tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058Fri, 15 May 2026 20:40:53 +0000ClassesCEUpest managementsustainabilityproductionworkshopspesticidesmeetingsFNGLA Tampa ChapterWPSclassifiedsgrantsinsectswaterSWFWMDUSDAdisaster informationmarketingeconomicsresearchweedsBMPYouth programsweatherFNGLA Lake Chapterirrigationtreesdiseasesfertilizerfield dayprofitabilitycultivarstechnologyPSArisk managementclimatesafetywater restrictionswebsitesFDACSNRCSSurveysbiocontrolconferencelaborpublicationssalesfreeze managementherbicideswater qualityfactsheetauctionsenvironmentfinancial managementnursery visitswebinarsTBWGUF/IFAShurricanemitesonline classessoilstrade showPositions availablePrivate ApplicatorpresentationspropagationshippingvideoAg. Econ. Dev. CouncilDPIfloriculturemulchnewsletterspalmspositions wantedpotting soilsturfCompostCovidDOTFSAIPPSOSHAfungicideslicensesloanspruningretail nurseriesrootswhiteflyCharity projectELAPPEPAFDOTFFSPFNGLA Manasota ChapterGCRECIPMPPEPest alertPolk CountyQR codesSUSTAUSGSbenchmarkingburn restrictionscalibrationcommercial vehicledemonstrationsefficiencyexamsinsurancemanagementmisc.quotesregulationsreportsseedssod productiontaxestoolsviburnumA blog for the environmental horticulture production community.http://hortagent.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)Blogger672125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-6398252080797099940Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:35:00 +00002026-04-13T14:35:57.495-04:00fungicidespest managementViburnums are a cornerstone crop for many Florida nurseries, but over the past two decades growers have faced increasingly severe foliar disease problems—especially during propagation. What was once a nearly trouble‑free crop has, in some cases, dropped from near‑100% propagation success to total loss. Extension and research by UF/IFAS and funding help from the Florida Nursery Grower and http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2026/04/managing-foliar-leaf-spots-in-viburnum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-3176732145956946704Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:00:00 +00002026-02-24T16:00:44.119-05:00CEUClasseslicensesWPSIf you are looking to take a Private, Core, Ag Row, Pesticide test to obtain a Commercial, Public or Private Applicator Pesticide License, or need CEUs for those licenses.  If you or your agricultural employer needs to obtain a Worker Protection Standard Training Certificate, we have some classes that you might be interested in taking a look at. Here is the summary of the upcoming http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2026/02/west-central-florida-regional-pesticide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-4592316997177896305Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:34:00 +00002026-02-10T09:34:46.008-05:00benchmarkingSurveys Industry benchmarking can be a very important source of information for any competitive firm. It gives organizations a clear, data-driven understanding of where they rank compared to their peers and competitors. The data gained from these insights can help firms strategically plan, prioritize investments, and validate assumptions regarding business decisions.  What matters most about http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2026/02/do-you-know-what-green-industry-firms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-2103716428492215561Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:03:00 +00002026-02-16T10:22:02.476-05:00disaster informationfreeze managementIt is important to report any freeze damages you have to our local USDA Farm Service Agency offices.  This will help determine disaster levels and possible policy changes to assist ag producers.  Our Hillsborough County office is:  HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FARM SERVICE AGENCY201 S COLLINS ST STE 201PLANT CITY, FL 33563(813) 752-1474 ext 2Polk County office is:POLK COUNTY FARM http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2026/02/report-your-freeze-damage-losses.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-661752404911661489Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:17:00 +00002026-01-29T14:17:21.841-05:00CEUpest managementMake sure to drop in to our Annual Chilli Cook Off for some good cookin' and a pest update (A CEU if you need one of those also).http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2026/01/fngla-lake-region-meeting-in-bartow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-3778700687025489912Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:33:00 +00002025-10-17T09:35:03.504-04:00ClassesWPSDo you need to train agricultural workers to comply with the EPA's Worker Protection Standards (WPS) for their employment?  If so, you will either need to have a current Private Applicator License or a WPS Trainer Certificate to properly train them.  UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County is offering a WPS Train-the-Trainer Class so you can be compliant with EPA and the Florida http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/10/epas-worker-protection-standard-train.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-7059416710001752875Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:15:00 +00002025-09-12T13:15:18.777-04:00FDACSlicensespesticidesSome very important information from FDACS regarding pesticide license testing... Dear Valued Industry Professionals,  We’re sharing an important update regarding pesticide license testing in Florida. The final transition from the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension (UF/IFAS) to Everblue will take effect on October 1, 2025.  🔄 Key Changes & Dates http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/09/pesticide-license-testing-will-no.