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Fall 2023 IPM Seminar – Registration is open!

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This is your invitation to join us for our annual fall pest management training on November 15, 2023 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Rd. Dallas, TX.  This will be a full day of pesticide applicator CEU’s from experts at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and our community.

As always, participants are eligible to receive CEU’s whether your license is from the Texas Department of Agriculture or the TDA’s Texas Structural Pest Control Service. This year we will offer 5 AG and 5 Structural. Additionally, we are offering a WDI CEU. You MUST enter your correct TDA License number at registration. Please enter your license number under the correct type of license (AG or Structural)  in order to receive the proper CEU credits. Be sure to include a good contact email address during registration. 

 

When you sign in at the event on Nov. 15th you will need to provide us with your actual license, we will be scanning licenses at the registration desk so prepare now!

 

Please use the link below to register online.

https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ento-ev-057

 

  • AG/Structural CEU Participant- Includes 5 CEU’s + WDI CEU – $100
  • On-Site/ Late Registrant- $125
  • Sponsor – Varies  Sponsorship includes a table and 2-minute speaking time at lunch
  • AgriLife Employee- FREE
  • TDA Employee- FREE

If you have issues navigating the site or questions about registering, please email agriliferegister@ag.tamu.edu

 

REMINDER: You MUST enter your correct TDA License number at registration. Please enter your license number under the correct type of license in order to receive the proper CEU credits. Again, please include a good contact email address during registration.  

 

For a full list of speakers and times you can check out the full agenda here  IPM Seminar Agenda_Fall 2023 IPM Seminar

 

AgriLife Extension 2022 Rodent Academy Dec. 13-15 in Dallas

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The 2022 Texas Rodent Academy, conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is scheduled Dec. 13-15 in Dallas.

The three-day course is designed for integrated pest management, IPM, professionals and those who handle pest management in their work for municipalities, universities, public schools and food-safety personnel.

The cost is $300, and the academy is limited to the first 50 participants to register at

https://tx.ag/2022RodentAcademy. Tuition covers course materials and meals.

On Dec. 13-14, the course will be from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. On Dec. 15, it will be from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Each day’s instruction will start at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at 17360 Coit Road in the center’s Water and Land Resource Building.

“The goal of the Texas Rodent Academy is to provide a highly focused and standardized approach to managing rodent populations through integrated pest management,” said Janet Hurley, AgriLife Extension integrated pest management specialist, Dallas.

After completing this course, graduates will be able to manage rodent populations more effectively because they will have a better understanding of the biology, behavior and habitat of rodents, she said. They will also have a better understanding of the contributing factors to infestation, effective ways of evaluating site-specific responses and strategies, and effective communication strategies with the public to achieve lasting change and improvements.

There will be a certificate of academy completion available for students who pass a final exam. Students will be expected to participate in class activities, hands-on exercises and classroom discussions. There are also three Texas Department of Agriculture structural pest control credits available.

Curriculum content

Participants will be broken into small groups each class day for learning exercises, which will have in-depth sessions on hands-on activities for all participants.

“I’m really looking forward to this year’s academy as we will have more hands-on demonstrations than in years past,” Hurley said. “Unique Pest Management out of Virginia will be joining us with their working dogs to demonstrate how you can use dogs to help with large rodent populations.”

Hurly said attendees will get to show off their exclusion skills during the afternoon sessions. 

Participants should wear comfortable shoes and dress for being outdoors.The hands-on, outdoor learning topics will include:

  • Site-specific inspections — what to look for.
  • Bait station, snap traps, exclusion.
  • Remote sensing, snap trap races, the exclusionfor small and large areas.
  • Using dogs for management and control.

The classroom learning topics will be:

  • Health significance of rodents.
  • Biology and behavior of rodents.
  • Overview of integrated pest management.
  • Exterior bait boxes – what, where and how?
  • Alternative tools and techniques for rat control.

Rodent Academy speakers

In addition to Hurley, event speakers include Claudia Riegel, Ph.D., director; and Tim Madere, rodent specialist, both with the City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite, Rodent Control Board.

Other program contributors include Ed Dolshun, technical director, Catchmaster, Warwick, New York; Emory Matts, regional sales supervisor, Rentokil North America, Rowlett; Dave and Jim Schuelke, owners, Twin Home Experts, Van Nuys, California; Mark Vick, assistant director of programs, and canine JJ, Working Dogs for Conservation, Chesapeake, Virginia; and Scott and Angie Mullaney, director of animal services, Unique Pest Management, Richmond, Virginia.

