On March 6-7, PCOC held the 5th Annual Termite Academy at the University of California Berkeley’s Richmond Field Station. The two-day event focused on helping participants better understand termite control and identification techniques along with general information regarding Wood Destroying Organisms (WDOs), writing WDO reports, sales techniques, common violations, controlling WDOs and much more.

Speakers at Termite Academy included esteemed educational speakers Dr. Vernand Lewis, PhD, Research Entomologist & Consultant; Dr. Chow-Yang Lee, PhD, UC Riverside Entomology along with Dr. Sang-Bin Lee, Department of Entomology & Nematology, University of Florida, Dr. Menglin Wang, PhD, UC Berkeley along with industry specialists Jeffery Marang (Structural Pest Control Board), Doug Belle (Cardinal Professional Products), Dr. Andrew Sutherland (Urban IPM Advisor), Todd Veden (Terminix), Ed Hernandez (Ensystex), Doug Fout (Doug’s Bugs Termite Control) and Foster Brusca (Pest Posse).

Termite Academy attendees also got an opportunity to tour the Essig Museum of Entomology research museum located on UC Berkeley’s main campus. The Essig Museum houses terrestrial arthropods and contains the world's largest collection of California insects.

PCOC appreciates Termite Academy Supporting Sponsors Forshaw and Target Specialty Products along with District Sponsors PCOC-Bay Area, PCOC-Central Coast and PCOC-San Fernando.

PCOC invites you to attend the upcoming “Best Pest” Conference & Expo 2024, which is set for June 19-21, 2024, in Stateline, Nevada — at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino. The enhanced event should draw an increased number of participants that will provide more value and opportunities for our pest control industry vendors. 

PCOC CEO Michael Wilson remarked “PCOC leadership and staff are dedicated to empowering our members to achieve the highest level of efficiency and continued success in the pest control industry.” The professionals that attend Best Pest 2024 will learn additional ways to improve their business operations and stay on top of trends. 

Join us in our ongoing mission to assist, educate, and share knowledge. We look forward to seeing you at Best Pest 2024!

As mentioned in February’s edition of News Briefs, the Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC) applauded the California Department of Pesticides (DPR) decision not to proceed with proposed regulations concerning pesticide decontamination sites. As part of that announcement in early February, DPR did indicate that the Agency would “initiate a new regulatory action to adopt/amend regulations pertaining to the same or similar subject matter on a later date.”

In early March, DPR and PCOC representatives met via video conference to discuss our specific concerns regarding the impacts of the original proposed pesticide decontamination rules. The meeting also provided an opportunity to provide an overview of pest control operators' typical pesticide usage and potential options to amend DPR’s original proposal. While substantial progress on potential solutions occurred during the meeting, DPR and PCOC representatives will continue to evaluate potential language more appropriate to address the Agency’s safety concerns.

PCOC appreciated another opportunity to provide input on pesticide decontamination site regulations. It is our belief that industry input is invaluable in shaping regulations that align with the best interests of California's pest management industry and its residents. PCOC looks forward to further discussions with DPR in the development of pragmatic pesticide decontamination rules for pest management professionals in California.

PCOC’s Legislative Day 2024 event is set for April 8-10, 2024. PCOC’s leadership is excited for this annual event that brings pest management professionals together to advocate with “one voice” on issues important to the pest control industry. It is important that our diverse representative body meet personally with our elected officials and their staff in Sacramento to convey the topics that are important to us. 

Our goal each year is to have members from our industry meet directly with their legislators and discuss important industry issues. This year’s PCOC Legislative Day will focus on legislative efforts to implement the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) controversial Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) plan. There are bills introduced this year regarding SPM that if passed by the California State Legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsome would have a devastating effect on our professional pest management industry. Please make every effort you can to attend and bring others. 

As a reminder, The Annual Leg Day Golf Tournament will be Monday, April 8th, the Board of Directors, and Committee meetings will be on Tuesday, April 9th and the Capitol visits will occur on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.

It is imperative that we have a large PCOC Legislative Day turnout to help demonstrate pest management professionals’ political strength. We look forward to seeing you all in Sacramento.