Dicamba trainings being offered in February and March.

Summary: Three options are being offered for auxin trainings for growers and pesticide applicators this year. The classes are being held in February and March. Find out more on dates, locations and times at https://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/index.htm

• Many people think farmers don’t have much to do in the winter after the harvest is done. That would be nice, but wintertime has always been a very busy time for growers.
• There are meetings to attend, equipment to repair, planting decisions to make and classes to complete.
• For example, we have a number of auxin classes coming up in February and March that growers and pesticide applicators may be interested in.
• This year, farmers have more options for auxin training compared to years past, particularly for applicators using over-the-top dicamba products such as XtendiMax, Engenia and Tavium on dicamba-tolerant crops.
  

  A 2017 auxin training class shows a traditional in-person session.

  The auxin training options include:
  – live Zoom meetings, or
  – prerecorded videos offered through N.C. State University Cooperative Extension, or
  – training through the individual product manufacturers.

  Live Zoom classes will be held Feb. 14, Feb. 22, March 14 and March 29, all beginning at 8:30 a.m.

• The industry training is new this year and a welcomed option for growers and applicators. Training is offered by BASF, Bayer and Syngenta.
• This will add some variety, especially for applicators who have been through the Extension training before.
• I think giving applicators extra options to watch one of the pre-recorded training videos from the manufacturers may be helpful, especially if a grower or applicator has limitations with their internet connection.
• As a reminder, applicators using 2,4-D Enlist products are NOT required to receive training. But, I would certainly encourage them to take the training, too.
• These training opportunities are important for anyone planning to use auxin products. I believe training has helped growers understand the best management practices, which has helped reduce accidental damage to neighboring crops.