Dr. Lebelle Hicks to speak about Pesticide Control

BANGOR: The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Highlands Farmers will welcome Dr. Lebelle Hicks with the Maine Board of Pesticide Control who will discuss how farmers can address pesticide concerns with their customers on Thursday, March 14th at 7 pm at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Penobscot County Extension Office at 307 Maine Ave in Bangor. This program is free and open to any farmer interested in the topic.

Directions – Take Exit 183 — Hammond Street /Airport. Head west toward the airport. Bear right at next intersection at the light – Maine Avenue. Travel 0.7 miles. The Extension office is on the right, at 307 Maine Avenue. Parking is across the street.

Dr. Hicks received a Ph.D. in Food and Nutrition Sciences from the University of Maine in 1999, and a Master of Science in Biology and Toxicology from Northeastern University in 1983. The American Board of Toxicology in general toxicology has certified her since 1991. Dr. Hicks has worked as a pesticide toxicologist for the last 27 years, first in Massachusetts and currently in Maine. Her duties include addressing pesticide concerns from the general public, other state agencies, and grower groups. She also provides written and oral presentations of hazard reviews and risk assessments relating to human health or environmental exposure. Dr. Hicks’ duties with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry cover a wide range of pesticide and non-pesticide food safety issues.

After the program the Maine Highlands Farmers (MHF) will hold their regular monthly business meeting. They have changed to the second Thursday of the month and will be rotating meetings between Bangor and Dover-Foxcroft. The MHF are local farmers who come together to promote locally grown and raised products in the Maine Highlands region. They also sponsor educational sessions to help farmers be more successful.  Farmers who want to learn more about the MHF are welcome to stay for the business meeting and meet the other farmers in the association or go to www.mainehighlandsfarmers.com

For more information or to request a disability accommodation, call 564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491.