Idaho Professional Applicator Complete 16 Credit Bundle - General Pesticide Safety
This course bundle is designed for professional applicators and contains 16 credits of continuing education focused on pesticide basics and safety. All courses are approved by the Idaho Department of Agriculture. Please click on course details for a list of specific courses.
BUNDLE CONTENTS
- Pesticide Application Procedures – 1 credit
- Pesticide Formulations – 1 credit
- Review of Pesticide Use Hazards – 1 credit
- Pest Management – 1 credit
- Personal Protective Equipment and Emergency Response – 1 credit
- History of Integrated Pest Management – 1 credit
- Balancing Pest Management and Pollinator Health – 1 credit
- Environmental Fate and Transport of Pesticides – 1 credit
- Pesticides in the Environment – 1 credit
- IPM, Insect Sampling, and Calibration – 1 credit
- Pesticide Labels and Safety Data Sheets – 1 credit
- Forest Pests Pesticide Use – 2 credits
- Pollinator Stewardship – 1 credit
- Respiratory Protection – 1 credit
- Understanding Rodenticides & Their Labels – 1 credit
Pesticide Application Procedures
Course Description
Today’s pest management practices require modern equipment to apply a variety of pesticides. Pesticides may be applied as sprays, dusts, granules, gases (vapors), fogs, baits, rubs, or dips. The vast array of application equipment must be matched to the pesticide as well as to the size and type of the job. To make an effective, safe, and efficient application, read the label first. In addition, you must properly select, operate, calibrate, and maintain your equipment.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify the factors (e.g., nozzles, volumes, pressures, and speeds) that affect calibration.
- Demonstrate how to determine the amount of pesticide concentrate and diluent to use.
- Explain how to choose appropriate drift reduction practices.
Pesticide Formulations
Course Description
A pesticide formulation is a combination of active and inert ingredients that form an end-use pesticide product. Pesticides are formulated to make them safer or easier to use. There are many formulations available for various pest control sites and situations, and it is important that applicators choose the best one for the job.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Explain why pesticides are formulated for end use.
- List the factors to consider when choosing a formulation for a specific site or situation.
- Discuss the properties of common formulations.
Review of Pesticide Use Hazards
Course Description
This Idaho Department of Agriculture-approved course provides one credit of instruction on the toxic properties of pesticides. Used incorrectly, these chemicals are toxic substances that can endanger the environment, humans and wildlife. This course contains crucial training on classifications and hazards of various pesticides.
Human exposure, injury to pets, water contamination, phytotoxicity in plants and other effects on non-target organisms may result from improper understanding and use of pesticides. Pest managers must understand and carefully use the pesticides at their disposal to avoid dangerous accidents.
To better protect against toxic pesticide hazards, learn the three categories of toxicity, the factors that influence pesticide toxicity and the designation of pesticides based on the pests they are designed to control.
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the characteristics of various pesticide formulations.
- Explain pesticide toxicity and the different hazards of human pesticide exposure.
- Recognize strategies to minimize excessive pesticide exposure risk to pets, plants and the environment.
- State appropriate measures to take in case of pesticide accidents.
Pest Management
Course Description
Civilization has been combating insects and other pests throughout history. A pest is an undesirable organism that injures
humans, desirable plants and animals, manufactured products, or natural substances. Many insects, pathogens (disease-causing organisms, such as viruses, bacteria, or fungi), plants (known as weeds), mollusks (slugs and snails), fish, birds, and a variety of mammals (from mice to deer) compete for our crops and livestock. As the battle between humans
and pests continues over time, so will innovative methods of control.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Discuss the importance of pest identification in pest control.
- Describe how pest population levels trigger control procedures.
- Give several reasons why pesticide applications may fail.
Personal Protective Equipment and Emergency Response
Course Description
PPE comprises the clothing and devices you wear to protect your body from contact with pesticides. Wearing PPE can reduce exposure (dermal, inhalation, ocular, or oral) and thereby lower the chances of pesticide injury, illness, or poisoning. It is important that all pesticide applicators and handlers understand the protections and limitations of PPE. Proper PPE selection, use, and care are essential.
