2009 Commercial and Noncommercial Pesticide Safety Program January through April
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources
December 19, 2008
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Recertification — Ag Plant
The only opportunity for commercial applicators to recertify in the Agricultural Plant category and Demo/Research subcategory, other than by examination, will be at UNL Crop Production Clinics or the Custom Applicator School. For the school session on Feb. 26, register by calling the Nebraska Agricultural Business Association at (402) 476-1528. Crop Production Clinics begin at 8:30 a.m., local time, at the following locations (no preregistration; register at the door):
Recertification in additional applicator categories is offered at the following locations and dates. Available categories vary at each of the locations; check the pesticide applicator education schedule booklet for details. Preregistration is required.
UNL Extension also works with several trade organizations, making recertification available at their annual conferences. Conferences offering these opportunities for specific categories include:
Initial Certification Those seeking initial certification must preregister for one of the following training sessions and purchase study materials 10 days in advance of the training. Training categories vary at the listed sites:
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Nebraska commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators seeking first-time certification or recertification in 2009 to use or purchase restricted-use pesticides can get training through University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.
Licensed private pesticide applicators can buy and use restricted-use pesticides in their own farming operations after completing this training. About 3,500 private applicators statewide are eligible for recertification in 2009.
"The training is offered statewide from January through April," said Clyde Ogg, pesticide safety educator for UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
UNL's pesticide education office has sent commercial/noncommercial pesticide applicators with certifications expiring in April a pesticide applicator education schedule booklet that has initial certification and recertification information, training schedules and a registration/study materials order form.
Commercial applicators are those using restricted-use pesticides, and in some cases general-use pesticides, on a contract or for-hire basis. Noncommercial applicators are those applying these same pesticides to sites owned by an employer or for a governmental agency or political subdivision of the state.
"Farmers and ranchers who are classified as private applicators will have their pesticide safety education programs as scheduled by their UNL extension educators. For more information on scheduling training, contact your local extension office," Ogg advised.
Commercial and noncommercial applicators interested in training can get a copy of the schedule booklet at local extension offices, by phoning UNL's pesticide education office at (800) 627-7216 or (402) 472-1632 or online at http://pested.unl.edu/commercialschedule.
Advance registration is required for all initial commercial/noncommercial applicator training and most other training sessions. A $50 fee applies for each applicator registering for February through April sessions, regardless of the number of categories they register for.
Required study materials for initial training range from $10 to $30 per manual, depending on category.
Recertification opportunities are available at several extension offices in February and March and at several annual conferences and trade association meetings early in 2009.
"Initial certification requires passing a general standards exam and one or more specific applicator categories," Ogg said. Applicants can study by themselves, but for best results, Ogg recommends combining the training with the study materials.
"Training combined with individual study has the best track record in preparing someone to take the state pesticide license exams," he said.
UNL conducts the educational programs, and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) grants the licenses. NDA testing is offered at initial training locations. Questions about individual applicator license status should be directed to NDA at (402) 471-2394 or (877) 800-4080.
Steven W. Ress
Communications Coordinator, UNL Water Center
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| Published by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Cooperating with the counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. | ||
| The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not discriminate on the basis of gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran's status, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. | ||
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