The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce the following Commercial Horticulture programs for February 2026. Commercial Horticulture Agent Tatiana Sanchez-Jones is offering these programs.
Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Workshop – Feb. 12, from 8:30 am to 3 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Ag Auditorium (22716 W. Newberry Road, Newberry).
The Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Workshop trains commercial landscape maintenance personnel to make correct pesticide applications to ornamentals and plant beds only. Please watch this math prep video prior to attending the workshop.
This class helps you review the materials needed for the pesticide license exam. To take the exam, participants must create an account and apply online through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) licensing portal. After paying online, applicants will be given a voucher number to schedule their test. Please note: Pesticide exams are no longer offered at extension offices. Exams are now administered primarily by Everblue, either remotely or at in-person locations. To find an in-person testing site, visit this map.
Attendees are encouraged to study before the exam, as the workshop is only a review. Required books for the Private Applicator are SM 1 (Core), and SM 53. For the Agricultural Row Crops license, the required books are SM 1 (Core), and SM 5. These study manuals are not provided but can be pre-ordered online through the IFAS Bookstor.
License renewal: Up to four continuing education units (CEU's) will be available in the following categories - General Standard/Core (Chapters 482 and 487), Ornamental & Turf, Limited Lawn & Ornamental, Limited Landscape Maintenance and Commercial Lawn & Ornamental.
The registration fee of $30 (plus $3.85 Eventbrite fee) includes light refreshments and handouts. Participants must register online by Feb. 9. A late fee of $10 (plus $4.52 Eventbrite fee) will be applied for registrations after Feb. 9, or if paying at the door. The class is limited to 30 participants. There will be no refunds for the registration fee.
Beekeeping Series: Swarm Control – Feb. 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory (1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville).
The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office has developed a series of short courses that will help you get started as a beekeeper. This class is designed for beginner and intermediate beekeepers and will demonstrate how to perform colony splits to prevent swarming.
Live bees will be used; please dress in protective clothing (closed-toe shoes, long sleeves, or bring a beekeeping suit if available).
The registration fee of $20 (plus $3.18 Eventbrite fee) will include materials and refreshments. Participants must register through Eventbrite by Feb. 18. A late fee of $10 (plus $3.85 Eventbrite fee) will be applied after Feb. 18, or if paying at the door. This class is limited to 30 participants. There will be no refunds for the registration fee.
Those who would like to be added to the beekeeping ListServ for information about upcoming classes, send an email to alachua@ifas.ufl.edu, Subject: Please add to Bee ListServ.
Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop – Feb. 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with other agents in north Florida), at the North Florida Research and Education Center – Suwannee Valley (8202 County Road 417, Live Oak).
This workshop is designed to provide training for small farms and beginner farmers on the fundamentals of pruning various perennial crops grown in north Florida. Participants learn about proper techniques by fruit type, pruning safety, tool sanitation, and lots of hands-on learning. Crops discussed include blueberries, peaches, pomegranates, blackberries, citrus, pears, persimmons, and muscadine grapes.
The registration fee is $30 (plus $3.85 Eventbrite fee) and includes handout materials, lunch, and light refreshments. Participants must register online by Feb. 10. There will be no refunds for the registration fee.
For more information about these programs, contact Tatiana Sanchez-Jones at 352-955-2402. Visit the Extension Office website for more information about additional programs.
An Equal Opportunity Institution. Extension Service, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Dr. Andra Johnson, dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Single copies of Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county extension offices.
