News Release: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services May 12, 2014

Tallahassee, FL The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with Rep. Doug Broxson, offers tips to Panhandle homeowners to protect their property during Formosan termite swarming season, which begins this week.

Springtime serves as the breeding season for most species of termites. Termite colonies multiply and then fly in large swarms to create new colonies. Floridas temperate climate provides a perfect environment for termites, and immediate signs of structural damage to a home may go undetected for long periods of time.

Termites are very destructive in Florida, wreaking havoc on homes, commercial properties and more, said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. Residents of Floridas Panhandle should be especially aware during the spring swarming season to protect their homes and property from Formosan Termites.

To protect your home or property from termites: Get an inspection from a licensed pest control company, which can identify any structural conditions that are conducive to a termite infestation. Make sure shrubs and tree limbs are trimmed away from the house. Direct gutter downspouts away from the foundation of the house. Turn out lights at night that would attract termites. Keep all sources of wood away from the foundation of the house, including wood chips as mulch near the house. Rep. Doug Broxson is hosting two free public workshops for homeowners this week in Gulf Breeze to learn about termite prevention with department employees. The workshops will be at the Tiger Point Community Center, 1370 Tiger Park Lane, Gulf Breeze, on May 14, 6-8 p.m., and May 15, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit http://www.FreshFromFlorida.com.

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Florida Dept. Of Agriculture Educates Residents On Termite Prevention

These days, it is important to save money by becoming wise consumers. One of the things that you have to protect is your very own home from damages that might lead you to spend money you shouldnt have or you dont have to at all. Recent statistics show that more than 2 billion dollars in damages to wooden structures, like your houses, are recorded every year across the United States. Thats a whole lot of money wasted because of termite and pest infestation in homes, which is one of the primary causes of such damages. Have you heard of the phrase, small but terrible? This can very well describe the small but terrible termites that invade your home and cause so much damage to your precious property. Unfortunately, termites and similar pests are quite common in Arizona. These destructive creatures invade your nice homes through any kind of wood that comes in contact with soil. In some cases, termites have the capacity to build mud tubes, if there is not much wood around, and in turn, these tubes grow into colonies that contain thousands of termites in one area alone.

Our company, Termite Control Phoenix, extends a diverse menu of termite control services at low costs. We have specific treatments for different problem areas, as well as full treatment methods to protect your entire house from termite infestation damage for years to come. On the other hand, should you wish to put into place pre-constructiontermite treatment phoenixfor your new house or property, we can also give you several service options.

Termite Control Phoenix

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Termite Control Phoenix - Free Termite Inspection ...

This time of year when I was at Emory, my grandmother would call and ask if I was able to come to her house and help with her spring cleaning. It was a well-rehearsed ritual, involving adding manure to her flower garden, planting annuals and whatnot, and perhaps most importantly, cleaning all the windows in her house, inside and out.

Ive never known anyone else who annually cleaned every window in the house, inside and out, but thats the way she was. It made perfect sense at the time. This is the same woman who saved wrapping paper from Christmas for reuse next year. Today, we call that recycling.

In any case, this is a good time to think about some of the chores we should perform if we expect to be good stewards of our real estate. Here is a list of some chores you may have overlooked:

1. Watch for your notice of assessment

Under Georgia law, your Tax Assessor is required to send you a notice of assessment, in which the county tells you how much it thinks your house was worth on Jan. 1 this year. That notice usually arrive in May or June. Its your responsibility to disagree (to lower your tax bill) or ignore it (which means their guess will be used to set your tax bill.) My advice is to politely disagree more about that another time.

2. Shoot a video of your house inside and out

Its a very good idea for you to have available a relatively recent video of the condition and contents of your house, including exterior and all interior rooms and basement and attic. Open all containers, closets, and drawers and record the contents. That way, in the unlikely event you have a meteorite (or anything else) destroy your home, you can easily prove what you lost. Then put it on YouTube and dont store the video in your house. If the video is destroyed as well, its worthless.

3. Perform a Safety Review

Its smart to ask a friend or relative to join you for a walk around your house and your yard. You should be looking for anything that might be considered dangerous to anyone for almost any reason. Look for uneven surfaces, loose rugs, poorly supported decks, steps without adequate handrails or adequate lighting, and on and on.

