Mulch & Soil Council

Who Should Attend

• Every owner or plant manager of a mulch and/or soil production plant should attend this program.

• Company owners not familiar with • Fire Best Management Practices • Optimizing Colorant Operations • Personnel Safety Programs • Lean Manufacturing Practices • NIST W&M Rules & Regulations • Bulk Load Principles & Practices • Checking Net Contents of Bagged Goods • Product Variability and Setting Target Fill • Machine Effects on W&M • Product Labeling Laws & Regulations should attend.

• MSC members and non-members may participate.

• Everyone is welcomed to participate.

Course Objective

This course will instruct program participants on Best Management Practices (BMPs) for organic product inventory management and control for fire safety, prevention and response, manufacturing with colorants, personnel safety, lean manufacturing, W&M laws & regulations, bulk loads, and much more.

Full Meeting Registration

All advance registrations must be accompanied by the appropriate registration fees to be eligible for the registration discount. Registration fees cover attendance for all meetings, Breakfast, working lunch and coffee breaks. Transportation and lodging is not included in the registration fees.

Non-Member Participation

Participants from non-member companies are welcome to attend the meeting and all functions. Non-member participants may attend one association meeting as a first-time registrant and are entitled to the member registration rate. Participation at a second meeting as a non-member is permitted at non-member registration rates. Attendance at additional meetings is by special invitation.

Cancellations & Refunds

Requests for cancellation of meeting registration or guest tickets must be received in writing at the MSC office. Cancellations received by July 27, 2026, will be subject to a cancellation fee of 25%, which will be deducted from the refund. No refund will be made for cancellation requests received after July 27, 2026.

Limits of Liability

The planners and sponsors of the MSC Plant Managers Trainng Course and any associated events claim no liability for the acts of any supplier to this meeting, nor for the safety of any attendee while in transit to, from or during this event. Attendees who purchase non-refundable airline tickets do so at their own risk. In the event of meeting cancellation, the total amount of liability of the planners and sponsors will be limited to a refund of the registration fee. Submission of the registration form acknowledges acceptance of these provisions.

Join the Mulch & Soil Council & Receive an Immediate Discount

Participants subject to the Non-member registration fee may join the Council at any time prior to the Plant Managers Training Course and receive an immediate discount on the registration fee. For information on becoming a member, contact the MSC office at (806) 832-1810

Event Program

Wednesday, August 5

7:15a - 8:00a	Breakfast - Spronsored By: VERMEER.
8:00a - 8:15a	Welcome & Introductions
8:15a - 10:15a	FIRE SAFETY BMPs Part 1- Inventory Monitoring: Temperature Sampling, Smoke Detection, Pile Size, Distance Between Piles (Access), Weather. Site Issues: Prevailing Winds, Drainage, Water Supply, Equipment Access, Fire Equipment Access. Facility Issues: Fire Detection, Automatic/Manual Fire Suppression In Buildings, Ventilation, Volatile Dust Control, Flammable Chem & Supply Storage, Proper Extinguishers For Materials In Area, Daytime/Off-Hour/Holiday Firewatch BMPs. Instructor: Don Dugger, Richwood, LLC, & Darren Talbert, The Scotts Company
10:15a - 10:30am	Break
10:30a - 11:45a	FIRE SAFETY BMPs Part 2 - Fire Action Plan: Minor Incident Inventory Or Equipment, Significant Incident Inventory Or Equipment, Major Incident Inventory Or Equipment, Internal Information Flow, External Information Flow/Notifications. Fire Extinguishing Protocols: Equipment, Personnel, Procedures, Internal And External Resource Controller & Coordinator. Instructor: Don Dugger, Richwood, LLC, & Darren Talbert, The Scotts Company
11:45p - 12:30p	Lunch
12:30p - 2:15p	Optimizing Your Colorant Opertaions - A poorly mixed tote can waste $500-$800 each, starting and stopping can waste time and colorant, improper shutdown can cause expensive repairs or inefficient operations. These topics and more are a guide to how plant managers can maximize their run times and profits in colorant operations. Instructor: David Roller, Colorbiotics, Ames, IA
2:15p - 2:30p	Break
2:30p - 3:30p	Unlocking Potential: Growing and Developing Your Talent - Organizations that invest in employee development are 17% more profitable and 52% more productive—yet many struggle to do it well or know where to start. If you’re ready to move the needle, don’t miss Unlocking Potential: Growing and Developing Your Talent. Using a simple WHAT–HOW framework, you’ll learn how to identify the critical skills your team needs and apply practical, creative ways to develop them—far beyond traditional training. We’ll also challenge common myths about development and share strategies you can implement immediately. The result? Employees who are growing, skill gaps that are closing, and a stronger, more competitive organization—today and into the future. Instructor: Karla Vos, Vermeer
3:30p - 4:30p	Operational Efficiency & Lean Manufacturing - Lean manufacturing is a production approach focused on maximiz¬ing efficiency by eliminating waste and optimizing processes. It be¬gins with identifying various forms of waste, such as excess inven¬tory or unnecessary motion, and using visual management tools to improve organization and communication in the workplace. By putting these principles into practice, companies can streamline op¬erations, reduce costs, and enhance overall productivity. Instructor: Ted Dirkx, Vermeer
5:00p	Dinner on Your Own

