NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

December 10, 1998

Turfgrass Association Annual Meeting, Pesticide Recertification Scheduled

The 1999 North Central Turfgrass Association (NCTGA) annual meeting will be held Tuesday through Friday, Jan. 12-15, at the Ramada Inn Plaza Suites & Conference Center in Fargo. NCTGA members include golf course superintendents and lawn care professionals.

The four-day event will kick off at 8 a.m. on Tuesday with a day-long Fred Pryor workshop titled "How to Manage Conflict, Anger, and Emotions." Concluding the conference on Friday will be an all-day pesticide recertification workshop scheduled to start at 8 a.m.

"The (Pryor) seminar teaches strategies for handling conflict and conflict resolution, starting with identifying your own self-destructive behaviors," says Ron Smith, extension horticulturist at North Dakota State University.

Participants will learn how to choose the most positive, productive responses to keep disagreements with customers and clients from escalating into arguments. The trainers will provide five easy tools to help cut through anxiety and tension in order to make a point calmly and rationally. The seminar also includes information on how to let go of old resentments so damaged relationships can improve.

Fees for the Fred Pryor workshop are $15 for NCTGA members and $50 for nonmembers. Those planning to attend should send a check made out to "Fred Pryor workshop" to NCTGA, 2316 Flickertail Dr. S., Fargo, ND 58103. Attendees should include their full names with their registration fees. For more information about the Fred Pryor workshop, contact Deborah Johnson with the NCTGA at (701) 293-1997.

The pesticide recertification workshop will provide turfgrass and ornamental professionals with updates on pesticide use and handling. This workshop is required for all those who will be handling or applying registered pesticides during the 1999 growing season. The workshop will include information on integrated pest management (IPM) practices, disease management, weed control, pesticide safety, environmental protection, insect management, pesticide law updates, ground water quality and pesticide use, and sprayer calibration.

For more information about the pesticide recertification workshop, call (701) 231-7180.

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Source: Ron Smith (701) 231-8161

Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136