Ornamental, turfgrass applicator course set

     Jones County will offer the Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, Nov. 7. The program can be seen at locations across Iowa through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) team.

     The local attendance site is Citizens State Bank-Youth Development Center, 800 N. Maple St., Monticello. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the course runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is $35 on or before Oct. 31 and $45 after Oct. 31. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact Nanci Null at the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Jones County by phoning 319-465-3224.

     The course will provide continuing instructional credit for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 3O, 3T, 3OT, and 10. The IDALS required topics to be covered include equipment calibration and safe application techniques; pesticide drift reduction; and phytotoxicity. Pest and pest management topics (including pesticides) include updates on emerald ash borer and bur oak blight; hard to control weeds in lawns; RoundUp for lawns; compaction reduction strategies; identification of common turfgrass insects; and disease identification symptoms on golf courses.

     Additional information and registration forms for this and other courses being offered by the PSEP team can be accessed at www.extension.iastate.edu/psep.