FMC to donate $10K to PestVets Give Back

FMC Corp. is set to deliver a $10,000 donation to PestVets through the PestVets Give Back program at the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA) PestWorld 2024 trade show and conference in Aurora, Colo. PestVets provides assistance and awareness to veterans, helping them transition into successful careers in the pest management industry.

The donation will bring the funds raised thus far to $31,231 to support the non-profit’s many programs. Through the efforts of pest management professionals (PMPs) enrolled in the FMC True Champions loyalty program, FMC presents NPMA and PestVets state units with a check annually during PestWorld. As part of the FMC True Champions end user loyalty program, a percentage of the purchases of select FMC products determine the amount of the donation.

“We’ve watched the PestVets program in action over the years and throughout the country, and we are thrilled to help support their mission,“ said Kyle Richards, pest and nursery/greenhouse market manager for FMC Global Specialty Solutions. “PestVets is a critical part of FMC’s commitment to the pest industry. This new Give Back program gives PMPs the chance to support PestVets and help further their mission of helping returning veterans re-acclimate to civilian life through employment in the pest control industry.”

About FMC

FMC is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC’s innovative crop protection solutions — including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture — enable growers, crop advisers and turf and pest management professionals to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment.

FMC’s Global Specialty Solutions (GSS) business uses market knowledge and gifted scientists at the Stine Research Center to serve growing needs in expanding markets. By leveraging FMC’s global agricultural technology portfolio, the GSS business has served a diversified mix of non-crop segments including golf courses, lawn care, structural pest control, vegetation management, nursery and ornamental, vector and consumer.

Continued research and development has led FMC as it ventures into new markets. Future solutions include molecules with new modes of action, differentiated biological products, natural repellents, encapsulated formulations and precision applications for existing products.

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Sacramento CA

Pest spotlight: Common grackles

Common grackles are ground feeders of grain and insects. (Photo: Christopher R Mazza / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images)

Numbering in the tens of millions, grackle populations in North America can be a nuisance in urban and suburban areas as well as agricultural areas. These noisy, messy birds can attack people and pets when they perceive a threat to their nests or young.

In some winter roosts, grackles concentrate on powerlines, as well as on nearby trees and shrubs. When grackles depart from powerlines as a large group, which is called a plague, the lines can move wildly and contact other lines or structures, causing power outages. Their droppings also can facilitate growth of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum — resulting in an increased risk for humans for the lung infection histoplasmosis.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 federally protects grackles, but control strategies are allowed under a “Standing Depredation Order” (50 CFR 21.43). At press time, the federal standing depredation order continues to override state regulations or the need for a state permit.

Biology and behavior

Because of their gregarious nature, grackles are easily observed and identified. The common grackle is part of the family Icteridae, which includes blackbirds, orioles, cowbirds, meadowlarks and bobolinks.

The common grackle is 12.5 inches long, with a wing span of 17 inches. It weighs about 4 ounces, boasting glossy black feathers and pale yellow eyes.

The male’s feathers are iridescent purple on the head, nape and breast, with bronze iridescence on the body and wings. Females are slightly less glossy than males. Young birds are dark brown with dark eyes.

The common grackle’s song consists of a harsh, toneless hiss (“kh-sheee” or “kh-reezzh”). Its call is a harsh, dry “karrz” or “kerrr,” and the male’s call is a thin, wheezy, toneless “zweeesh” and a nasal, hoarse “krrrjk.”

Breeding habits

The common grackle breeds throughout the United States and southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains and south of Hudson Bay. It winters from Nebraska to Texas and east to Pennsylvania and Florida. A native to North America, its range may have expanded because of agriculture and climate.

Grackles breed during their first year. Their average clutch size is one to seven eggs; they can have up to two clutches per year.

Female grackles build nests, preferably in the tree canopy and out of reach of predators. Grackle males assist in defending the nest and raising chicks.

Following a nest-building period of one to six weeks, female grackles lay their eggs. Incubation for all grackle species is 11 to 15 days. The chicks fledge in 10 to 17 days. Molting occurs during late summer.

Migrant blackbirds leave southern roosts in mid-February to early March.

Grackles primarily feed on grain, but also forage on the ground for worms, spiders, mice and the eggs of other birds. A combination of dispersal techniques, exclusion and lethal removal may help reduce grackle damage.

