University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, in partnership with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, is offering a workshop April 11 to train people throughout the state how to eliminate pests while protecting pollinators. The workshop is meant for certified applicators, people who regularly handle pesticides as part of their jobs, such as farmers, ranchers, park employees and groundskeepers. Attendees will receive continuing education units.

"Pesticide applicators have to be mindful about how to kill the bad pests while protecting the beneficial insects," Cooperative Extension Urban Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Safety Program Assistant Melody Hefner said. "You have to remember - if you kill the beneficial insects, you inherit their job."

Topics include:

- Nevada Pollinators, presented by State Entomologist Jeff Knight with the Nevada Department of Agriculture
- Nevada's Pollinator Protection Plan, presented by Environmental Programs Coordinator Charles Moses with the Nevada Department of Agriculture
- Pesticide Certification Update, presented by Moses

The training will be held in Las Vegas at the Clark County Cooperative Extension office, 8050 Paradise Road, suite 100, and will be made available via interactive video to 13 other Cooperative Extension locations throughout Nevada, including Battle Mountain, Caliente, Carson City, Ely, Eureka, Fallon, Gardnerville, Hawthorne, Lovelock, Reno, Tonopah, Winnemucca and Yerington. The training runs from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $30 and covers three continuing education units.

Cooperative Extension, in partnership with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, has offered pesticide application workshops for the last 20 years, training thousands of Nevadans in safe pesticide use.

The April 11 workshop is not intended to help those who have not yet been certified to prepare for the Certified Pesticide Applicator exam. However, exams are given weekly at the Nevada Department of Agriculture offices in Sparks and Las Vegas by appointment only. Study materials and practice exams are available online at www.nevadapesticideeducation.info.

Limited seating is available for the April 11 workshop. Register by April 6 online at https://4-11-16pesticide-safety-education-program.eventbrite.com or by contacting Hefner at 775-336-0247 or hefnerm@unce.unr.edu. Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should call at least three days prior to the scheduled event.