“Two of our guest speakers, known as the Twin Home Experts on YouTube, will discuss how they went from plumbers to rat hunters,” Hurley said. “They will also share how you can up your social media profile so you can reach more customers on a variety of platforms.”

Hurley said Madere, Matts and Dolshun will do a roundtable discussion about the best ways to use snap traps for those sensitive accounts.

Contact Hurley for additional information or with questions at jahurley@ag.tamu.edu or 972-952-9213.

Open House November 4, 2022 to Welcome our new Entomologist

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Bryant McDowell ’19 and Janet Hurley

It is with much please to announce that we have hired a new entomologist for the Dallas Center.  Mr. Bryant McDowell graduated with his Master of Science in Entomology in 2019 from Texas A&M University.  His thesis: Population genetics and the colony breeding structure of the invasive tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva, in Texas will allow him to help Texans with identifying ants.

McDowell’s role as the Extension Program Specialist for Urban IPM will be to support the IPM Experience House by providing training classes for pest management professionals.  In addition to the IPM House, Bryant will also be supporting Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s County Agents with insect identification, master volunteer training and supporting county programs.

McDowell will also support the school IPM program by helping with the educational events that are conducted with Dr. Don Renchie at the four regional events.

We hope you can join us for this event.

Join us on Friday, November 4th from 3:00 – 6:00 PM at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center Water and Land Resources Building for light refreshments and a chance to talk to the entomologist.  Tours of the IPM Experience House will also be available. Follow this link to register for the event.

There is no charge to attend; however, we are asking that everyone register so that we can have an accurate head count for the food and beverages.  Even this planner knows it’s a Friday afternoon during football season, so we do suggest wearing your favorite sports team gear as well.

To our past and present donors, our registration website has a place for you to sign up to donate to the IPM Experience House.  Bryant and I are hoping to use this event, our fall IPM seminar Nov. 15th and rodent academy to ‘pick’ your brains on what classes you would like to see us hold in 2023.

Rodent Academy

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Come spend two days learning from the experts about house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats.  In addition, to biology and common control methods, we will also be learning about new management techniques using electronic monitoring systems, diseases associated with rats, how the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) impacts your business, how to clean up when you have a heavy infestation and so much more including the hands-on portions of the class.

Class participants will receive an information manual, continental breakfast and lunch, and learn from a series of speakers.

IPM Experience House Announcing Structural Pest Control Training this Fall

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First up is the Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) Certification program which is part of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). It is the fastest growing certification program for pest management professionals nationwide, founded by Dr. Mike Merchant (retired) and Dr. Bob Davis to promote professionalism. This 3 ½ week course will provide a comprehensive review of fundamental entomology and basic knowledge requirements for the ACE exam. The training is intended as either a kickoff for the studying process, or as review and confidence building class (not a substitute for comprehensive studying). Coincidently, the class is also good for new technicians who would like a broad overview of the science of pest management.

Over the course of 7 zoom events Bob Davis, Robert Puckett, Sonja Swiger, Wizzie Brown, Molly Keck and Janet Hurley will cover content from the “IPM for the Urban Professional: A Study Guide for the Associate Certified Entomologist” in 2-hour slots each Thursday morning and Friday afternoons starting on October 22, 2021 and finishing on November 12, 2021. Zoom meetings will be held on Thursdays 8-10 am and Fridays 3-5 pm – Oct. 28-Nov. 12; you must be present during that time to view the content. Register here 

Second do you need your annual CEUs? Registration is now open for our 2021 Virtual Fall IPM Conference November 16, 2021: 8:15 am – 4 pm for pesticide applicator CEUs. If you need CEUs before your license expires, the Fall IPM Conference is a great place to get them. This is your invitation to join us for our annual fall pest management training – a full day of pesticide applicator CEU’s from experts at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and our community. This year we are adding termite to the end of the program per your request.

You will receive the latest updates on pesticide laws, pest biology and identification, and pest management strategies. As always, participants are eligible to receive CEU’s whether your license is from Texas Department of Agriculture or the TDA’s Texas Structural Pest Control Service. This year we will offer 5 Ag, 5 Structural, and 1 Termite CEU. You MUST enter your correct TDA License number at registration and MUST have an email address to receive instructions to access the virtual conference. To qualify for CEU’s, you must be present for the entirety of the virtual conference. The online platform will monitor your presence and CEUs will be awarded accordingly. Register here 

Next up is the fall course on Understanding Termites and Wood Destroying Insects, this will be an in-person class held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center on November 15, 2021, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Register here

technician digging termite trench in front of IPM House sign

IPM House Termite training, participate showing his skills.

