UF/IFAS Farm Labor Supervisor Training Program–Homestead September 5, 2013

Morning Sessions:

• Wage & Hour: Minimum wage, hours worked, wage summary, working conditions

• Discrimination/Sexual Harassment (EEOC): EEO case studies, child labor, human trafficking

Afternoon Sessions:

• Worker Safety

• Safe Driving: Vehicle inspections, driver preparation, defensive driving

WHO:   Supervisors of farm workers including field supervisors, Labor Contractors, crew leaders, growers, bus and van drivers, office staff including payroll and HR

LANGUAGE: English and Spanish: Please select which option when registering online: Online Registration

FEE: $ 80.00 includes lunch

Help protect your company from costly mistakes!!!

Limit your potential liabilities that may result from unknowing non-compliance.

Show your buyers and employers you know the regulations.

Your Miami-Dade UF/IFAS Comm. Horticulture Extension Agent

Vanessa Campoverde

Strong Tree Roots in the Nursery and Landscape September 4, 2013

If you work in the Green industry, you are invited to attend the 2013 Workshop hosted by The University of Florida/IFAS Extension in Miami-Dade:

 Strong Tree Roots in the Nursery and Landscape:

Improving Tree Health and Anchorage

This program is offered every 2 years and you can’t miss it.

You will learn about root problems, anchorage, grading, inspection issues and about  trees in the nursery and landscape. There will be hands-on time with more than 25 samples to work with.

CEUS: 4 FNGLA, 2 FDACS Pesticide, 3 LIAF, ISA.

Main Speaker: UF/IFAS Dr. Ed Gilman

He has assembled a unique urban tree teaching program for helping municipalities, contractors, arborists, educators, growers, landscapers, and others design and implement programs for promoting better tree health in cities. He conducts educational programs in tree selection, nursery production, and urban tree management nation-wide for a large variety of audiences. He has published more than 96 scientific peer reviewed journal articles in his 30 years in academia and working with the industry. His research emphasizes tree pruning, nursery production, anchorage, and tree establishment. He has published more than 150 technical articles in newsletters and trade magazines and annually presents research results to colleagues at professional meetings across the US and other countries. He is the author of six books and maintains a massive web site on urban trees.

For more information open the attached flyer or hurry up and go to the Registration:  Online registration HERE

Your Miami-Dade UF/IFAS Comm. Horticulture Extension Agent

Vanessa Campoverde

Extension Team Develops “App” to Identify Weeds in Container Nurseries August 20, 2013

Weeds are a nuisance hard to control once they are established…NCSU Cooperative Extension team worked on this “App” for ornamental plant growers. If interested, keep reading.

South FL Plant Disease Update-2013 August 16, 2013

Do you work with: Aglaonemas, Anthurium, Cordylines, Gardenias, Mandevillas, scheffleras, Lucky bamboos, Areca, Foxtail palms, Phoenix canaeriensis, Jamaican caper trees, Cypresses or arugula and the list continues.

Don’t miss out the latest plant diseases report affecting foliage, palms, trees, grasses and succulent plants in Miami-Dade, Broward and West Palm Beach areas.

Learn how to identify what is affecting your business and how to start controlling it. Also don’t wait until last minute to collect your free pesticide CEU’s, we are giving 2 category CEUS for this program. Read the list below. Lunch included! So what are you waiting?

Have you registered yet?

If you need pesticide CEUs, the following categories will be given:

•  Private Applicator-Ag,
• Demo & Research
• Ornamental & Turf
• Limited Landscape Maintenance
• Limited Lawn& Ornamental and
• Commercial Lawn & Ornamental

The University of Florida Extension in Miami-Dade County and TREC Plant Diagnostic Clinic are pleased to announce the upcoming:

                                       South FL Ornamental Disease Update & management!

• We will share some interesting facts of the latest pests affecting the economy of the green industry in South FL environment.
• Also, Dr. Palmateer (Head of the Plant Diagnostic Clinic) will share with us, the predominant pest (fungal and or bacterial) affecting our plants in nursery and landscape. With live samples and management options for those diseases you found in your Hibiscus, Mandevilla or in your Ficus perhaps.
• We will work on an informal forum with growers attending this program to record what other issues we need to start paying attention and create a prevention workshop in advance.
• Please share this information with your peers. CEU and lunch available for you.