For example, do you have roots growing under the walkway leading to your front door (I do) and is it possible that someone, especially an older person who has trouble walking, might trip and fall as a result of your root? If so, that might be considered negligence on your part, and you are potentially responsible for any pain or suffering that results from a hazard you know about (or should have known about).

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Real estate chores to check off in springtime

The Florida Highway Patrol acknowledged Thursday that it's investigating whether a mechanical defect caused a Toyota to race out of control as it crashed into a Central Florida day care, killing one child and injuring 13 other children and one adult.

The 2006 Toyota Solara convertible, driven by Albert Campbell on April 9, was struck by a hit-and-run driver on Goldenrod Road before heading at increasing speed into the KinderCare Learning Center, according to witness accounts and FHP's initial crash report.

The same make, model and year were named in a lawsuit against Toyota settled for $1.6 billion in July. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Toyota owners complaining of lost resale value after sudden-acceleration complaints.

Toyota was fined $1.2 billion last month by the U.S. Department of Justice for misleading motorists about a faulty electronic-throttle system, attorney Eric Snyder said Thursday. Snyder is a partner in Bailey & Glasser, one of the law firms continuing to litigate these cases.

Years of complaints about Toyotas unexpectedly speeding, despite drivers' efforts to stop, prompted FHP traffic-homicide investigators to check Campbell's car.

"FHP is looking into every aspect of this crash, including the possibility of sudden acceleration," spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes said Thursday.

"The investigating troopers will establish the path the vehicle took into the building to help determine if there were mechanical failures with the vehicle," she said.

It is unknown what Campbell told FHP after the crash, and his attorney, Stuart Hyman of Orlando, would not comment.

One of the unanswered questions about the crash is how a rear-end collision 100 feet from the building could send the Toyota through a front wall made of brick and cedar siding, into a classroom, and then push debris 70 feet across the floor before stopping.

A building inspection shortly after the crash found the 12-feet section of largely wood wall that the Toyota drove through had been damaged by termites, according to the Orange County Division of Building Safety.

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FIRST ON ORLANDOSENTINEL.COM Sudden acceleration considered in day care crash

As Polk Countystruggles with an uptick in subterranean termite activity, experts advise homeowners to eliminate wood-to-soil contact between the ground and home. They also suggest getting your home inspected twice a year. (PHOTO PROVIDED BY TERMINIX)

LAKELAND | Randy and Tammy Baugh had their first brush with termites three years ago.

The Lakeland couple called a pest control company, which drilled small holes into their front porch and outfitted them with termite bait stations on the exterior of their home.

"They (pest control company) come back four times a year, and if there's any activity they drop in the poison," Randy Baugh said. "We haven't had any activity for the past year."

The rest of Polk hasn't been quite as lucky, according to a few pest control experts who service the county.

Randall Durden, owner of Lake Alfred-based Total Pest Solutions, said there has been a significant uptick in subterranean termite activity this year.

"It had slowed down in the last five years," said Durden, whose business has been around for eight years. "But this year we've already gotten a couple hundred calls, which is about triple what we usually get."

According to the National Pest Management Association, termites cause $5 billion worth of damage in the United States each year.

The two major types of termites found in Polk County are subterranean and drywood.

Subterranean termites the most common type of termite found in the U.S. come from underground colonies in the soil and rely on moisture to protect them from the drying effects of air. Drywood termites live within dry wood sources, so they do not rely on contact with the soil to survive.

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Pest Control Experts See Termite Activity On The Rise in Polk County

Terry the Terminator

Im Termite Terry, president of Termite Terry Pest Control, the company with the only checklist of 57 termite and pest control inspection points (One that took me 24 years to perfect.). Im also president of the only company in Orange County that offers a powerful, No Risk 100% Money-Back Guarantee. Even better, when you call to schedule your treatment, Ill give you a FREE BONUS worth $150.00!

Are you looking for information about pest and termite control services? If thats the case, you have come to the right place! Check out the information you need most:

Termite Terry Singleton

Dear Termite Terry,

I wanted to take a minute and let you know what a great job your guys did. I had wood damage to my house. Having spent a lot of years as a carpenter, I was going to repair it my self but decided to call you guys first.

