UF IFAS Extension offers online disease management courses

Growers can start learning how to prevent and manage diseases in nurseries and greenhouses with the introduction of the online training course from the University of Florida IFAS Extension. This is the fourth course of the award-winning Greenhouse Online Training courses offered by the university. This intermediate course is designed for growers with some experience and training and offers Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for many states in the United States. Topics covered include disease cycle, how to differentiate between a disease and other issues, organic and conventional disease management options and how to safely apply and handle fungicides. The course is offered in English and Spanish.

The course is taught by Dr. Carrie Harmon, director of the UF/IFAS Plant Diagnostic Center in Gainesville, Florida, and executive director of the National Plant Diagnostic Network. Growers in the course have described her as a “clear, concise and informative instructor” who help them “feel more capable identifying disease problems, and less intimidated by the disease books on the shelf.”

The course runs from Sept. 28 to Oct. 23, includes a personalized certificate of completion and has been approved for CEUs in several states. The cost is $199 per participant, with discounts if you register 5 or more. The last day to register is Oct. 5. Over 4 weeks, there are streaming video lessons, readings and assignments (about 3-4 hours total commitment per week), which can be accessed at any time of day. Click here to register (http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/).

For more information, including discounts for registering multiple staff, email greenhousetraining@ifas.ufl.edu, or visit http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/.