A working foreman is needed in the Arcadia area.  He will be responsible for maintaining and overseeing daily grove operations which will include fertilizing, herbiciding and spraying - being familiar with tractors and equipment is essential.  Salary commensurate with ability & experience.  Call 863 465-4629.

The Extension Service will offer a BMP Workshop on April 13 at the DeSoto County Extension Service office on Roan Ave, Arcadia.  The workshop will highlight “Fertilization and Variable Rate Technology”.  The program will include Spring Flush and Fertilization Rates that Promote Root Absorption and Minimize Groundwater Contamination; Nutrients, Leaf Expansion and Citrus Canker; Real Cost Savings Using VRT Over a Two-Year Period; Mid-Tech Products for Precision Application; and Dickey John Products  for Precision Application.  One CEU has been granted for the Restricted Use Pesticide in the core, private or Ag tree crop categories.  Additionally, two crop categories have been approved for the Certified Crop Advisor in nutrient management.  The program & lunch is free to interested parties.  Please register by calling the DeSoto County Extension Service office (863-993-4846) prior to Monday, April 11.   

A Certified Crop Advisor training session will be held at the Citrus Research & Education Center on April 13 beginning at 8 AM and concluding at 6:30 PM.  Registration fee is $100 and includes lunch, refreshments and handouts.  For more information about the CCA training, access www.crec.ifas.ufl.edu/cca.

      A 3-hour pesticide license review and testing class will be held Wednesday, April 20 at the Hardee County Extension Service Office, 507 Civic Center Drive in Wauchula.  The class will review the materials contained in the tests to obtain a private applicator pesticide license.  The class will begin at 9:00 A.M. and conclude at noon with the tests being given at 1:00 P.M.  Three CEUs (2 Core and 1 Private) will be offered to individuals, which have a current pesticide license.  A registration fee of $20.00 per person is required. Please call the Hardee County Extension Service Office at 863-773-2164 to register by April 13.  Remember--those with private licenses expiring in 2005 or later will be required to have a total of 8 CEUs (4 in Core and 4 in Private category).  License holders with a commercial license will have to have 4 CEUs in the Core and 8 in the licensed category.   

Florida Community College is offering a Community-wide JOB FAIR to the general public, Thursday, April 21 from 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm at their Avon Park, Arcadia, Lake Placid, and Wauchula campus’.  Any interested employers who would like to participate with a booth should contact Paul Fox, Career Center Director at 863-784-7410 and/or email: foxp@southflorida.edu.  Booths available on a first time come basis and are free.

Florida citrus growers should be on the alert for postbloom fruit drop (PFD), scab, and Alternaria brown spot.  Citrus growers can call a toll-free hotline sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection (1-866-365-3017) for the latest disease reports.  Dr. L.W. “Pete” Timmer, Extension Plant Pathologist at the University of Florida/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center, will provide current information on recent outbreaks, the status of the bloom and other relevant news on the hotline.  Information on PFD and other foliar fungal diseases is available on the citrus pathology website (www.crec.ifas.ufl.edu/timmer), including his PFD-Fungicide Application Decision System (PFD-FAD) and the Alter-Rater model for scheduling Alternaria brown spot fungicide applications.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District now provides 2004 GIS imagery on their web site.  You simply log onto http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ and follow the link.  The program is user friendly and offers a range of information of interest to growers and others.

Mosaic, a new PRVCGA member, is the combination of two leaders in the fertilizer industry, IMC Global and Cargill Crop Nutrition. Their business is to improve crop yields and livestock nutrition. They do this by mining, manufacturing, marketing and distributing fertilizer around the world. Mosaic offers customers all three key fertilizer products - phosphate, potash and nitrogen as well as specialty products. Mosaic employs over 8,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit Mosaic at www.mosaicco.com.

The Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) is establishing a new weather site in Arcadia.  Additional funding is needed to pay for operational costs to maintain the sight.  FAWN is offering the opportunity for sponsorships.  For $1,000 per year, each sponsor will have their logo appear in a special corner of the FAWN homepage.  When the sponsors’ logo is clicked, the viewer is sent to a page describing the sponsor’s business and includes a link to their homepage.  The FAWN website receives over 400 hits per day in normal weather patterns, increasing up to 4,000 hits per day during freeze events.  For more information contact John Jackson  (352)343-4104 or at jljj@gnv..ifas.ufl.edu.