Editor’s notice: Zach DeVries, assistant professor, College of Kentucky, supplied the next recap of November’s College of Kentucky Quick Course.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In November, PMPs gathered in Lexington, Ky., for the fiftieth anniversary of the College of Kentucky Pest Management Quick Course — a welcome return to in-person coaching. Whereas initially designed as a brief coaching expertise, the convention has grown to a 3-day program with one of many strongest lineups of audio system and subjects within the nation, and coaching supplied at this yr’s Quick Course didn’t disappoint!
This yr’s convention had attendees from 10 totally different states comprised of these working in pest administration, multifamily housing, public well being, college methods, and meals processing. As well as, this yr’s convention acknowledged two excellent technicians for his or her contributions to the trade. And in an effort to make sure coaching was accessible to all pest management personnel fascinated by attending, a live-stream possibility was supplied to these unable to attend in particular person.
On day one of many convention, talks got on tools operation and upkeep (Matt Christensen; Critter Management, Lexington, KY), pesticide resistance (Dr. Jamel Sandidge; Nisus Company, Rockford, TN), panorama invaders (Dr. Jonathan Larson; Dept. of Entomology, Univ. of Kentucky) and small flies (Scott Robbins; Motion Pest Management, Evansville, IN). These talks supplied a pleasant mixture of sensible recommendation paired with primary data of the pests and issues PCOs face each day.
On day two of the convention, talks got on rodents and wildlife management (Scott McNeely; Winston Salem, NC), minimizing pest harm claims and ant management (Kim Kelley-Tunis; Terminix, Atlanta, GA), what to do when catastrophe Strikes (Dr. Fred Whitford; Purdue Pesticide Packages, West Lafayette, IN), and stinging pests (T.J. Neary; Insect Applied sciences, Lexington, KY). These talks had the viewers each laughing and studying, particularly Dr. Whitford’s interactive demonstration of what to do when a pesticide spill happens.
On the ultimate day of the convention, talks got on mattress bugs and cockroaches (Dr. Zachary DeVries; Dept. of Entomology, Univ. of Kentucky), the enterprise of mattress bugs (Panel Dialogue), termite biology and management (Dr. Religion Oi; Division of Entomology and Nematology, Univ. of Florida), and battling the brown recluse (Dr. Jamel Sandidge; Nisus Company; Rockford, TN). These shows supplied vital updates and reminders on among the most difficult pests within the subject.
This yr’s Quick Course was not solely instructional, however loads of enjoyable. It was nice to see and work together with so many associates and colleagues as we start to return to regular. Subsequent yr’s Quick Course is certain to be even higher, and is scheduled for November 1-3, 2022 in Lexington, KY. No matter the place you reside, if you wish to study and enhance as a pest management operator you need to take into account attending.
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