus, Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent), at the Freedom Community Center at Veterans Memorial Park (7340 S.W. 41 Place, Gainesville).
This workshop is designed to provide training for the private applicator agricultural pest control license. The private applicator license is required for anyone that applies restricted use pesticides to their own farm, greenhouse, or nursery. There are no exams offered on the day of the class. Participants can schedule their exam by calling 352-955-2402.
Up to four Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered for applicators that already have their licenses. CEUs available include General Standard Core, Ag Row Crop, and Private Applicator.
The registration fee is $25.00. Participants must
register online by October 18. A late fee of $10.00 will be applied for registrations after October 18 or if paying at the door. This class is limited to 20 participants. There are no refunds for the registration fees.
COVID-19 Precautions: Please practice social distancing during this event. Participants must wear facial coverings to enter the facility and while indoors. Those who cannot wear a facial covering must contact the agents for online alternatives for Continuing Education Units.
Hydroponic Vegetable Production Online Course – October 25 to November 19 (online, self-paced).
Participants learn to manage different hydroponics systems, and the fundamentals of climate, water, nutrition, and plant health in these systems. This intermediate course is designed for growers with some experience and training. Topics covered include hydroponics growing systems and structures, specific vegetable crop examples, business management, and food safety. The course is offered in English and Spanish.
The course is taught by a team of instructors from the University of Florida and Cornell University. The course runs from October 25 to November 19, 2021, and includes a personalized certificate of completion.
The registration fee is $249.00 per participant (discounts are available for five or more registrations). Participants must
register online. Over the four weeks of the course, there are streaming video lessons, readings, and assignments (about 3-4 hours total commitment per week), which can be accessed at any time of day.
Watermelon Grafting Workshop – October 28, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office (22712 W. Newberry Road, Newberry)
Every year, grafted watermelon acreage increases, and this program discusses how this technique is shaping the industry. Participants learn updates of what has worked (and what hasn't) on commercial watermelon production and the adoption of grafting in Florida and California.
There is no registration fee for this event. Participants can attend in person or remotely via Zoom. Participants must
register online. In-person participants may be required to wear a mask inside the auditorium.
For more information about these programs, contact Commercial Horticulture Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Dr. Tatiana Sanchez at 352-955-2402 or
tatiana.sanchez@ufl.edu). Visit the
Extension Office website for additional programs offered by the Extension Office.
An Equal Opportunity Institution. Extension Service, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Dr. Tom Obreza, Interim 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.