Thursday, August 6

7:15a-8:00a	Continental Breakfast
8:00a-8:45a	Weights & Measures Rules & Regulations— Product Definitions, Method of Sale, Average & Individual Package Requirements, Sampling Plans, Test Procedures, Inspection Lots, Random & Alternative Package Selection, Test Container Specifications. Instructor: Robert LaGasse, MSC, Shallowater, TX
8:45a-9:30a	Penalties & Alternatives — “Off Sale” & “Removal” Orders, Criminal & Civil Penalties, Detention and/or Arrest, Customer Disruption, Media Coverage & Brand Credibility, WAMIS Listing, Re-labeling, POP Signage, Discount to Packaged Quantity. Instructor: Robert LaGasse, MSC, Shallowater, TX
9:30a-10:15a	Inspection Guidelines — Manufacturer’s Responsibilities, Inspector’s Responsibilities, Retail Vs. Plant Inspections. Instructor: Robert LaGasse, MSC, Shallowater, TX
10:15a - 10:30a	BREAK
10:30a - 11:15a	Package Test Demonstration — Mulch & Soil Product Fill Test Demonstration, Reading & Recording Data. Instructor: Shelli Williams, MSC
11:15a - 12:15	Bulk Load Measure — Issues with Bulk Loads, Determining/Documenting, Loading Procedures, Customer Education. Instructor: Don Dugger, Richwood LLC, & Darren Talbert, Scott's.
12:15a - 1:00p	Lunch
12:30p - 1:30p	Product Variability & Setting Target Fill — Product Variability, Test Results on Mulch Run, Test Results on Soil Run, Target Fill. Instructor: Dr. Bill Fonteno, Emeritus Professor (NCSU), Corpus Christi, TX
1:30p - 2:30p	Equipment effects on Package Fill — Product factors & effects, packaging materials effects, equipment operations and handling impacts (conveyors, dosing, filling), automated vs manual systems, testing & validation, maintenance schedules and effects, production tracking, personnel safety and staff training. Instructor: Paul Solberg, Premier Tech Systems & Automation
2:30p - 2:45p	BREAK
2:45p - 3:45p	Best Manufacturing Practices — Setting Equipment, Determining Bag Size, Setting Line Speed, Quality Control Testing, Operator Training, Setting Lot Criteria and Lot Numbering, Record Keeping, Plant Inventory Control for Inspections. Instructor: Dr. Bill Fonteno, Emeritus Professor (NCSU), Corpus Christi, TX
3:45p - 5:00p	Product Labeling Guidelines & Issues — What managers and designers need to know about package labeling laws to avoid fines and product "stop sale" penalties. Instructor: Robert LaGasse, MSC, Shallowater, TX
5:00pp	Meeting Ends

Early Registration Fees (By July 20):
Members = $675/person / Non-Members = $875/person

Late Registration Fees (After July 20):
Members = $750/person / Non-Members = $950/person

Download a meeting registration form:
Plant Managers Training Course Registration Form.

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