March Seminar: Vertebrate Pest Management, Laws and Regulations
March 18, 2026
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Current Laws & Regulations Related to Rodenticides/Vertebrates in Vineyards: Is there Life After Rodenticides?
Join us on March 18 from 1-3 pm at Castoro Cellars for our annual update on laws & regulations, and strategies for managing vertebrate pests in the vineyard. With increasing restrictions on the use of pesticides, changing availability, and increasing costs, it is more important than ever to be up-to-date with what to use when and how to stay both legal and efficacious. Returning to provide his insightful and always entertaining take on managing vertebrate pests in the vineyard is Dr. David Headrick. Learn how ground squirrels can be effectively managed without the use of pesticides. Bring your current DPR permit number and earn 2 hours of continuing education credit, one each in the "Laws & Regs" and "Other" categories. See you all on March 18!
Speakers:
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Dr. David Headrick, Professor, Horticulture and Plant Sciences Dept., Cal Poly SLO (Vertebrate Pest Management) David Headrick is a specialist in basic insect biology, invasive insect species and their effects on the environment and economies, biological pest management, and native and introduced pollinators including European honeybees. Headrick teaches courses in agricultural pest management, vertebrate pest management and biological control and conducts research on insect pest management in vegetable, citrus and greenhouse cropping systems. He can speak to the use of biological control in pest management, an approach that uses beneficial insects that prey on pest species to achieve sustainable pest control without the need for pesticides. Over the years he’s conducted extensive research searching for and establishing beneficial predators in California. Headrick earned his Ph.D. from UC Riverside, where he studied biological control of weeds and became a specialist in tephritid fruit fly ecology and behavior. His research on agriculturally important insects and other research has resulted in 100 publications and over 130 professional presentations. |
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Amy Breschini, Agricultural Inspector/Biologist, SLO County Dept. of Agriculture, Weights & Measures Employed by the County of San Luis Obispo since 2005, Amy has a BS in Ornamental Horticulture with a concentration in Floriculture and Nursery production from Cal Poly. She has 14 years of experience with the Agricultural Commissioner's office in working with Pesticide Use Enforcement, Insect Detection/Inspections, and Seed Law. |
An integrated pest management program (IPM) is more essential than ever for the successful management of vertebrate pests, with growing restrictions on the use of common pesticides as exemplified by the new SLO County directive for all permitted underground fumigants (including strychnine) requiring users to file a Notice of Intent (NOI) in advance of any application. Come learn the latest from our local experts!
As always, our seminars are FREE for Members (limit 2 people per membership) and just $30 per person for Guests. Feel free to invite other vineyard owners and managers that you think might be interested in the topics this month.
