Public Works Conference, private applicator training slated for July 29-30 in Uvalde

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present a two-day Public Works Conference in Uvalde.       The conference is open to anyone who needs continuing education units and/or any municipality, school or business employee who works to maintain public areas. The combination private applicator training and conference will be July 29-30 at the Uvalde Fairplex at 215 Veterans Lane. “As those involved in public works strive to keep their municipality beautiful and safe for the public to enjoy, we hope they will take a few days to learn about new technology and methods to manage recreational areas, sports fields and the wildlife and pests that can be a nuisance in those areas,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, Val Verde County, and a conference coordinator. Five agricultural or five structural continuing education units, CEUs, are available. Agricultural CEUs will be three general, one integrated pest management and one laws and regulations. Structural CEUs will be two general, one pest control, one lawn/ornamental insect control and one weed control. Registration for both the training and conference is $200. The fee for the conference alone is $20 for county employees and $40 for all others. No refunds will be granted unless the program is cancelled. The conference will move to an online format to comply with local and state regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic if required. On July 29, participants needing to acquire their non-commercial political subdivision, or NCPS, private applicator’s license to use chemical herbicide and pesticide controls in public spaces will be provided the opportunity for training. Check-in and registration for this training will be from 7:45-8 a.m. in the Dry Frio Room. Training is from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and lunch is included. On July 30, AgriLife experts will present the Public Works Conference at the Uvalde Fairplex. Check-in and registration will be from 9:30-10 a.m. Lunch is included. Topics and presenters will include:

• Managing Pest in Public Places the IPM Way – Janet Hurley, AgriLife Extension school integrated pest management specialist, Dallas.
• Managing Aquatic Vegetation in Public and Private Areas – Brittany Chesser, AgriLife Extension program specialist and lead diagnostic scientist, Texas A&M University Aquatic Diagnostics Laboratory, College Station.
• Using IPM to Tackle Turf Pests in Public Parks – Rebecca Grubbs-Bowling, Ph.D., urban water specialist, Texas Water Resources Institute, Dallas.
• Meet your Wild Neighbors: Managing Wildlife in Residential and Public Areas – Maureen Frank, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde.
• Weeding Out Risky Sports Fields – Grubbs.
• School IPM Refresher (optional) – Hurley.