Dec 11, 2009

Online Course in Crop Protection AvailableSource: Texas A&M University

A self-directed online course is being offered for greenhouse employees nationwide, according to Dr. Charlie Hall, Texas A&M University Ellison Chair in International Floriculture.

The course provides introductory-level information about the greenhouse industry plus learning models on greenhouse crop production from beginning to end, controlling insects and diseases, and shipping and handling procedures, Hall noted.

“One of the unique features of this training is that it is offered in English and Spanish,” Hall said. “With the increased number of Hispanic workers in the green industry, this training series provides a valuable service to the industry by providing employees who are new to the industry with an overview of what greenhouse production of floral crops is all about.”

Videos are used throughout the course sections, and the instruction is available in both languages with transcripts for downloading.

The course costs $55 and is available through extension, an online collaboration among the Cooperative Extension System, which includes the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. People can enroll at anytime and receive a “key” to the site valid for 90 days.

The course is located at campus.extension.org under the gardening and horticulture section. Registration for the course may be completed at agrilifeevents.tamu.edu under “Online Courses.”