The SPDN will host First Detector Training session at the annual Horticultural Inspection Society, Southern Chapter (HISSC) meeting on September 13, 2004 in Baton Rouge, LA. A diverse group of speakers representing Louisiana State University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Florida will be involved in the training that will include information about exotic pathogens and insects of concern to the southern region, quality and secure sample submission, and digitally assisted diagnosis. For more information about this training, please contact Amanda Hodges achodges@ifas.ufl.edu.

The University of Florida, as part of the State Agricultural Response Team (SART) training, will conduct SPDN first detector training for Florida personnel on September 23, 2004 in Belle Glade, FL. For more information please see the Florida SART webpage at: http://www.flsart.org/. North Carolina has also developed a state-level animal/agriculture response organization http://www.ncsart.org/. These two SART plans may serve as models for other states to develop SART initiatives. Don’t forgot that your state’s SPDN training could be incorporated into future SART sessions!

Entomology workshop: The SPDN will host an intensive ‘Homoptera’ workshop <http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/homoptera> for general diagnosticians and extension specialists in Gainesville, FL, from December 9-11, 2004. SPDN entomology state representatives, please remember to either 1) register by October 1, 2004 or 2) provide the name of participants from your state by this date. The deadline for early registration for this training session is October 15, 2004. Currently, individuals that are not one of the two SPDN representatives per state may contact Amanda Hodges achodges@ifas.ufl.edu <mailto:achodges@ifas.ufl.edu> and be included on a waiting list.

SPDN Entomology: Interested in the SPDN entomology program and planning to attend the 14th annual ornamentals workshop in Hendersonville, NC from September 27-October 1, 2004? SPDN entomology representatives attending the conference and other interested individuals are welcome to attend an open discussion session that will be held on Tuesday evening of the conference. For more information about this workshop, please see their website at http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/plantpath/orn_wkshop/about_wkshop.html.

SPDN Training and Education: Approximately 200 First Detectors including county extension agents, CCA's, agronomists, and government agency personnel were trained in Virginia on September 1 and 2, 2004. Special emphasis was placed on soybean rust scouting and recognition. Soybean rust, one of the USDA's select agents, is a major concern for U.S. agriculture.

The SPDN will host First Detector Training session at the annual Horticultural Inspection Society, Southern Chapter (HISSC) meeting on September 13, 2004 in Baton Rouge, LA. A diverse group of speakers representing Louisiana State University, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Florida will be involved in the training that will include information about exotic pathogens and insects of concern to the southern region, quality and secure sample submission, and digitally assisted diagnosis.

First Detector Educator Training will be held on October 20, 2004 in Homestead, FL (PDF of agenda) and October 21, 2004 in Palmetto, FL (PDF of agenda). Please submit your registration requests on or before October 8, 2004. For more information about this training session, contact Amanda Hodges achodges@ifas.ufl.edu.

NPDN Training and Education: Approximately 40 First Detectors were trained in Iowa on August 20, 2004. Special emphasis was placed on soybean rust training.