First Detector Training for Washington and Idaho

WSU and UI Extension will present First Detector Training, for agricultural and horticultural groups including horticulturalists, nurserymen, grape growers, master gardeners and other interested growers.

The First Detector Training will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2012, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at Ensminger Pavilion on the WSU Campus.

The registration form and fee of $5 per person is requested by March 26.

The purpose of First Detector Training is to protect agriculture and natural areas from exotic pest species in our region and beyond.

The First Detector Training Program is a part of the Western Plant Diagnostic Network, which is a consortium of land grant institutions and state departments of agriculture throughout the Western United States.

Presenting the program will be Karen Ward, WSU Plant & Pest Diagnostician.

The program will emphasize plant disease, weed or insect species that are not yet introduced, or introduced but not yet widespread and therefore still controllable.

Some of the topics to be addressed during the training include Canker Disease in walnuts, Bacterial wilt of potatoes, Fusarium head blight of wheat, Barberry rust, Bed bugs, Emerald ash borer and invasive weeds such as puncturevine, perennial pepperweed, tansy ragwort and much more.

This program has been approved for three Washington, Idaho and Oregon pesticide recertification credits and three Certified Crop Advisor continuing education units.

The registration form is posted at http://whitman.wsu.edu.

For additional information contact WSU Whitman County Extension Office.