Following is an incomplete list of educational programs available for landscape professionals this winter into next summer.

December 2004 to May 2005: Commercial Pesticide Training and Certification Clinics, located throughout Illinois. Cost: $30 per 1- or 2-day clinic. Schedule of clinics available after November 1 at http://www.pesticidesafety.uiuc.edu/training/training.html or (800)644-2123.

November 29 to December 2, 2004: Illinois Professional Turf Conference, formerly known as the North Central Turfgrass Expo (NCTE), Pheasant Run and Resort, St. Charles, IL. Educational programs by in-state and out-of-state presenters, Spanish language general standards pesticide training, and a large trade show. Contact http://www.illinoisturfgrassfoundation.org/index.asp or (630)243-9ITF for registration information.

January 19 to 21, 2005: Mid Am Trade Show and Mid Winter Conference, 2005 McCormick Place, Lakeside, Chicago, IL. For more information, visit www.midam.org.

February 1 and 2, 2005: 2005 ProHort Symposium, Holiday Inn at I-74, Peoria, IL. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:35 p.m., February 1, and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., February 2. For more information, visit www.prohort.org.

February 17, 2005: Spanish/English Grounds Maintenance Program, Barber and Oberwortmann Center, Joliet, IL. Cost: $20/person. To register, contact the Will County Extension Office at (815)727-9296.

Spanish Language Program

7:00 a.m. Registration and coffee/rolls

7:30 a.m. Pruning Evergreens

8:45 a.m. Plant Problems, Jim Schuster

10:00 a.m. Break

10:15 a.m. Reducing Injury in the Hort. Industry, Bob Ahren*

11:30 Evaluation and adjourn

*This session cosponsored by Great Lakes Center for Occupational Environmental Safety and Health.

English Language Program

7:00 a.m. Registration and coffee/rolls

7:45 a.m. Plant Problems, Jim Schuster

8:45 a.m. Pruning Evergreens

9:45 a.m. Break

10:00 a.m. Spring and Summer Turf Care

11:30 a.m. Evaluation and adjourn

February 22 and 23, 2005: Southern Illinois Grounds Maintenance School, Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville, IL. For more information, call the Madison County Extension unit at (618)650-7050.

April 6 and 7, 2005: Spanish Pesticide Applicator Training, site in DuPage County, IL., to be determined. General standards training will be spread over 2 days from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost: ~$50. To register, contact the DuPage County Extension Office at (630)653-4114.

August 10, 2005: Spanish/English Grounds Maintenance Program, site in McHenry County, IL., to be determined. Cost: $20/person. To register, contact the McHenry County Extension Office at (815)338-4755.