11/28/08 Pesticide Credits

Pesticide Credits. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Are you coming up on your pesticide recertification? Margaret Tucker, Program Manger for certification and training says the Washington State Horticultural Association is giving you the chance to pick up some credits. TUCKER: It is sponsored by the Washington State Hort Association so what Department of Agriculture's role is - is to review the agenda and determine how many credits we are going to give for the continuing education of pesticide license holders. Tucker says it is a 5 year process. TUCKER: Every recertification period is 5 years long. Growers have up to that 5 year period to get the credits and they can get no more than 10 credits in a year so they will be getting at credits in a least 2 of the 5 years that they are in that continuing education cycle. As soon as they finish one cycle successfully, they will start a brand new 5 year cycle. During this years' annual Hort meeting that begins on Monday in Yakima, Tucker says they can get some needed credits. TUCKER: The Hort Association has a history of putting on content relevant courses for those in the tree fruit industry and they've also been one of the leaders I providing education in both English and Spanish so we're giving 2 credits to a Spanish session as well as 2 credits to an English session. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.