Posted: 11-3-2009
McAvoy receives Excellence in Crop Advising Award
Hendry County Extension Director Gene McAvoy has received the 2009 Excellence in Crop Advising Award, presented by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation and the Florida Certified Crop Advisers Program.
He received the award Oct. 29, during the federation’s three-day annual meeting in Daytona Beach. He was presented a plaque and a $500 award.
Mary Hartney, president and executive director of the Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association, nominated McAvoy, describing him as a “champion” of Southwest Florida agriculture.
The Florida Certified Crop Advisers Program is a voluntary certification program for those who advise state growers about crop management and best agriculture practices. The standards are set by the American Agronomy Society. Besides passing two written exams, applicants must undergo 40 hours of continuing education every two years and sign a code of ethics.
McAvoy, a multi-county vegetable extension agent who covers Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties, worked to ensure that certified crop adviser applicants from his area had nearly 40 opportunities to earn 80 continuing-education units.
“His work on nutrient management holds the key for not only crop yield improvements but also environmental protection and economic efficiency in crop production,” Hartney wrote.
McAvoy said he was “totally surprised” by the award and didn’t know he’d been nominated. In his five-county region, he is responsible for helping educate growers about crop production efficiency and sustainability, farm safety and regulatory compliance, integrated pest management, post-harvest quality and food safety, and vegetable nutrition and irrigation management.
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