PORTLAND, USA: The 2022 Farwest Show, in Portland August 24–26, will offer 10 hours of credit towards pesticide recertification, including six in the Pesticide Class Pass trek that have Spanish translation provided. This gives nursery and greenhouse workers an easy way to build their knowledge, keep it current, and stay certified so they can use it.
Attendees can opt for a one-day pass for Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday for $49; a two-day pass with choice of days for $98, or a three-day pesticide pass for $119. These include any Spanish-only non-pesticide sessions that are held, as well. There are also options for a one-day or three-day all access education pass. All of these passes include three days of admission to the Farwest Show floor at no added cost.
“Farwest is here to help green industry people build their abilities and their knowledge,” said Heather Cyrus, events and education manager for the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN), which produces Farwest. “Good workers are never easy to find. For employers, it makes sense to keep your team versatile and their skills polished. Our goal has always been to make it easy, convenient and relevant for both employer and employee.”
Experts sharing their knowledge of pesticides at the Farwest pesticide classes include the following:
- Brian Hill, faculty research assistant at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center, will present a session on crop adapted spraying;
- George Grant, technical specialist with Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, will present a session on the prevention and control of root and crown diseases, plus a second session on integrating biological control agents with chemical spray programs;
- Dr. Luisa Santamaria, professor and Extension plant pathologist at Oregon State University, will present a session in Spanish on scouting for boxwood diseases;
- Dr. Jay Pscheidt, Extension plant pathology specialist at Oregon State University, will discuss pesticide coverage of difficult-to-spray plants such as boxwoods;
- Dr. Ann Chase, Co-founder, Chase Agricultural Consulting, will share recent research she has conducted on disease control products for nursery crops;
- Dr. Raymond Cloyd, professor and extension specialist with Kansas State University, will discuss the biology, ecology and damage linked to the redheaded flea beetle, a nursery pest, plus a second session looking at the different types of mite pests and strategies to manage them in landscapes and nurseries; and
- Alison Kutz, biocontrol advisor and owner at Sound Horticulture, will present two sessions on beneficial insects.
Everyone attending Farwest with any kind of pass can attend the keynote by Greg Bell, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 24. He will inspire attendees and their companies to unleash their potential by adopting a high-performance mindset, and focusing their attention on their core values and the things that matter most.
Following Bell’s keynote presentation, the trade show floor will open from noon–5 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24. It will be open from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thursday, August 25 and 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Friday, August 26. Conference seminars will run all three days starting at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, and the famous Farwest nursery tours will happen Tuesday, August 23.
Registration for the show and conference is live at www.farwestshow.com/register. There are several organizations offering professional credit for the various sessions. They include the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (OLCB), the Idaho Department of Agriculture (IDA), the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR).
Interest in Oregon’s powerhouse nursery industry remains high. Oregon nursery and greenhouse growers sold an incredible $1.19 billion in nursery material in the most recent year tabulated. The show floor will be packed with nearly 300 exhibiting companies, including nursery and greenhouse wholesale growers, equipment suppliers, allied service providers and suppliers for growers, retailers and landscape industries and more.
Complete details on events, daily schedules, speakers, and education for Farwest are posted at www.FarwestShow.com
