Abstract
According to a 2005 University of Florida Nursery and Landscape Industry Economic analysis report made by John J. Haydu and Alan W. Hodges, Florida’s landscape sector installation, maintenance, and design accounts for $5.255 billion sales per year. Almost 30% ($1.582 billion) is attributed to landscape maintenance business. The use of IPM principles in Florida’s 6 million acres of land, in order to minimize pest problems and apply chemicals only when appropriate, is a key concept if we want to live in a sustainable environment. Traditionally, the majority of Extension landscape management programming and educational publications available on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) topics have been produced and directed towards an English-speaking audience. However, in Florida demographics have rapidly changed in the last 10 to 15 years and the number of Spanish-speaking landscape management companies has increased. Twenty-eight participants from 14 different companies completed the IPM training. In a telephone survey conducted 6 months after the class, participants indicated they were using the class handouts anywhere from daily to once per month with average use of once to twice a week. The survey also indicated that as a result of the training, the participants felt more confident talking to their clientele on pest-related topics.
