CANCELLED - In-Person 2020 Worker Protection Standard Training & DEC Special Permit Training
UPDATE: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has approved a revised Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Special Permit Training (SPT) Program for 2020. This will accommodate current restrictions on public meetings, recommendations for social distancing, and projected delays in H2A guest worker processing. Our previously announced SPT in-person training sessions scheduled in Wayne and Orleans counties for April 7 and 8 have been cancelled.
Although we will provide more details on how the training will look soon, for now I want to stress to everyone that trainings will be offered this spring, and that the pre-registration deadline of March 30th is especially critical this year.
View Details for more info.
Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test. This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit.
Workers requiring general pesticide training/Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Handler training who do not need special permits are welcome to take the class; they will not be tested and will receive a course participation certificate.
Event Details
Date
April 7, 2020
Location
Cornell Cooperative Extension Wayne County
Cost
English Speaking Special Permit & WPS Training : $20.00
(addl attendee $20.00 ea.)
Spanish Speaking Special Permit & WPS Training : $20.00
(addl attendee $20.00 ea.)
English Speaking Worker Protection Standard Training ONLY : $20.00
(addl attendee $20.00 ea.)
Spanish Speaking Worker Protection Standard Training ONLY : $20.00
(addl attendee $20.00 ea.)
At The Door Price
At the Door : $40.00
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramWayne County In-Person Special Permit Training Cancelled
Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test. This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit. The labels that will be covered include Lorsban Advanced, Endigo ZC, Warrior II with Zeon Technology, Agri-Mek SC, Beseige, Leverage 360, Danitol 2.4EC, Mustang Maxx, Asana XL, and Lannate LV.
- Gramoxone has been deleted from the 2020 approved SPT FRUP list, Special Permit holders will not be authorized to apply Gramoxone in 2020, no matter if the product has last season's "legacy" label or the "new" label (which was NYSDEC accepted 12/23/2019).
- The application of Lorsban by Special Permit holders in 2020 will be restricted to a single trunk spray inapple orchards for borer control. No other Lorsban applications by Special Permit holders (for example: Onion transplant drench for maggot, or pre-bloom foliar on apples) will be permitted.
The restrictions above pertain to Special Permit holders only. NYS Certified Applicators are still allowed to use Gramoxone and Lorsban to the full extent allowed by the NYS label
New York DEC notes that the Special Permit process is intended for farm workers with English language skills that are not adequate to pass the DEC private applicators exam. All others are encouraged to apply for their private applicators license via taking the certification exam.
Certified Supervisors are required to attend the first 30 minutes of training.
Workers requiring general pesticide training/Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Handler training who do not need special permits are welcome to take the class; they will not be tested and will receive a course participation certificate.
When registering please be sure to add all the participants names under the appropriate date, language, and level of training needed. By increasing the information that we collect now we can decrease the time it takes to sign in at the beginning of the event.
For those certified applicators registering for the Special Permits, only your DEC pesticide applicators license number is needed in the "NOTE TO US" section of the registration form. If the certified applicator is not registering please be sure to add their name and DEC pesticide applicators license number in the "NOTE TO US" section of the registration form.
Event Details
Date
April 8, 2020
Location
Orleans County Cooperative Extension
Cost
English Speaking Special Permit & WPS Training : $20.00
(addl attendee $20.00 ea.)
Spanish Speaking Special Permit & WPS Training : $20.00
(addl attendee $20.00 ea.)
English Speaking Worker Protection Standard Training ONLY : $20.00
(addl attendee $20.00 ea.)
Spanish Speaking Worker Protection Standard Training ONLY : $20.00
(addl attendee $20.00 ea.)
At The Door Price
At the Door : $40.00
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramOrleans County In-Person Special Permit Training Cancelled
Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test. This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit. The labels that will be covered include Lorsban Advanced, Endigo ZC, Warrior II with Zeon Technology, Agri-Mek SC, Beseige, Leverage 360, Danitol 2.4EC, Mustang Maxx, Asana XL, and Lannate LV.
- Gramoxone has been deleted from the 2020 approved SPT FRUP list, Special Permit holders will not be authorized to apply Gramoxone in 2020, no matter if the product has last season's "legacy" label or the "new" label (which was NYSDEC accepted 12/23/2019).
- The application of Lorsban by Special Permit holders in 2020 will be restricted to a single trunk spray inapple orchards for borer control. No other Lorsban applications by Special Permit holders (for example: Onion transplant drench for maggot, or pre-bloom foliar on apples) will be permitted.
The restrictions above pertain to Special Permit holders only. NYS Certified Applicators are still allowed to use Gramoxone and Lorsban to the full extent allowed by the NYS label
New York DEC notes that the Special Permit process is intended for farm workers with English language skills that are not adequate to pass the DEC private applicators exam. All others are encouraged to apply for their private applicators license via taking the certification exam.
Certified Supervisors are required to attend the first 30 minutes of training.
Workers requiring general pesticide training/Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Handler training who do not need special permits are welcome to take the class; they will not be tested and will receive a course participation certificate.
When registering please be sure to add all the participants names under the appropriate date, language, and level of training needed. By increasing the information that we collect now we can decrease the time it takes to sign in at the beginning of the event.
For those certified applicators registering for the Special Permits, only your DEC pesticide applicators license number is needed in the "NOTE TO US" section of the registration form. If the certified applicator is not registering please be sure to add their name and DEC pesticide applicators license number in the "NOTE TO US" section of the registration form.
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
2026 Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings
April 30, 2026 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 1
Webster, NY
The Twilight Meetings are a series of monthly meetings, where we examine seasonal changes in tree fruit and berry crop phenology, discuss and demonstrate scouting and monitoring for insects and diseases, and provide integrated pest management solutions to maximize the health and productivity of berry and tree fruit plantings.
Please arrive at 6pm for pizza and soda. This year Twilight meetings will begin and end 30minutes earlier than last year!
May 28, 2026 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 2
Oswego, NY
The Twilight Meetings are a series of monthly meetings, where we examine seasonal changes in tree fruit and berry crop phenology, discuss and demonstrate scouting and monitoring for insects and diseases, and provide integrated pest management solutions to maximize the health and productivity of berry and tree fruit plantings.
Please arrive at 6pm for pizza and soda. This year Twilight meetings will begin and end 30minutes earlier than last year!
June 25, 2026 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meeting 3
Medina, NY
The Twilight Meetings are a series of monthly meetings, where we examine seasonal changes in tree fruit and berry crop phenology, discuss and demonstrate scouting and monitoring for insects and diseases, and provide integrated pest management solutions to maximize the health and productivity of berry and tree fruit plantings.
Please arrive at 6pm for pizza and soda. This year Twilight meetings will begin and end 30minutes earlier than last year!
2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series
February 27, 2026 : Session 1 - The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons Learned
The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons from 2025 - The first meetup will be conducted live on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 10:30pm (PST)/1:30pm (EST). The webinar will last 90 minutes. The format will include brief presentations by two SPARC scientists, followed by a packer/grower panel of industry leaders across North America. The meetup will conclude with an open discussion in a very inclusive virtual format. Viewers are invited to share solutions, ask questions, and interact with scientists and panelists. The program is free of charge.
June 11, 2026 : Session 2
Details to follow.
June 18, 2026
Details to follow.
June 25, 2026 : Session 4
Details to follow.
Cornell Fruit Field Day
July 30, 2026
Geneva, NY
Join Cornell researchers in Geneva for Fruit Field Day, returning after 10 years, to tour research plots, learn from experts—including Dr. Terence Robinson with 40+ years in tree fruit research—and explore the latest orchard technologies and practices.