The first person I met was Skip. It was clear to me that he understood how to repair the damage at my house and I got a very comfortable feeling dealing with him. He was very professional and I received a quote after a few days. The quote was acceptable and we scheduled the work.

Next I had the pleasure of meeting Jose and Saul. Their quality of work is outstanding. I even made change to what they were repairing mid stream and they and Skip handled it perfectly.

In my job I hire a lot of professionals and I can tell you, these guys are very good at what they do and it was a real pleasure working with them.

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Pest Control Termite Inspection Orange County CA - Costa ...

Welcome to Do-It-Yourself Termite Control, a division of Do-It-Yourself Pest Control, Inc. your best resource for pest control supplies for residential and commercial control of pests, including treating termites.

For the last 30 years, customers in our stores and visitors to our web site have asked," What can I do for termites myself ?" Many times we have suggested that they get a Pest Control Service Company to do the work for Subterranean (Ground) termites, because of the many different factors, particularly on slabs or basements.

In most all cases, a service company would be needed for Drywood Termites.

1. How to do your own termite baiting, you will find the "how" of doing your own pest termite control using Termite Baits such as the Advance Termite System, Hex Pro Termite Bait Systems or Firstline Termite Bait Systems that work for Subterranean Termites.

The Advance and Hex Pro System have chitin inhibitors, similar to the system used by Sentricon. Advance and HexPro Systems are labeled for pre treatments(pre constructions) while Firstline Bait System is not labeled for pre treatments.

2. Traditional Chemical Termite Treatment, you will find the "how" of doing your own pest and termite control using Termidor SC or Taurus SC.

These two products both contain the active ingredient Fipronil and represent the cutting edge of termite treatment technology. Fipronils ability to go undetected by termites makes it the chemical of choice for any termite control situation.

With traditional "repellent" termiticides, any of the smallest gap in the treated soil can be detected and exploited by the termites to gain entry in the building. They will find ways around it. This is a major short-coming of the older more traditional chemicals used for termite control. Termidor SC 20 oz. or Taurus SC will yield 12- 24 gallons of finished product. The table below will show the maximum label application rates and cost per gallon of finished yield.

Yields 24 Gallons $2.21 per Gallon

Yields 24 gallons $1.91 per Gallon

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Termite Control | Do It Yourself Termite Control Products ...

Your house is never immune to termites and every home in the country is at potential risk of this destructive pest.

Annual termite inspections are essential to find termite activity, and to assess the conditions that make a property more susceptible to timber pests.

The Australian Standard AS4349.3 2010, Inspection of Buildings recommends a competent pest inspection at least on an annual basis and in some cases more frequent depending on the environment and the type of structure.

Choosing the right specialist to perform a thorough termite inspection is as important as choosing the right doctor to look after your family.

A comprehensive termite inspection by Rentokil can detect termite activity and prevent long term damage to your property.

Our termite treatments are carried out in accordance to Australian Standard AS 3660.1 - 2000 Termite Management New Building Work and AS 3660.2 - 2000 Termite Management in and Around Existing Buildings.

Call us today on 1300 805 087 or contact us online to arrange an inspection!

Our Termite Control Technicians use their experience and professional training to carry out a comprehensive inspection of your home. Our inspections:

Where you live is unique: there really is no place like home. Rentokils termite inspections are carried out by Termite Control Technicians who not only have on-the-ground experience, but who are required to train continually with in-depth local expertise, so they will always know whats going on in your area. Of course, our technicians still benefit from knowledge which crosses state borders, the latest technology and the backing of a company which is here for the long-term.

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Termite Inspection | Rentokil Pest Control

Three Robeson County Sheriff cars idle in a dirt lot in front of the windowless Mountaire chicken processing plant and slaughterhouse about 80 miles southwest of Raleigh.

Semi-trucks full of live chickens barrel through the chain-link entrance and over the railroad tracks; trucks carrying empty cages exit the plant. Mountaire's Lumber Bridge plant employs 2,000 people, and supplies a variety of chicken breast products for companies like Subway, Lunchables and Buffalo Wild Wings, as well as international clients in Brazil and China.

