UNL West Central’s Precision Application Technology Lab launches PEST Academy

Dec 2, 2025 / UNL

LINCOLN, Neb., Dec. 2 — The Precision Application Technology (PAT) Lab at the West Central Research, Extension and Education Center in North Platte is launching the Precision Education in Spray Technologies (PEST) Academy, a research-based and hands-on training program designed to equip individuals with the technical knowledge and operational skills needed for optimized, sustainable and data-driven pest management.

The academy, supported by the Nebraska Corn Board, aims to bridge science-based learning with practical, real-world demonstrations to strengthen decision-making, ensure regulatory compliance and enhance the long-term sustainability of crop protection programs.

“The PEST Academy empowers agricultural professionals to make data-driven, efficient, and environmentally responsible decisions that support sustainable crop production and long-term stewardship across Nebraska and beyond,” said Milos Zaric, a precision pesticide application specialist in the PAT Lab.

Private and custom applicators, crop consultants and industry professionals will gain more than 16 hours of professional instruction through the academy. Learning opportunities offered include:

Guidance on label interpretation
Hands-on spray training
Enhanced understanding of spray additives
Data-driven tools and evaluations

Upon completing the academy, participants will have the opportunity to earn a University of Nebraska–Lincoln micro-credential and Nebraska Department of Agriculture recertification credits in categories 00 and 01.

Each session is limited to a maximum of 35 participants. The first 35 individuals to apply for the academy will receive free registration. The PEST Academy sessions will be held on the following dates:

Session 1: Dec. 10–11, 2025
Session 2: Dec. 22–23, 2025
Session 3: Jan. 15–16, 2026
Session 4: Feb. 10–11, 2026
Session 5: March 10–11, 2026
Session 6: April 8–9, 2026

To learn more about the PEST Academy and how to register, visit go.unl.edu/pestacademy.

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