The Alabama Cooperative Extension System at Auburn University, along with the Alabama Green Industry Training Center and the Alabama Pesticide Safety Education Program, host a biennial training conference called the Pesticide Applicators University (PAU).

Details

This training event is a two-day conference that covers a few commercial applicator tracks at this time. These tracks include the following:

• Ornamental Turf & Pest Control (OTPS/OTPC)
• Household and Industrial Pest Control (HPC/IIHC)
• Aquatic and Public Health (AQ/PH)
• Wood Destroying Organisms (WDO)

Prior conferences offered 30 points for the state of Alabama and had a range of approved points for other states such as Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The team works to make certain that every conference can offer points for other neighboring states.

Presenters for the Pesticide Applicator University range from research and industry to regulatory. The conference offers a growing number of field trips at each event that participants can sign-up for. Training ranges from lecture style to hands-on technique. Participants learn about insect identification, product selection and management, integrated pest management, and calibration. The conference is beneficial to individuals that are new to the pest control field and is a great refresher course for veteran applicators.

Past Conferences

In 2016, PAU hosted 221 Applicators from Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky. In 2018, PAU hosted almost 300 participants from Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Indiana and Louisiana. The conference grows every year and with it the information and education it strives to provide.

Pesticide Applicator University Team, at the 2018 PAU with Aubie.

2015 Pesticide Applicator University Team.