The deputies look on as several carloads of yellow-clad black and Latino union employees and organizers park at the convenience store across the street and tromp across the road, chanting Everywhere we go / people want to know / who we are / where we come from / We are the union / the mighty mighty union.

The picketers, from United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1208, have arrived to protest Mountaire's alleged harassment and intimidation of pro-union workers within the poultry plant. They were leafleting at 4 in the morning. The fliers they pass out announce an upcoming information session in Fayetteville in English and Spanish: We know the company is trying to scare and confuse you. DON'T FALL FOR IT! Come & bring your questions on the 16th and find out the truth.

Drivers blare their horns and wave in support. Latino workers in a beat-up car stop to chat and ask questions before driving off. One woman in a hairnet and white scrubs walking across the street to get lunch at the convenience store gives a thumbs up, saying she plans to attend the session in Fayetteville.

Outside the Mountaire factory gates, I meet a woman named Delcia Rodriguez. A 23-year-old UFCW organizer from the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez worked at the Mountaire plant until 2011, when, she says, she was hit in the stomach by a large bucket used to haul meat and had a miscarriage in the plant. A doctor told her that she needed to take time off to rest. When she brought the doctor's note to Mountaire's Human Resources department, she says she was ordered to turn in her ID and fired.

"The supervisors treat the people, especially the non-English people, like animals," Rodriguez said. "They don't care if you get hurt."

Six months later, Rodriguez got a job at the unionized Smithfield plant. "I love the union. The union is the best thing that has happened in my life."

UFCW is the second-largest non-public sector union in the country, with 1.3 million members across various food-related industries: slaughterhouses, meat processing and grocery stores. UFCW Local 1208, based in Tar Heel, N.C., is legendary in the labor world for winning a grueling 17-year organizing campaign against Smithfield Foods in 2008. The 5,000-employee Smithfield pork slaughterhouse, located just outside of Tar Heel, N.C., is the largest pork-processing slaughterhouse in the world.

Keith Ludlum, UFCW Local 1208's president, is a Desert Storm veteran and native of eastern Carolina. He was fired from Smithfield for organizing in 1994; it took him 12 years in federal courts to get his job reinstated with back pay. "Anything they could use to fight the workers from forming a union, they did it. They violated the laws egregiously," Ludlum says. A union culture has become firmly entrenched in the Smithfield factory; that's why Local 1208 feels comfortable starting a campaign to unionize Mountaire, about 20 minutes away.

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The fight to unionize the South brews at an N.C. slaughterhouse

Prince William News

(BPT) - Spring is when pests come out of hiding and hibernation to search for new places to establish their colonies. Unfortunately, it's not only the flowers in your garden that attract pests but also your home itself. One of the most determined springtime pests is termites. Termites live up to their nickname of the "silent destroyer" very well as they can munch away at your home, virtually undetected. And, it's not just the critical support beams that they feed on. Termites can chew up floors, walls and even wallpaper.

Gainesville Times

Termites live up to their nickname of the "silent destroyer" very well as they can munch away at your home, virtually undetected. And, it's not just the critical support beams that they feed on. Termites can chew up floors, walls and even wallpaper.

According to a study by the National Pest Management Association, termites cost U.S. homeowners approximately $5 billion in damage, which is not typically covered by homeowners insurance.

Early spring is a critical time to be on the lookout for termite infestations. When the ground warms up, swarmers emerge to search for a suitable mate. If a pair chooses your home for their new residence, you could be looking at a colony of millions. The swarmers shed their wings during the mating process, so signs of these wings around windows and doors could be a warning of an infestation. Other signs include soft wood that sounds hollow when tapped, darkening or blistering of wood structures, and cracked or bubbling paint.

As spring approaches, the NPMA shares these prevention strategies homeowners can use to protect their homes from termite damage.

* Keep less frequently used rooms such as basements, attics and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.

* Repair leaking faucets, water pipes and AC units which are on the outside of the home. The added moisture could attract Dampwood termites that need access to water.

* Repair fascia, soffits and rotted roof shingles. Some species of termites colonize a home through the attic.

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Your home could be attracting termites