UC IPM developed two new online courses this year, one that’s award winning!
Air Blast Sprayer Calibration was developed by UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) advisors Lynn Wunderlich and Franz Niederholzer. The online course was one output of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) 2020 IPM Achievement Award given to the UC Spray Application Pest Management Alliance Team. In addition to training and outreach efforts, the online course was developed to increase adoption of best practices.
The online course was one output of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) 2020 IPM Achievement Award given to the UC Spray Application Pest Management Alliance Team.
Well-calibrated spray rigs apply pesticides effectively, increasing the success of the application. Applicator understanding of how weather influences spray droplets can reduce incidences of pesticide drift. Targeting growers, pest control advisers, and pesticide applicators working in trees and vines, this online course takes a close look at the basic components of a sprayer and teaches how to perform the calculations needed for calibration. The online course also covers how droplet size, nozzle type, and weather conditions influence drift and spray coverage. Conditions for pesticide applications changed under the 2018 Pesticide Use Near Schoolsites regulation. Air Blast Sprayer Calibration covers what you need to know and provides 2.5 continuing education units (CEUs), including 0.5 Pesticide Laws and Regulations hours from DPR. CEUs are also available from Certified Crop Adviser (CCA; 2.0 IPM) and the Arizona Department of Agriculture (2.5 credits).
Citrus Thrips was developed for pest management professionals, pest control advisers, pesticide applicators, and growers. It is designed to teach about the identification, biology, and management of citrus thrips, Scirtothrips citri. Topics also include damage to citrus and population dynamics and monitoring. This course was developed by Elizabeth Grafton-Cardwell, Joseph Morse, and Bodil Cass.
The Citrus Thrips online course is part of the Citrus IPM online course series.
The Citrus Thrips online course is part of the Citrus IPM online course series. The series includes one course for each of the key pests of California citrus and their associated natural enemies. Each course includes information on identification, life cycle, behavior, monitoring, and management of each pest. The eight courses in the series are California Red Scale, Citricola Scale, Citrus Peelminer, Citrus Red Mite, Citrus Thrips, Cottony Cushion Scale, Forktailed Bush Katydid, and Fuller Rose Beetle. CEUs for each course are available from DPR (1.0 Other), CCA (0.5 IPM), and the Arizona Department of Agriculture (1.0 credit).
UC IPM has 26 online courses, many with CEUs for a fee and all for free. Early-bird pricing (courses are half off) usually ends October 31st. Many of our courses are now credited not only by DPR for continuing education hours, but also by the California Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB), Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (WCISA), and the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
