GA/FL Green Industry Update

Its time to register for the GA/FL Green Industry update.

The cost is $30.00 for early registration. Student cost is $15.00. The meeting here will be held at Val Tech. but there are other locations. Three hours of credit will be given in Category 21 and 24. There will be 6 CEU's for arborists and if you are an arborist you know how hard those are to come by. For more information on the program open the below link and click on the GA/FL program.

Georgia/Florida Green Industry Update Video Conference Scheduled for November 17, 2009
The Universities of Georgia and Florida will host a one-day video conference for Green Industry professionals on November 17, 2009. The purpose of the conference is to provide the latest information on new production and cultural practices, new plants, new pests, and new products for Green Industry Professionals. Participants can choose to attend the conference at one of five locations in Georgia: Savannah, Valdosta, Perry, Albany or Columbus.
The program offers a dynamic line-up of speakers on a wide-variety of current topics as well as pesticide re-certification credits and CEUs for participants from Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.
Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Participants can register three ways: by mail, by FAX or on-line. For detailed conference information and registration, see http://www.caes.uga.edu/external/tccc/calendar.html or phone (229) 386-3416.

Landscaper Lunch N Learn Update Series

· July 21 - Dr. Clint Waltz - Cultural Practices for Turfgrasses -Thomasville, GA
· July 28 - Dr. Patrick McCullough - Turf Weed and Herbicide Update -Valdosta, GA
· August 4 - Dr. Will Hudson - Insects of Turf and Ornamentals - Thomasville, GA
· August 11 - Dr. Alfredo Martinez - Diseases of Turf and Ornamentals- Valdosta, GA

Cost: $15 per session, Register by Monday Morning Prior to the Update.Open to all interested.
Time: Noon to 2pm
Includes: Lunch, pesticide credits have been applied for each meeting- Cat 24, 27, Private

Register at the Thomas County Extension Office - 229.225.4130 - or the Lowndes County Extension Office - 229.333.5185 by Monday Morning Prior to the Update.
Open to all interested.

Download flyer here.

Thomas County Extension Conducting Pesticide Training Class

Thomas County Extension will have a pesticide training class coming up on March 3rd, Tuesday, starting at 9 AM until 12 AM.

This training program is designed for: New private pesticide license applicants and as a continuing education credit for private and commercial license. This class is typically for individuals in the agriculture sector, such as farming, landscaping, or forestry.

The program agenda will be:
8:30 Registration Check In
9:00 Pesticides
11:00 Break
11:15 Application Equipment
11:45 Test for new private pesticide license
12:00 End of program

Registration for the program is $5, and the deadline to registration is Friday, February 27th. Space is limited, so please reserve your spot by contacting the office at 229.225.4130 or email us at uge4275@uga.edu with the subject - Pesticide Training. The office is located at 227 West Jefferson Street, across from the library.

The University of Georgia Thomas County Extension service is an educational organization provided by the U.S. government, the state government through the University of Georgia and the Thomas County government. Anyone interested in more information can visit the website www.thomascountyextension.com.

Deciduous Tree ID in Winter

The University of Florida/IFAS – Leon Co Extension is offering a Tree ID Lab in Tallahassee, FL.

If you would like more info about the program you can call Genice Harris at 850-606-5202 or harrisg@leoncountyfl.gov by Mon 2 Feb, or you can also call the UGA Thomas County Extension Office, R.J. Byrne, at 229.225.4130 or uge4275@uga.edu

Due to the popularity of our annual late summer/early fall Tree ID Lab with foliated specimens, we’re offering for the 3rd year a similar program on identifying deciduous trees in winter, using twigs, buds, bark & form. The program will entail an indoor lab and field hike. Our goal is to teach you how to identify about 50 of N FL’s most prevalent deciduous species. We will use fresh specimens in our indoor lab. Bring a hand lens or magnifying glass.

