Our Intro to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) course gives participants a working foundation in balancing biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical strategies to manage pests while protecting the land, the crop, and the people who work it.

Participants will learn to identify common pests, beneficial insects, and the plant diseases and weeds they’re likely to encounter in California fields, along with the life cycles and monitoring techniques that help catch problems early. The course also covers how soil health and farm biodiversity support natural pest control, and how tools like degree-day tracking help growers anticipate pest activity before it becomes a problem.

A significant part of the course is dedicated to pesticide safety and regulation: how to read labels and safety data sheets, select and maintain PPE, calibrate spray equipment, and respond to spills or exposure. Participants will get hands-on practice scouting fields, calibrating equipment, and identifying samples in the field.

This course also prepares participants to take the California Private Applicator Certificate (PAC) exam through the County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, and to train fieldworkers and handlers according to state and federal safety standards.

August 31-October 21, 2026

Live Online Lectures:

Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:30 – 7 p.m.

In-Person Field Days:

Monday August 31, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Monday October 19, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

On-Farm Labs:

16 hours of hands-on lab assignments