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-516458835747153224Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:10:00 +00002025-09-12T13:10:34.997-04:00FNGLA Lake Chapter @Mark your calendar!!!Lake Region ChapterFun & Fund-Raiserfor Scholarship Commitments, Awards for Local FFA Students.Putt-Putt Golf TournamentOctober 7, 2025at Family Fun Center 4825 South Florida Ave. Lakeland, FL 33813 Wanted: Sponsorship for Golf Holes! Sponsor a Golf Hole $100.00Your company will be advertised in the email newsletter and during the event.Please send ahttp://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/09/fngla-lake-region-hosting-minigolf.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-501404545657605182Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:59:00 +00002025-08-29T14:59:28.039-04:00CEUClassesPrivate Applicator UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County is hosting a Core and Private/Ag Row Pesticide Exam Training Course on Wednesday, September 16, 2025, at 9:00 am at the Extension Office Location in Seffner, FL.  The cost is $60.00 for the class.The Core training is needed by all license types.  The Private Exam Prep portion of the class will help you review to pass the Private Applicator http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/08/core-and-privateag-row-pesticide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-1114654196520285980Tue, 26 Aug 2025 17:14:00 +00002025-08-26T13:14:57.241-04:00economicsThe ornamental horticulture nursery and greenhouse industry contracted again for the third year in a row in 2024 in both Hillsborough and Polk Counties.  Hillsborough County growers produced an estimated $174 million in nursery and greenhouse plants.  This decreased 1.4% from the year prior, which was then about $176 million in 2023.  The average annual wage paid to someone http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/08/ornamental-horticulture-in-hillsborough.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-555442398009618341Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:13:00 +00002025-06-13T11:13:56.330-04:00CEUClassesWPS Do you need to train agricultural workers to comply with the EPA's Worker Protection Standards (WPS) for their employment?  If so, you will either need to have a current Private Applicator License or a WPS Trainer Certificate to properly train them.  UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County is offering a WPS Train-the-Trainer Class so you can be compliant with the Florida Department http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/06/worker-protection-standard-train.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-8901517275506617454Fri, 21 Mar 2025 20:35:00 +00002025-03-21T16:35:09.176-04:00FDACS FDACS Pesticide Website Update Coming FDACS is in the process of modernizing and updating their databases and web pages related to pesticide licensing. Consequently, there will be major changes to the look, feel, and location of the FDACS website. The update is set to launch very soon, in late March/early April.   FDACS web pages to be combined The following separate web http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/03/changes-at-fdacs-pesticide-license.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-5400377331670688045Mon, 17 Mar 2025 01:02:00 +00002025-03-16T21:02:15.158-04:00CEUClassesPrivate ApplicatorUF/IFAS Extension Manatee County is hosting a Core and Private Pesticide Exam Training Course on Wednesday, March 18, 2025, at 9:00 am at the Extension Office Location in Parrish, FL.  The cost is $60.00 for the class.The Core training is needed by all license types and the Private Exam Prep portion of the class will help you review to pass the Private Applicator Exam.  With both tests http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/03/manatee-county-pesticide-training-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-870887528127934895Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:37:00 +00002025-06-06T13:46:32.467-04:00economicsmulchproductionweedsExploring Rice Hulls as a Cost-Effective Mulch in Florida's Nursery Production*In the world of ornamental container production, weed control is a formidable challenge, consuming significant time and resources. While methods like preemergent herbicides, mulches, and hand labor are commonly employed to combat weeds, each has its drawbacks. An innovative approach gaining traction in west-central http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/02/do-rice-hulls-prevent-weeds-in-woody.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-6748973429955425700Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:32:00 +00002025-01-22T10:32:18.192-05:00efficiencygrantsherbicidesresearchUSDAUniversity of Florida/IFAS researchers including Dr. Chris Marble (weed scientist) were recently awarded a USDA-SCRI grant entitled ‘Labor, Efficiency, Automation, and Production: LEAP Nursery Crops Toward Sustainability. The project's goal is to help nursery growers evaluate and potentially adopt new forms of automation, improve production efficiency, and reduce labor. Dr. Marble is working on http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/01/new-grant-to-leap-into-future-of-labor.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-5982624518641190686Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:01:00 +00002025-01-22T10:01:33.375-05:00CEUFNGLA Lake ChaptermeetingsThe Lake Region Chapter of the FNGLA is hosting its Annual Chili Cookoff and CEU event on February 4, 2025 at the Polk County Extension Office in the Valencia Room.  The cost of the event is $10.00.  The event will start at 6:00 pm with social time and your best pot of chili tasting.  