Jeremy Briscoe has taken the helm as State Chair of the California Association of Pest Control Advisers. Briscoe, who serves as National Ag Business Manager for Certis USA, Atascadero, Calif., accepted the gavel from last year's chair Dennis Duda of Wilbur-Ellis, Rio Linda, Calif., at CAPCA's 38th Annual Conference & Agri-Expo in Anaheim.
Studies show that fewer than 21% of CAPCA's members are under the age of 44 and with aging PCAs retiring, the state could experience a shortfall of qualified PCAs. Since its inception, the Pathway to PCA program has recruited more than 200 PCAs into the profession.
Briscoe, the new CAPCA Chair is a 13-year participant of the 3,100-member organization, was named 2008 CAPCA Member of the Year, an award he shared with Sean Morelos of BASF Corporation, San Luis Obispo. Briscoe and Morelos created the "Pathway to PCA" program to educate college students about career opportunities as pest control advisers.
Headquartered in Columbia, MD, Certis USA is a leading manufacturer and distributor of a broad line of biopesticide products for specialty agricultural and horticultural markets and the home and garden market. Certis USA products provide valuable solutions by meeting the challenges faced by today's growers who are seeking sustainable alternatives, resistant pest management and harvest solutions, and low pesticide residues for market flexibility and export accessibility.
Certis USA is an innovator in these technology categories:
* Neem extracts (azadirachtin and clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil)
}*Bacillus thuringiensis bioinsecticides
* Baculovirus technologies
* Pathogenic and pesticidal fungi technologies
The company works closely with researchers, farm advisors, consultants and growers to fit products to specific market needs. CYD-X insecticidal virus is used in Washington state to control codling moth on apples, while in California; it controls the pest in walnuts. SoilGard microbial fungicide keeps California nursery soils disease free.
More is at www.CertisUSA.com.