SPP workshop is set for September

Stillwater, Okla., will become the center of stored product pest (SPP) management education when the Urban Pest Management Technical Committee (UPMTC) hosts its Advanced SPP Management Workshop at Oklahoma State University’s (OSU’s) Horticulture Center and Stored Product Research and Education Center (SPREC) Sept. 15-16, 2026.

Designed for pest management professionals (PMPs), food manufacturing personnel, quality assurance specialists and urban entomologists, the two-day event combines classroom instruction with intensive hands-on training to provide attendees with practical tools for managing pests that threaten stored commodities, food processing facilities and grain storage operations.

Addressing a critical industry need

SPP present unique challenges for food manufacturers, processors, warehouses, grain storage facilities and PMPs. Insects capable of infesting flour, grain, cereals, spices, pet food and other stored commodities can cause substantial economic losses, compromise food safety and jeopardize regulatory compliance.

Recognizing the growing need for advanced training in this specialty area, UPMTC has assembled a lineup of industry experts to deliver a comprehensive educational experience focused on pest identification, monitoring, prevention and control.

Day 1: Expert-led classroom instruction

The workshop begins at the OSU Botanical Garden Horticulture Center with a full day of educational sessions covering the latest developments in SPP management. The day kicks off with a presentation by Dr. Ravi Jadeja, OSU professor and extension specialist in food safety, who will discuss the fundamentals of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and best practices for maintaining audit-compliant integrated pest management programs in food facilities.

Throughout the morning and afternoon, attendees will hear from leading authorities on some of the industry’s most pressing topics:

• Mark Sheperdigian, BCE, chief science officer of Madison Heights, Mich.-based Rose Pest Solutions, will present strategies for identifying and controlling dermestid beetles, a persistent challenge in many food and storage environments.
• James Miller, ACE, director of global sales for Trécé and current president of industry fraternity Pi Chi Omega, will explore methods for optimizing SPP monitoring programs through data-driven approaches and effective trap deployment.
• Tom Mueller, CEO of Insects Limited (founded by Pest Management Professional (PMP) Hall of Famer David Mueller, BCE, Class of 2019), will discuss emerging pest threats and technological innovations that are reshaping SPP management.
• Independent Industry Consultant Jeff Weier, BCE, will examine the relationships among mold, fungi and the diverse organisms that thrive in these environments.
• Dr. Alison Gerken, a research quantitative ecologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, will share current research insights from the agency’s Manhattan, Kan.-based research programs.
• Eric Myers, ACE, global IPM manager for ADM, will conclude the day with a practical industry perspective on pest risks, detection methods and control strategies within modern food manufacturing facilities.

Day 2: Learning in action

While the first day focuses on foundational knowledge and industry trends, the second day shifts toward applied learning at OSU’s renowned Stored Product
Research and Education Center (SPREC).

The day begins with station assignments coordinated by Patricia Hottel, BCE, PCQI, Midwest technical director for Orkin Pest Control and a PMP Hall of Famer (Class of 2024), before participants rotate through a series of interactive field-training exercises designed to reinforce classroom concepts.

Flour mill inspection techniques

At the first station, Jeremy Southgate, ACE-I, technical support auditor with Abell Pest Management, will guide attendees through flour mill inspections and assessments. Participants will learn practical inspection procedures, evaluation techniques and tools commonly used to identify pest risk areas within milling environments.

Pest identification challenge

Accurate identification remains one of the cornerstones of successful pest management. During the “Pest ID Showdown,” Tom Mueller will challenge participants to identify a variety of SPP, helping them improve diagnostic skills essential for selecting effective management strategies.

Advanced monitoring and mating disruption

James Miller will lead a session on calculating pheromone mating-disruption dispenser requirements and proper placement strategies. This increasingly important approach offers facilities additional options for reducing pest populations while enhancing IPM programs.

Commodity fumigation innovations

Stored commodity protection requires specialized knowledge, and William Woodhouse, ACE, PHE, research and development manager for Cardinal Professional Products, will demonstrate advances in commodity fumigation. Participants will learn about carbon dioxide applications, fumigant detection technologies and grain-bin recirculation systems that improve treatment effectiveness and safety.

A powerful safety message

One of the workshop’s most impactful demonstrations will take place during lunch with Dr. Carol Jones, retired professor of SPP engineering at OSU. In a presentation titled “Seconds Matter: Grain Bin Fumigation Safety and Engulfment Demonstration,” Dr. Jones will address one of the most serious hazards facing agricultural and grain-industry workers. The demonstration emphasizes how quickly accidents can occur and reinforces the importance of proper safety procedures when working around grain storage systems and fumigation operations.

Connecting research, industry and practice

What sets the UPMTC Advanced SPP Management Workshop apart is its ability to bring together experts from academia, government research, manufacturing,
consulting and professional pest management. Participants will gain exposure to the latest scientific discoveries, regulatory requirements, field-tested management practices and emerging technologies, all within a collaborative learning environment.

By combining classroom education with hands-on demonstration, the workshop ensures attendees leave with practical knowledge they can immediately apply within food-processing facilities, warehouses, grain storage operations and commercial pest management programs. Learn more and register today at UPMTC.org or click on the QR code above.

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