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Sacramento CA

Kness Pest Defense: Pro-Ketch and Pro-Ketch Junior

IMAGE: KNESS PEST DEFENSE

Kness’ exclusive Pro-Ketch and Pro-Ketch Junior multiple-catch mousetraps provide round-the-clock protection. With an innovative design that stays ready after each catch, these traps make rodent control hands-off and hassle-free. Equipped with an additional protector for enhanced durability, they’re built to last through any rodent challenge, large or small. Once mice are inside, escape isn’t an option. Count on these traps for dependable, long-lasting performance. With over 100 years of expertise, Kness continues to deliver trusted solutions for a rodent-free environment.

About Kness Pest Defense

Per company history, the Ketch-All was invented by a young, widowed father of six, Austin Enos “Brick” Kness, in 1924. Mice were prevalent at the high school in which Kness was a custodian, “and led him to the idea of the ‘box’ trap. He built the first trap from a square oilcan, a Tuxedo Tobacco can, a spring from a curtain rod, and the wood base of a crate. The first night he set his trap, he captured five mice.

“He was elated and showed the teachers and his friends. He was encouraged to build others for his friends and to seek a patent. By 1927, Kness Mfg. Co. was formed to produce the KetchAll Automatic Mousetrap and another of Kness’ inventions, the RotoBow tree saw.” In 2024, Brick Kness became an inductee to the 2024 PMP Hall of Fame.

Kness.com

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Sacramento CA

Pest Management Foundation establishes two new scholarship opportunities

The Pest Management Foundation recently established two new scholarships: The Masters Talents Scholarship, established by industry consultant Kevin Lemasters and his wife, Kimberly; and the Gary D. Curl and Carol Jones-Curl Scholarship, established by Specialty Consultants’ Gary Curl and his wife, Carol Jones-Curl.

The Masters Talents Scholarship

The Masters Talents Scholarship aims to provide opportunities to those who don’t always know where their help will come from. This $2,000 scholarship will be awarded annually.

“The pest management industry has changed [Kimberly’s and my] lives,” explained Kevin Lemasters in the news release about the scholarship. “As a young couple just starting a family while living with her parents, it was an opportunity for better pay and benefits. Leaders like Paul Mages and Brent Boles at Schendel Pest and Marc Dykstra at EnviroPest all impacted my journey in positive ways. I am thankful for the support they provided and their willingness to allow me access to so many others in the industry that I learned from.”

Eligibility criteria:

• Students graduating from a high school entering college or trade school.
• A full-time student in good academic standing with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Priority is given to applicants with immediate families who are or have been involved in the pest control industry.
• Priority is given to applicants who demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in pest management or related industries.
• Only applicants who can demonstrate significant financial need will be considered for this award. Need can be demonstrated through a personal statement explaining the applicant’s financial situation and how the scholarship will assist in achieving their educational goals.
• Recipients must commit to writing a letter of appreciation outlining how the scholarship has helped them in their academic endeavors.

The Gary D. Curl and Carol Jones-Curl Scholarship

Gary Curl and Carol Jones-Curl established the Gary D. Curl and Carol Jones-Curl Scholarship to support a student pursuing a career in professional pest management. This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to a student graduating from high school and entering the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at the University of Delaware or a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student attending the University of Delaware in the CANR.

“This scholarship is an opportunity for us to give back to the industry that has supported us for more than 45 years,” Curl explains. “We hope it might make it a little easier for a student to pursue a career in the professional pest management industry. Also, it provides me with an opportunity to support the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which forged my career in the industry.”

Eligibility criteria:

• A student graduating from high school entering the University of Delaware and attending the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, or a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student attending the University of Delaware attending the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
• A full-time student in good academic standing with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

For more information about the Foundation and its scholarship program, visit here or contact Mike Bentley at mbentley@pestworld.org.

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Sacramento CA

Nifty Pest: Rapid Reach

IMAGE: NIFTY PEST

Nifty Pest introduces Rapid Reach, which it describes as a “game-changer” for pest control companies wanting to reach more customers with their websites. Combining artificial intelligence (AI) technologies with search engine optimization (SEO) best practices, Nifty’s Rapid Reach offering drastically cuts down the time and resources needed to build new, geo-targeted web pages at scale, allowing your website to rapidly expand into more markets on Google Search. As search results become more locally focused, having dedicated sales pages for each market you serve is crucial. Rapid Reach is designed to give you the technological edge to compete with even the biggest names in the industry.

About Nifty Pest

Many of Nifty Pest’s employees got their start in sales by participating in door-to-door pest control sales. They have started new branches in untapped markets, helped develop call centers, and built and managed successful sales teams. Their experience translates well into developing internet marketing strategies that can help grow your company in your own backyard and beyond.

