Pesticide Continuing Education
Free Pesticide Continuing Education Credits Offered at Show
Farmers, landscapers and other holders of a NC Department of Agriculture pesticide application license will have the opportunity to gain two hours of continuing education credits at this year's show. These sessions will take place Wednesday morning in the Special Events Tent at the show.There is no charge or pre-registration for these sessions. License holders should bring their pesticide license card or number to register on-site.
Spray Nozzle Technology and Droplet Size Management for Effective Coverage and Drift Control
Wednesday, February 4
Special Events Tent
Approved for one hour of the following NCDA pesticide continuing education credits: L N D X
This session will cover spray tip nomenclature and industry standards; international color code classifications, droplet sizing and categorizing; spray tip designs, spray angles and patterns, air Induction tip designs to reduce drift, and twin fan spray pattern to enhance coverage; tip selection and calibration; negative effects of low boom height; and ways to reduce drift.
The instructor for the session will be Débora de Oliveira Latorre. She is the Application Training Lead and Industry Liaison at TeeJet Technologies, where she has spent the past six years supporting the advancement of spray application technologies across agriculture. In her role, she develops and delivers technical training for sales teams, growers, researchers, and OEMs while strengthening collaborations with universities, chemical companies, and regulatory bodies. She also supports spray tip development and is currently focused on advancing new products for precision application technologies.
She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Weed Science and Pesticide Application Technology from São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil, where she also earned her degree in Agronomic Engineering. Débora further expanded her academic experience at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, completing both a postdoctoral research appointment and an exchange program with a focus on weed science, drift management, and application technology
Turfgrass Pests: Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Wednesday, February 4
Special Events Tent
Presented by Ray McCauley, PhD, N.C. State University
Approved for one hour of the following NCDA pesticide continuing education credits: L N D X
Turfgrasses are an integral part of everyone’s life and serve many purposes: providing recreational spaces, improving site aesthetics, and protecting infrastructure and the environment. Unfortunately, turfgrass pests did not get this memo. This presentation will address common turfgrass pests of North Carolina as well as their control. The use of Integrated Pest Management programs and Best Management Practices for specific weeds, insects, and diseases in cool- and warm-season turfgrasses will be emphasized. This presentation will also showcase additional electronic resources that attendees can utilize in the future.
Become familiar with Integrated Pest Management programs and Best Management Practices of N.C. of cool- and warm-season turfgrass species,
Be presented with turfgrass- and pest-management options. Cultural management will be emphasized, and more commonly used pesticides for managing weeds, insects, and diseases in turfgrasses will be provided,
Made aware of additional N.C. State resources related to turfgrass care.
This course has been approved for one hour of the following credits by the Pesticide Division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture- Ray McCauley, PhD, Turfgrass Extension Associate at North Carolina State University. Ray’s Extension duties entail working closely with sod producers, sports turf, utility turf, and golf courses to address issues and find solutions to common turfgrass problems. His research activities include turfgrass-selection and -cultivation, fertility, and pest control.
This course has been approved for one hour of the following credits by the Pesticide Division of the NC Department of Agriculture: Pending
Pesticide Handler Safety Training
Kerr Scott Building (Upstairs conference room)
English Sessions: 9:15 am – 12:15 pm
Spanish Sessions: 1 – 4pm
Max capacity each session: 35
Feb 4 Spanish Registration Link
Feb 4 English Registration Link
Feb 6 Spanish Registration Link
Feb 6 English Registration Link
This course meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requirements for pesticide handler safety training. Participants will gain the knowledge and practical skills necessary to safely mix, load, apply, transport, store, and dispose of agricultural pesticides while protecting themselves, other workers, the public, and the environment.
Training topics include:
- Overview of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) and handler protections
- Understanding pesticide labels, labeling requirements, and signal words
- Routes of pesticide exposure and methods to prevent exposure
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): selection, use, care, limitations, and maintenance
- Safe handling, mixing, loading, application, storage, and disposal of pesticides and containers
- Spill prevention, decontamination procedures, and emergency response
- Environmental protection practices, including preventing drift, runoff, and contamination
- Restricted-Entry Intervals (REIs) and Application Exclusion Zones (AEZs)
- Employer and handler responsibilities, including training verification and recordkeeping requirements
Spanish Instructor:
Angelina Ceja, MPA, QAL, serves as Vice President and Chief Education Officer at AgSafe, where she leads the development and delivery of safety, human resources, and compliance-focused education for the agricultural community. With more than a decade of experience, Ms. Ceja has played a key role in designing and expanding training programs that address real-world challenges facing agricultural employers, supervisors, and workers, including pesticide safety, regulatory compliance, and workforce development, with a strong emphasis on practical application and implementation of federal and state requirements such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Worker Protection Standard (WPS). Prior to joining AgSafe, she worked in the nonprofit sector supporting leadership initiatives throughout the Central Valley and currently serves as a board member for Protected Harvest, Ag Innovations, and the Golden Valley Health Centers Foundation.
English Instructor:
Natalie Gupton, MPA, CFRE, is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at AgSafe and brings extensive experience in workforce education, program management, and regulatory training delivery. Since joining AgSafe in 2017, she has supported the development and delivery of standards-based safety and compliance training for agricultural employers and workers, including programs aligned with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Worker Protection Standard (WPS). Natalie has represented AgSafe nationally through guest lectures at the University of Kentucky, North Carolina State University, and the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, helping advance practical, field-focused education on pesticide safety and employer responsibilities.