This class is designed to orient new apprentices, technicians, and certified applicators to a better understanding of termite biology and control, as well as some of the most common wood destroying insects as well. As with all IPM Experience House classes, instruction is a combination of classroom and hands-on demonstrations. Dr. Robert Puckett, Assistant Professor and Urban Entomologist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension College Station will be joined by Mr. Ronnie Holder of BASF Corporation, Mrs. Nefertiti Darby, of Corteva Agriscience, Ms. Marty Keane, of Nisus Corp and Ms. Janet Hurley from AgriLife Extension.

Finally, plans are underway for the 5th annual rodent academy to be held in Dallas in person.  The dates have been blocked Dec. 14 & 15, 2021 and speakers are being contacted.  Confirmed speakers are Mr. Tim Madere and Dr. Claudia Riegel, City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board, along with Dr. Niamh Quinn, Ph.D. Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor, from the University of California Cooperative Extension.  This two-day event will blend learning about the biology of rodents with hands on activities.  For those of you wondering on Dec. 16, 2021, that day will be reserved for registered sanitarians and code enforcement with a focus on rodents, cockroaches and other indicator pests that can be a sign of a rodent infestation. Once we have all the details, we will post to our conference services website as well. 

To register for ALL of our events visit our conference services website at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ the ACE course and Fall IPM Seminar will be found under the Webinars Tab, the termite class will be posted under the Home page or you can search “IPM or Integrated Pest Management” to find all the courses we have available in person or via Zoom. 

8 Hour Pest Control Technician Training

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The Technician Training Course will satisfy the Structural Pest Control Services requirements for certification of Commercial/Noncommercial and Technician licensing of pesticide applicators (8 hours of training). This is the technician general training, and not a category training. The class is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with an hour lunch (lunch is not provided). The $150 course fee includes the required category training manuals, the general manual (AES-5073), and the SPCS Laws and Regulations manual (AES-6135), an $45 value, and instruction from experienced Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service trainer, Dr. Don Renchie.

8 Hour Pest Control Technician Training

by

The Technician Training Course will satisfy the Structural Pest Control Services requirements for certification of Commercial/Noncommercial and Technician licensing of pesticide applicators (8 hours of training). This is the technician general training, and not a category training. The class is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with an hour lunch (lunch is not provided). The $150 course fee includes the required category training manuals, the general manual (AES-5073), and the SPCS Laws and Regulations manual (AES-6135), an $45 value, and instruction from experienced Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service trainer, Dr. Don Renchie.

8 Hour Pest Control Technician Training

by

The Technician Training Course will satisfy the Structural Pest Control Services requirements for certification of Commercial/Noncommercial and Technician licensing of pesticide applicators (8 hours of training). This is the technician general training, and not a category training. The class is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with an hour lunch (lunch is not provided). The $150 course fee includes the required category training manuals, the general manual (AES-5073), and the SPCS Laws and Regulations manual (AES-6135), an $45 value, and instruction from experienced Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service trainer, Dr. Don Renchie.

8 Hour Pest Control Technician Training

by

The Technician Training Course will satisfy the Structural Pest Control Services requirements for certification of Commercial/Noncommercial and Technician licensing of pesticide applicators (8 hours of training). This is the technician general training, and not a category training. The class is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with an hour lunch (lunch is not provided). The $150 course fee includes the required category training manuals, the general manual (AES-5073), and the SPCS Laws and Regulations manual (AES-6135), an $45 value, and instruction from experienced Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service trainer, Dr. Don Renchie.

 

Pest Category Training

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This 8 hour course is designed to satisfy the Apprentice Training Requirements as specified in Section 7.132 (i) (2) “8 hours of classroom training in each category in which the Apprentice is to provide pest control services”.  In addition, the course can be used to prepare for the Structural Pest Control Pest category examination. The class is from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with an hour lunch (lunch is not provided). The $150 course fee includes the required category training manual, Pest Category (AES-5074), a $35 value, and instruction from experienced Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service trainer, Dr. Brittny Jones.