Wyoming Groundskeepers & Growers Association, Inc.

UW pesticide applicator recertification part of weed association meeting in Casper

            Pesticide issues, rangeland and crop pests are among topics for weed management professionals at the Wyoming Weed Management Association (WWMA) meeting Jan. 17-19 in Casper.

            The meeting at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel is in conjunction with the University of Wyoming Pesticide Applicator Recertification program. The WWMA promotes and facilitates collaboration and education on weed management in Wyoming, said Mark Ferrell, University of Wyoming Extension pesticide specialist.

            “This conference is a great opportunity for people involved in pest control to interact with each other in finding solutions to pest management problems in Wyoming,” said Ferrell, who is in the Department of Plant Sciences in the UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The conference will fulfill recertification credits for all categories of pesticide applicators whose licenses expire Jan. 31. Others will receive 12 hours credit toward recertification.

“It’s the last opportunity anyone has for recertification if their license expires on Jan. 31,” said Hank Uhden, manager of the technical services division of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. “It provides a lot of updates, a lot of new technology and products available out there for control of any of the pest species, including weeds and invasives.”

Highlights include bedbug integrated pest management, crop weed control updates, weed control in turf and ornamental grasses, bird control in feedlots, rabies and skunk control, post-treatment grazing management to promote recovery of perennial grasses and mice and rat control, among other topics.

Registration deadline is Jan. 10, and the fee is $85 on or before Jan. 10. After Jan. 10, the fee is $105. To register and for program information, go to www.wyweedmgmt.org/.
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