Dinner will be followed with a Core Pesticide CEU in conjunction with a talk on "Minimizing http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/01/lake-region-chapter-florida-nursery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-5737418832746503173Fri, 10 Jan 2025 15:46:00 +00002025-01-15T11:37:24.753-05:00Pest alertpest managementA new pest has been found in the Tampa Bay area that might affect your nursery plants. photo credit -USDA by Nisael J. Nieves López;Pest Alert: Two-Spot Cotton LeafhopperThe two-spot cotton leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula), a significant pest of cotton, okra, and eggplant, has recently established itself in the Caribbean Basin. This pest, also known as the “cotton jassid” or “okra http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2025/01/two-spot-cotton-leafhopper-pest-alert.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-8934672488487716848Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:28:00 +00002024-10-25T16:28:36.107-04:00disaster informationhurricaneSurveys Ag Producers -- Please see the relevant resources that may be available to assist with hurricane damage and recovery.Report farm damages or crop/livestock losses to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Farm Service Agency (FSA), even if you are not currently enrolled in an FSA program. Information reported to the USDA FSA is used to determine eligibility for http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2024/10/ag-producers-of-hillsborough-and-polk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-8176565280224479400Tue, 15 Oct 2024 01:46:00 +00002024-10-14T21:46:52.324-04:00 Producers,   USDA Farm Service Agency offers a variety of programs to help farmers and ranchers that have been hard hit by natural disaster events.  In order for the assistance to be available to producers, FSA must gather information to assess the agricultural damage due to Hurricane Milton. Please see the instructions below to report this information to the Plant http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2024/10/usda-fsa-ag-producer-damage-assesments.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-1494636487403340626Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:41:00 +00002024-10-04T16:41:14.298-04:00disaster informationhurricaneSurveys Dear Nursery and Sod Producers,UF/IFAS is seeking impacts incurred by Hurricane Helene.  There is an online survey tool that will collect your input.  Please take the time to record your responses even if you had no damage.  That will go a long way to getting the true impact of this storm on the agricultural community of Florida.  We appreciate your time and responses.&http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2024/10/ufifas-hurricane-helene-agriculture.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-9072208831154590009Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:09:00 +00002024-10-04T16:09:27.225-04:00disaster informationhurricaneloansIf you are a Florida farmer there may be assistance available to you in the form of a loan from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) which offers the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program to support farmers and aquaculture producers affected by natural disasters. This program provides low-interest or interest-free loans to helphttp://hortagent.blogspot.com/2024/10/hurricane-loan-help-for-florida-farmers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-5228656290562846244Fri, 13 Sep 2024 17:28:00 +00002024-09-13T13:28:52.307-04:00examsFDACSpesticides Extension will no longer offer pesticide exams in the near future. UF/IFAS remains committed to best serving our stakeholders through education, training, and support. The primary provider for pesticide certification exam locations has been UF/IFAS through the county Extension network. All 67 county offices have historically offered free exams, either on paper or via a computer. Due to http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2024/09/florida-pesticide-certification-exam.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-3430506797634052829Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:23:00 +00002024-07-26T12:23:43.005-04:00CEUFNGLA Manasota ChapterGCRECmeetingspest managementThe FNGLA Manasota Chapter will be hosting a meeting at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center located in Balm, FL on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  We will receive a tour of the research center, get environmental horticulture research updates, obtain CEUs, and feast on a tasty dinner. Attendance fee is $20.00 for members/$30.00 for non-members, and $http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2024/07/fngla-manasota-chapter-meeting-ceus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-2477034367843152379Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:45:00 +00002024-07-05T09:45:04.650-04:00insectsAlert: Thrips parvispinus Threatens Nursery CropsPhoto L.S. Osborne I recently attended a presentation of a colleague at the Florida State Horticulture Society's Annual Meeting.  She was discussing the damage done to peppers in South Florida's pepper crop by pepper thrips, Thrips parvispinus.  It was fairly significant, looked remarkably like broad mite damage, and it wasn't easy http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2024/07/thrips-parvispinus-regulated-invasive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3932828107733712058.post-681904626342558529Wed, 03 Jul 2024 18:06:00 +00002024-07-03T14:06:45.383-04:00classifieds A Polk County grower has outgrown their potting machine and is offering it up for sale.Stilt Pro rear load potting machine with hopper. Dimensions: 72” x 58” x 79”. Easy to use machine with an automatic collect and recycle feature that minimizes waste and clean up labor. Hopper holds up to one cubic yard of media and can be loaded with buckets up to 55” wide. Requires only single-person http://hortagent.blogspot.com/2024/07/potting-machine-for-sale.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ornamental Hort. Agent)0