VASCM: 2011 Pest Management Conference this Weekend in San Luis Obispo

[Mary Lindsay, Muns Vineyard]

The CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) is holding its 
Sustainable Agriculture Pest Management Conference this weekend. It is 
short notice, but for those interested (and CEUs are granted):

*10^th Annual Sustainable Agriculture Pest Management Conference*

/December 2 - 3, 2011/

San Luis Obispo County Veterans Halls, San Luis Obispo, CA

We invite you to update your skills, earn continuing education credits, 
and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of San Luis Obispo at the /10th 
Annual Sustainable Agriculture Pest Management Conference/. This 
conference provides an opportunity for pest control advisers, organic 
consultants, and growers to enhance their skills in innovative pest 
management practices for organic and sustainable agriculture. The 
conference, co-hosted by CCOF and the Cal Poly College of Agriculture, 
Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) Center for Sustainability 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=5njbb8n6&et=1108129501927&s=23143&e=001QUhoj5MdW0quz_I3wvR3pstuzfxhEVVclzAmYaivlqeOiiFaN4Z8kCR5dYQAzCQKN_c5zDbHNFc1hRxClgnmUqVvIdRibIrQRaYBThduFFlyuK7ICcNpwQ==>, 
will feature Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross as keynote 
speaker, and will focus on tools for organic production practices, 
biologically-integrated pest control, pesticide resistance management, 
and beneficial soil organisms, with updates on important regulatory 
issues. A hands-on workshop on day two will include instruction by 
industry experts on soil, water, and pesticide residue evaluations with 
a special focus on issues surrounding MRLs (maximum residue levels).

*Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be awarded as follows: *

    * 12.5 CEUs for Pest Control Advisers, including 2 Laws and
      Regulations Units, have been approved by the California Department
      of Pesticide Regulation (8 units for day one, 4.5 additional units
      for day two).
    * 12 CEUs for Certified Crop Advisers have been approved by CA
      Certified Crop Advisers.

For a full agenda and registration details, visit the CAFES website 
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=5njbb8n6&et=1108129501927&s=23143&e=001QUhoj5MdW0o0hRJkt8aHTTiRH1B7aT7ks3GgfphFcz4IOvVGfhsJXxLs_0fByOkQmKt2sZzSkzYQdnajkR2uU-WVSwzzn4DFNMRMidFw4qUXNbRyw6KP16aDF7ILvOG5a53ltcBHRDXLOSxKLrv0x3fK9LCFefrM> 
at http://www.cfs.calpoly.edu/programs/PMC11agenda.html
For questions regarding registration, please email Cal Poly Continuing 
Education <mailto:continuing-ed at calpoly.edu> at 
continuing-ed at calpoly.edu or call (805) 756-2053.


DAY 1 (Friday)
*SAN LUIS OBISPO VET'S HALL*
*8:00 am -- 5:15 pm*

*8:00: Policy Update: CDFA's Statewide Plant Pest Prevention and 
Management Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Organic Input 
Materials Update (AB 856)*
Claudia Reid, Policy Director, CCOF

*9:00: Keynote - How CDFA's Budget Impacts Pest Management in California*
Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

*10:00: Break*

*10:15: Stakeholder Panel - Managing California's Agricultural Pests: 
Moving Beyond Controversy to Cooperation
* *Helene R. Wright, CA State Plant Health Director, USDA APHIS
** *Betsy K. Peterson, Director, Technical Services, California 
Association Nurseries and Garden Centers
*** Andrea Fox, Legislative Policy Analyst - Governmental Affairs, 
California Farm Bureau Federation / Member of California Invasive 
Species Advisory Council
** *Margareta (Greta) Lelea, Post doctoral researcher in Entomology and 
Human and Community Development, UC Davis
** *Jen Sedell, Student in Human and Community Development, UC Davis
*** Robert Leavitt, Director, Plant Administration, Division of Plant 
Health, CDFA
** *Caroline Cox, Research Director, Center for Environmental Health

*12:15:  Lunch*

*1:00: RWQCB Water Quality Update*
Angela Schroeder, Agriculture Regulatory Program Manager, Central Coast 
Regional Water Quality Control Board

*2:00: Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for Pesticides and the Global Food 
Safety Initiative (GFSI) Auditing*
** *Enrique Urrutia, Audit Technical Manager, Primus Labs
** *Sonny Pulido, Audit Technical Assistant Manager, Primus Labs

*3:00: Break**
*

*3:15: Alternative Systems for Management of Soil-borne Pathogens and Weeds*
Oleg Daugovish, Strawberry and Vegetable Crop Advisor, Ventura County UC 
Cooperative Extension

*4:15: Lessons from Small-Scale Polyculture for Sustainable Pest Management
*JakeBlehm, Assistant Executive Director, Ecology Action

*5:15: Conclusion*

DAY 2 AGENDA <http://www.cfs.calpoly.edu/programs/PMC11day2agenda.html>

"TECHNIQUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EFFECTIVE SOIL, WATER AND
PESTICIDE RESIDUE TESTING"

***************************

*THIS CONFERENCE IS BEING OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH CAL POLY
CONTINUING EDUCATION. ENROLLMENTS
WILL BE PROCESSED THROUGH
CONTINUING EDUCATION 
<http://www.continuing-ed.calpoly.edu/programs/pestmanagement.html>*.

*For sponsorship and other information,
please contact the
CAFES Center for Sustainability at
(805)756-5086 /or/ cfs.calpoly.edu*