Late Registration:        Click here or type: http://soflpestupdate13.eventbrite.com

When:                          Thursday, August 22^nd. From 9 am to 1 pm

Where:                         UF/IFAS Extension office in Miami-Dade

Consumptive Use Permitting (CUP) Consistency Workshop August 14, 2013

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is leading a statewide effort to improve consistency in the Consumptive/Water Use Permitting Programs implemented by the Water Management Districts.

The DEP and the Water Management Districts have been reviewing the comments on the draft rules that were received in June 2013. They are making changes where appropriate and the Water Management Districts will be posting, on their websites, revised rules on or about August 1, 2013. For this reason public workshops will be given at several locations. In South Florida the upcoming workshop is in the office of the University of Florida/IFAS Cooperative Service Auditorium.

WHEN:      August 19, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:    University of Florida Extension office. (Agricultural Center)

18710 SW 288 Street. Homestead, FL 33030

COST:       Free

AGENDA:

1. Presentation Of Consumptive Use Permitting (CUP) Consistency
2. Overview
3. Summary of public comments (Your comments)
4. Update since May workshops

The completion of the CUPcon rulemaking will be done by the Water Management Districts and is expected to be completed during Fall 2013.

More information about this and other workshop locations please click here:

Consumptive Use Permitting Consistency comments:

If you can’t make it but still wish to comment; please write your comments to be submitted to Cupcon@dep.state.fl.us by September 6, 2013. Please note that emails sent to this address are received by the Department and automatically forwarded to the five Water Management Districts.

Thanks

Your University of Florida Extension agent in Miami-Dade County!

Vanessa Campoverde

Busy BEES in South FL Bee college! August 12, 2013

Go to: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/honeybee/extension/SFbee_college.shtml

Small-scale Micro-irrigation Design FREE Webinar: August 28th-2pm August 1, 2013

Dear friends:

If you are interested in a free-web seminar at the comfort of your house or office.

This webinar is scheduled for Aug 28, 2013 2:00 pm US/Eastern.

You do not need to pre-register for this webinar. Space is NOT limited however, please plan to join the Webinar no more than 15 minutes early.

Learn the basics of micro-irrigation design and components with emphasis on small-scale systems within the context of NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 441.

Small-scale micro-irrigation is on the rise in the East region and producers are taking advantage of NRCS’ programs to install micro-irrigation systems to enhance resource conservation, food security, produce quality, and rural livelihoods.

More detailed information please, click HERE

Enjoy it.

Your UF/IFAS Miami-Dade Extension agent

Vanessa Campoverde

Giant African Land Snail by the Numbers July 29, 2013

Update on the Giant African land snails that invaded our local environment according to FDACS/DPI. In Miami-Dade county only they collected more than 100 000 of these snails. Not so slow pest, after all, right?

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Division of Plant Industry

Giant African land snails (GALS) were found in Miami-Dade County neighborhoods in September 2011. Since then teams from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS/DPI)  have collected 125,000 of the mollusks. As eradication efforts continue, officials say a significant decline in the snail population shows the program is succeeding. Extensive surveys continue statewide, but the snail has not been found in any other county in Florida. The snails can grow to be eight inches long and attack more than 500 plant species. The snail can also damage structures by consuming stucco to obtain calcium to build its shell. Below are key numbers related to the snail eradication program.

9/8/11: Date the giant African land snail was discovered in Miami

500: Number of agricultural crops known to be consumed by the snail

8” x 4”: Maximum size attained by individuals of the species

View original post 162 more words

UF Small Farms Conference is around the corner! July 26, 2013

Spread the word about the Upcoming Florida Small Farms in Kissimmee

1st annual South Florida-UF Bee workshop! July 19, 2013

Dear green thumb:

The upcoming beekeeping extension event hosted by the Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory at the University of Florida, will offer the 1st South Florida Bee College (SFBC) to educate anyone interested in honey bees or beekeeping about the subject.

A novice will learn new skills and a newbie can walk away knowing how to start beekeeping.

Beekeeping and the pollination services it provides support the vitally important agriculture community Florida is known for.

SFBC will be held August 16-17 at the Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center in Davie. We are hosting Florida’s first Spanish-language beekeeping course track and have a 22-class honey show open to all registrants.

For registration: Click here

Agenda: 2 day schedule here

Thanks

Miami-Dade Comm. Horticulture Agent

Vanessa Campoverde