Darlene Caviness
Grower at Dallas Johnson Greenhouse Inc- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Credentials
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Iowa Pesticide Applicator License
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Experience
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Dallas Johnson Greenhouse Inc
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United States
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Wholesale
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1 - 100 Employee
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Grower
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Apr 2014 - Present
• Grow and care for annual and perennial plants sold to various retail customers.• Propagate cuttings and germinated seedlings• Scout for insects, diseases and weeds and apply appropriate chemicals to control them.• Apply plant growth regulators to control plant height as necessary.• Operate computerized booms used for watering, fertilization and chemical application.• Operate computerized environmental greenhouse equipment.• Act as a technical chemical resource for other growers .• Licensed Iowa Pesticide Applicator.
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Staff Horticulturist
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Feb 2003 - Oct 2013
• Established IPM programs for 120 acre container and 300 acre field nursery; including scouting, weed control, preventative fungicide measures and insect pest control.• Streamlined processes and initiated improvements to lower costs and increase overall efficiency and worker safety.• Trialed new products within the nursery, determining plant safety and product suitability.• Complied with all EPA, WPS, state and federal regulations regarding safe pesticide use.• Recommended fertility measures for both established and newly potted plants.• Programmed and maintained the Galileo computerized irrigation system, coordinating weekly with irrigators to adjust schedules as dictated by the weather.• Worked with members of multiple departments to pinpoint problem areas and apply successful solutions.• Provided solutions to customers with personal pest-related plant issues.• Trained as a Quality Program Facilitator and served on various teams as Lead Facilitator or team member.• Authored a monthly blog for the company website.• Participated in planning and staging employee events.• Proficient in Microsoft computer programs• Licensed Illinois Pesticide Applicator
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Biological Evaluations Specialist
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Oct 1996 - Oct 2002
• Managed research greenhouse and nursery used for developing data to support existing business, expand current labels, investigate new products and experiment with potential new products.• Designed and conducted research trials on Agronomic, Horticultural and Turf Crops using herbicides, fungicides, plant growth regulators (PGR’s) and insecticides.• Developed laboratory assay for prescription application of fluridone (Sonar) for weed control in aquatic environments.• Evaluated new formulations for biological activity on various crops, weeds and diseases, supporting the Formulation Chemistry group.• Served on Herbicide, PGR and Insecticide Technical Teams, concerning all aspects of specific products; improving the formulation, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, testing, selling and distribution.• Handled questions from customers as part of the Technical Services group.• Authored research reports and maintained database of all studies conducted by Biological Services for more efficient data retrieval.• Supervised student workers.• Licensed Georgia Pesticide Applicator• Maintained equipment and facilities at peak efficiency.• Served on Safety Committee and acted as Red Cross liaison for R&D group
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Research Agronomist
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Apr 1987 - May 1996
• Conducted field research and GLP residue trials on major agronomic crops, non-crop areas and horticultural crops, applying herbicides, insecticides, PGRs and fungicides.• Reviewed Good Laboratory Practice Standards (GLPS) notebooks, interacted with cooperators, assisted with protocol review and notebook creation for Raw Agricultural Commodities (RAC) and soil dissipation studies managed by the company.• Managed technical database for the Spray Drift Task Force, a cooperative organization consisting of 35+ multinational crop protection companies.• Authored technical reports for the Spray Drift Task Force.• Managed research greenhouse, coordinated and participated in all trials conducted therein, maintained the equipment and facilities.• Conducted efficacy and GLPS studies and wrote many of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for field and greenhouse operations.• Licensed Missouri Pesticide Applicator
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Education
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1981 - 1984
University of Arkansas
Master of Science (MS), Agronomy (Weed Science) -
1978 - 1980
Hendrix College
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Biology -
1976 - 1978
Westark Community College
Associate of Arts (AA), Biology/Biological Sciences, General
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