Wednesday 4 February
9:00 – 12:00 am
Leon Extension AuditoriumTwig & Bud Indoor Lab

Monday 9 February
1:00 – 4:00 pm
Elinor-Klapp Phipps ParkBark & Form Field Hike

Free for UF Extension volunteers (Master Wildlife Conservationists and Master Gardeners)

$20 total for professionals (materials, CEUs, Certificate of Completion for attending all 6 hours of training)

$10 total for citizens (materials and Certificate of Completion for attending all 6 hours of training)

Contact Genice Harris at 850-606-5202 or harrisg@leoncountyfl.gov by Mon 2 Feb to register for either or both events, and for CEUs

Cost Estimating and Job Bidding Workshops for Landscape Professionals, March 12-13, 2009 at UGA, Athens

In today’s tough economic climate, accurate cost estimating and bidding on landscape projects are more important than ever. Bid too low and you lose money. Bid too high and you lose jobs to competitors.

On March 12 and 13, 2009 faculty in the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Science will once again offer hands-on bidding workshops for landscape professionals. The workshops will be held in a computer lab on the UGA campus.

Participants will learn how to use Excel-based cost-estimating and bidding spreadsheets developed by UGA faculty. Day 1 will focus on installation cost estimating, while day 2 will concentrate on landscape maintenance cost estimating and job bidding. Participants may choose to attend one day or both days.

Registration includes hand-outs, refreshments, lunch each day, and take-home copies of the computer programs. Registration is limited to 40 participants each day, so early registration is encouraged.

For additional information and to register, go to http://www.hort.uga.edu/extension/programs/CEJBW/index.html or phone 706/542-2861.

2009 Green Up - Landscaper Update Workshop

2009 Green Up landscape update and trade show planned for Feb. 24 in Perry, GA.

Who could benefit from attending Green Up?

Landscapers and turf managers.
Golf course superintendants.
Grounds maintenance workers and managers.
Others that maintain landscapes and turf.

Why should I attend?

Up-to-date training from university & industry speakers.
Four educational tracks – turf, color & design, landscapes and water issues.
Pesticide applicator re-certification credits in Georgia category 24 & private.
Trade show and interaction with others in the industry.

How can I attend?

The early registration fee is only $35 increasing to $45 after Feb. 10.
See a schedule and registration information at http://tinyurl.com/houstonanr.
For more information contact the Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA) at (706) 632-0100 or Green Up organizer Willie Chance, Houston County Extension Agent - (478) 987-2028 or wchance@uga.edu.

Landscapers learn about irrigation audits

Landscapers spent the afternoon on March 18, 2008 learning about performing irrigation audits on irrigation systems. Previous studies have shown that 90% of irrigation systems surveyed could save an average of 20% in water savings. Participants learned the basics of irrigation audits from Dr. Kerry Harrison (UGA Ag and Biological Engineering), R.J. Byrne (UGA Thomas County Extension), and Jake Price (UGA Lowdnes County Extension). Data collected in the field can be analyzed with the use of software, and provide the user with a map to identify problems in irrigation systems. This information will help identify problem areas and allow the irrigation owner savings in both water use and also cost savings on a water bill. After the class and hands on demonstrations, participating landscapers agreed that on average they could reduce irrigation water use by +20% after conducting an audit on an irrigation system.

Landscaper Irrigation Auditing

Calling all landscapers, and irrigation managers...

Improving Efficiency of Landscape Irrigation Systems

Learn How To Perform Irrigation Audits and Add Value

Where : Thomas County EMS Building, 1202 Remington Ave
When : Tuesday, March 18th, 2008
Who To Contact : UGA Thomas County Extension Office,
R.J. Byrne, 229.225.4130

INTRODUCTION……………………………………..……………............1:30

FIVE MAJOR STEPS OF AN IRRIGATION AUDIT……………1:35 - 2:30
(Classroom Session)

CONDUCT IRRIGATION AUDIT……...……………………………...2:35 - 4:00
(Perform live demonstration with hands on training)

SOIL SAMPLING AND HERBICIDE UPDATE……………………4:00 - 4:30
(Pesticide Credits: 3 hours Cat.24 and private applicator have been applied for.)



Knowing how to conduct a landscape irrigation auditing is essential for anyone responsible for designing or managing irrigation systems on urban landscapes such as residential lawns, sports fields, parks, commercial properties, and golf courses. The audit procedure will also benefit municipalities and city water utility personnel, particularly those interested in developing urban water conservation programs. The presentation will introduce the participant to the basic step-by-step procedure to conduct a landscape irrigation audit. This training will provide you with the know-how to conduct audits and add this value-added service to your business.

A joint program of Lowndes and Thomas County Extension