UF/IFAS Extension opens registration for online training courses

Do you have grower staff who are irrigating and fertilizing greenhouse crops, but have not had formal training in horticulture? The University of Florida IFAS Extension can help them make better crop management decisions. For the third year, they will be offering online training courses in English and Spanish starting on June 19, 2017. This year will feature a brand new course, Costing and Profitability.

Each course runs for four weeks, and includes a personalized certificate of completion. Classes are completely online, and include streaming videos, readings, and assignments. They are available any time of the day, and new modules activated each week during the course. To register, visit hort.ifas.ufl.edu/training/

The schedule of online courses planned for 2017 include:

Title Dates Level* Fee
Greenhouse 101 06/19 – 07/14 • $US199
Nutrient Management 1 (Intro) 07/24 – 08/18 •• $US199
Nutrient Management 2 (Advanced) 08/28 – 09/22 ••• $US199
Weed Management 09/25 – 10/20 •• $US199
Costing and Profitability 10/30 – 12/01 ••• $US499

*Level
• Introductory: Practical experience but without formal horticultural science education
•• Intermediate: Some experience and training, or entry university level
••• Advanced: Experienced, well-trained grower, or upper university level

The first course offered, Greenhouse 101, serves as introduction to the series of online classes offered by the University of Florida. It teaches the underlying horticultural science of plant growth to students who haven’t had a formal training in horticulture. Topics covered are plant parts and functions, photosynthesis and growth, greenhouse technology, flowering, compactness and branching, irrigation, nutrition, and plant health.