Come to the Bay

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Come to the Bay

2026 Dates
Conference: January 27, 28 (Tuesday, Wednesday)

NEW – There will be an Overflow Pesticide Recertification class on Thursday, January 29

Once again, it will be held at the Hampton Roads AREC. located in Virginia Beach on Diamond Springs Road. And once again, the event is designed for industry professionals, giving you knowledge you need for success AND providing great opportunities to collaborate and discuss industry topics with fellow professionals.

REGISTER EARLY – There is a limited number of seats available for the pesticide recertification classes. The room is only so big.

The Wednesday pesticide recertification class is limited to 75 attendees. That same attendance cap applies to Thursday.

Scroll Down for the Program

Registration (Two Options)
1)Download a Form to return to us

2) Use PayPal to Register and Pay

Registration

Name(s) of Attendees

Organization or Company

Sponsorships

Download a Sponsorship Form to Return to Us – coming soon
Use PayPal to Register and Pay as a Sponsor

SCHEDULE

Tuesday. January 27
PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION TRAINING and TESTING
8:30 – 11:30 Review – Training for Category 60 Exam
12:00 – 2:00+ Testing by VDACS – Written Exam
– test takers MUST have an approval letter from VDACS
– Notify us in advance (virginiatuirf@gmail.com) if you intend to take an exam, letting us know:
(1) the exam you wish to take. Registered Technician (Category 60) is the default exam) but Commercial Categories will also be available
(2) if you need to take the Spanish Language version of the Registered Technician exam.

CERTIFIED FERTILIZER APPLICATOR CERT/RECERT TRAINING AND TESTING
12:00 – 3:30 Training
3:45 – 5:00 Test

COASTAL SHORT COURSE (Day One of Two: Lawn Focus)
8:00 8:15 Welcome
8:15 9:00 Turfgrass Selection Adam Nichols (HR-AREC)
9:00 10:00 Common Turfgrass Weeds Jeff Derr (HR-AREC)
10:00 10:15 Break
10:15 10:45 Mowing for Client Health Wes Bray (Lawns & Gardens Plus)
10:45 11:30 Turfgrass Watering & Disease Mgt Adam Nichols (HR-AREC)
11:30 12:30 Lunch (on your own)
12:30 12:45 Opening Remarks
12:45 1:30 Soil Health
1:30 3:00 Turf Insects and Emerging Ornament Insects Alejandro Del-Pozo (HR-AREC)
3:00 3:15 Closing Remarks and End

Wednesday, January 28
PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION – Pick Wednesday OR Thursday, Not Both
Categories we are seeking: 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10, and 60 (in the Associated Commercial Categories)
Hours – 3A, 3B. 6, and 60 (in those categories): 7:45 to 1:45
Hours – 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10, and 60 (in those categories): 7:45 to 3:45

COASTAL SHORT COURSE (Day Two of Two: Ornamental Focus)
8:00 8:15 Welcome
8:15 9:00 Botany, Why It Matters Wes Bray (Lawns & Gardens Plus)
9:00 9:45 From Container to the Landscape TBA
9:45 10:00 BREAK
10:00 10:45 Invasive Species Mgt Laurie Fox (HR-AREC)
10:45 11:30 Tree Health Care TBA
11:30 12:30 Lunch (on your own)
12:30 1:30 Drone Use in Ornamentals TBA
1:30 3:30 Pruning Practicum Jason Heizer (Bartlett Tree)

Thursday, January 29
PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION – Pick Wednesday OR Thursday, Not Both
Categories we are seeking: 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10, and 60 (in the Associated Commercial Categories)
Hours – 3A, 3B. 6, and 60 (in those categories): 7:45 to 1:45
Hours – 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10, and 60 (in those categories): 7:45 to 3:45

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