NiftyPest.com

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Sacramento CA

Evans Termite and Pest Control’s ‘Rapunzel’ helps promote butterfly conservation

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE GORMAN

Now through Nov. 2, Locust Grove, Ga.-based Evans Termite and Pest Control is inviting the community to join in a celebration of nature with its scarecrow display in Locust Grove, Ga., featuring‬ the storybook character Rapunzel. The family-friendly display aims to raise‬ awareness for the preservation of monarch butterflies by providing free packs of milkweed‬ seeds for the community.‬

Co-owners and married couple Nicole Gorman and Tim Ivey explain that Evans Termite & Pest Control is‬ dedicated to protecting homes and the environment through effective pest management and‬ community outreach. The display is just the latest in many outdoor artistic endeavors that Gorman has done in recent years. She is also part of the International Butterfly Breeders Association and raise monarchs for release.

Gorman is a second-generation pest management professional: Her dad, Thomas Gorman, bought Evans in 1991 and is still part owner. Gorman joined in 2005 and Ivey joined in 2008.

The owners invite those interested to “meet” Rapunzel and pick‬ up a free pack of milkweed seeds, an essential plant for supporting monarch butterflies‬ throughout their lifecycle. Milkweed is vital as it provides both habitat‬ and nourishment for the insects.

Gorman notes that the Rapunzel character, particularly as depicted in the 2010 Disney animated feature “Tangled,” was chosen this year to honor the memory of a family member who loved the film.

Visit here to learn more about Evans Termite and Pest Control.‭

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Sacramento CA

The history of Aprehend, the biopesticide that changed the way many PMPs treat bed bugs

The product officially debuted Oct. 24, 2017, at PestWorld in Baltimore, Md. PHOTO: APREHEND

Aprehend was developed from research at Dr. Nina Jenkins’ lab at The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa. The company behind the product, ConidioTec LLC, was born from Penn State’s incubation program, including Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP).

In 2014, Dr. Giovani Bellicanta and Dr. Jenkins won two cash prizes for their business pitch and business plan in the Big Idea competition and Techcelerator program, both hosted by these organizations. This enabled them to establish ConidioTec. Today, they are chief operations officer and chief technology officer, respectively, of the company.

At the onset, BFTP’s Don McCandless was their trainer and mentor throughout ConidioTec’s entrepreneurship journey. Three years later, McCandless made the bold move to join the team as CEO for the launch of Aprehend at the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA) PestWorld 2017 event in Baltimore, Md.

ConidioTec’s Carrie Sprout, left, and Dr. Nina Jenkins are a common sight at industry events, such as this New Jersey Pest Management Association meeting in 2019. PHOTO: APREHEND

One product, one target

The team knew almost immediately that Aprehend was highly effective at killing bed bugs, but many hurdles were ahead. Drs. Bellicanta and Jenkins spent almost three years navigating the complicated regulatory process to get their product registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They also had to evaluate existing spraying equipment for suitability for applying Aprehend. Eventually, they developed their own spray kit for the product.

Aprehend is formulated, bottled and distributed from the ConidioTec facility in Centre Hall, Pa., a small borough in Centre County. The team’s unwavering focus on one product ensures all its users are fully trained and supported in its use. Carrie Sprout, the team’s graphic designer, plays a crucial role in this effort. She is responsible for the design and layout of free printed materials, produces video training on the Aprehend YouTube Channel, and assists Aprehend users with custom marketing materials that incorporate their logos and company branding.

Drs. Bellicanta and Jenkins pose with the original Aprehend Spray Gun prototypes, circa 2017. PHOTO: APREHEND

Unique solution

Dr. Jenkins, a familiar face and key figure in the pest control industry, has significantly contributed to the industry’s understanding of efficient and effective bed bug management. She gives bed bug-focused continuing education unit (CEU) training at pest control industry association meetings throughout the U.S. and Canada. Companies considering the use of Aprehend can request on-demand Zoom webinars with Dr. Jenkins, where pest management professionals (PMPs) can benefit from state-of-the-art bed bug management protocols and are encouraged to discuss challenging bed bug scenarios.

“We are so proud of the Aprehend product,” reflects Dr. Jenkins. “I can hardly believe the impact it has had on the industry. PMPs are completely eradicating even the most serious bed bug infestations, often with just a single application.”

The Aprehend team endorses no-prep protocols and vacuuming to remove visible bed bugs for immediate customer relief. This, combined with Aprehend’s long-lasting residual and the benefit of its direct transfer from exposed bed bugs to others in the harborage, has revolutionized how PMPs can tackle bed bugs — making it a unique and effective solution in the industry

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Sacramento CA