As many as three hundred tri-state Green Industry personnel receive pesticide training updates(CEUs) at the Boone County Extension Service on an annual basis. Trainings have typically been done in the spring with as many three

separate all day offerings. 

Attendees at the spring 2017 trainings were surveyed by the Extension Service. We were seeking specific ways to improve these meetings. Many of the respondents requested a fall pesticide training. They stated a fall class after the growing season, but before the holidays, and snow removal responsibilities would be ideal.

In November of 2017 the Boone County Horticulture staff assembled a team of speakers from recommendations based on responses from the survey. Kentucky and Ohio State University Specialists as well as regional experts made presentations.

Pesticide Safety with emphasis on calibration and precise application techniques were highlighted. U.K. Water Quality

Specialist Amanda Gumpbert provided methods of analyzing sites for potential runoff and pesticide contamination.

Less than twenty miles seperates Northern Kentucky from an Asian Longhorned beetle infestation. This pest has the potential to devastate a wide range of forest as well as landscape trees. Attendees learned the significance of this pest and how to identify and who to contact with suspected sightings.

131 individuals representing 3 states,33 companies,7 municipalities and 4 universities attended the November meeting.

99 received Kentucky Pesticide CEUs, 13 received Ohio Pesticide CEUs, 23 received Arborist CEUs.

Southern States Manager Joe Bergman told us this was the most comprehensive and valuable training for himself and employees he had attended. " This was information we could readily use"