By: Ernie Lugo, Yuma ESS
Phoenix course held at AZDA Headquarters
This year the Arizona Department of Agriculture held their Environmental Service Section Recertification Course which offers continuing education units for those seeking to renew their ESS License.
For nearly 35 years, ESS staff has traveled to different parts of the state to offer this course which yields a total of 6 CEUs free of charge.
Last year's course was held online as a precautionary measure related to the current COVID-19 situation. This year AZDA leadership will consider its options depending on what COVID-19 statistics are nearing December of 2022.
Participant's input was good. This years topics ranged from protecting pollinators to conducting chemigations. Our guest speakers this year were Jenny Weber of the University of Arizona, Andrea Mitchell, Pesticide Officer with the Cocopah Indian Tribe in Somerton and Mario Avalos, the manager for the Helena Chemicals branch in Yuma.
The locations chosen this past year were different then prior years in an effort to bring this event closer to everyone throughout the state.
We are currently in the planning stages of the 2022 Recertification Course and welcome any ideas you may have. Please post them in the comments on here or our Facebook post, or you can email them to elugo@azda.gov.
Yuma course held at the Yuma County Public Works building.
Our last course was held at the Marana High School.
You may reach Ernie Lugo at elugo@azda.gov or at 928-344-7909.