Although pesticide accidents and emergencies are rare, they do occur. Pesticides spilled on the ground or burning in a fire can contaminate water, soil, and air; damage plants; injure livestock, wildlife, or pets; and endanger the health of the applicator and emergency responders. Pesticide spills and fires may lead to financial loss due to cleanup, liability claims, and fines assessed by government agencies. Do all that you can to prevent accidents, but be prepared in case of an emergency.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify where on the label to find the minimum clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) required to handle a given pesticide product.
- State the criteria to properly select skin, eye, and respiratory protection required by the pesticide label based upon your expected use and exposure.
- Discuss how pesticide releases from spills and fires can endanger humans and the environment.
- Explain how to execute an emergency response plan.
History of Integrated Pest Management
Course Description
What is integrated pest management? The reality is nobody can agree on what integrated pest management is. This course will cover what IPM is and what isn’t and how to be practical about IPM strategies. There is economic viability, the environmental safety of IPM, and social acceptability. As pest control professionals we have a huge responsibility to protect the entire environment. We’re responsible for protecting people, their pets, their property, the plants that they install and, ultimately, the planet from pests with the responsible use of pesticides. That is where IPM comes in.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Outline the principles of integrated pest management
- Identify common reasons why a pesticide application may fail
Balancing Pest Management and Pollinator Health
Course Description
Balancing the need to manage agricultural pests with pollinator health is dependent on cooperation between beekeepers, farmers, and pesticide applicators. This course outlines the importance of honey bees honey bee decline and discusses some pollinator myths. Finally, the strategies required to coordinate the efforts of farmers, beekeepers, and applicators are discussed.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Gain an understanding of the issues surrounding pollinator importance, decline, and health.
- Tailor a management strategy that addresses the cooperation between farmers, beekeepers, and applicators.
Environmental Fate and Transport of Pesticides
Course Description
Pesticides are a key factor in pest management but it is important to understand what happens to those pesticides after the application. This course will review some key characteristics of environmental factors that can affect how pesticides move and degrade in the environment.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Describe the elements of the environment that can play a role in chemical processing such as soil composition and moisture
- Describe the role of microbes and the factors that change populations
- Identify the factors that affect pesticide drift
- Explain the ways that pesticides can be decomposed
- Identify the connections between pesticide properties and potential for groundwater contamination
- Explain application techniques that can minimize impacts
Pesticides in the Environment
Course Description
Applicators and the public share concerns about how pesticides may harm the environment. Initially, hazards to humans were the primary reason the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided to classify a pesticide as a restricted-use product. Now, more and more pesticide labels list environmental effects (such as contamination of groundwater or toxicity to birds or aquatic organisms) as reasons for restriction. Anyone who uses a pesticide—indoors or outdoors, in a city or on a farm—must consider how that pesticide affects the environment.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Describe how pesticide applications can affect the environment.
- Explain how to prevent pesticide drift, runoff, and movement to nontarget areas.
- Discuss how to prevent pesticide residue accumulation associated with mixing, loading, and equipment washing.
IPM, Insect Sampling, and Calibration
Course Description
Integrated Pest Management. Integrated Pest Management, or “IPM” for short, is an environmentally sound approach to controlling a pest population through common sense methods. Each control method will be addressed and defined in this presentation. IPM is a strategy focusing on the long-term prevention of pests or their damage through the use of multiple techniques.
Insect Sampling Techniques for Row Crops. An important concern in agriculture management is minimizing insecticide use and controlling costs. The frequency of sampling is critical to making appropriate insect management decisions. These decisions should be made based on established treatment thresholds.
Pesticide Calibration. Calibration ensures that your equipment delivers the correct amount of pesticide uniformly across your field or target area and if done incorrectly or not at all has major consequences. It can mean the difference between control or failure of a pesticide. This course ensures you will be able to accurately calibrate using many types of application methods: broadcast application, banded application, multiple nozzles per row, and in-furrow applications.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Monitor and control pests through cultural, biological, mechanical, chemical, genetic, and host plant resistance methods.
- Describe resistance, how it develops, and integrative ways it can be managed.
- Describe the different of calibration types and why it is so important to calibrate before pesticide application occurs.
- Become familiar with specific details and mathematical instructions on how to perform broadcast applications, banded applications, multiple nozzles per row, and in-furrow applications.
Pesticide Labels and Safety Data Sheets
Course Description
Pesticide labels and safety data sheets (SDS) appear to contain much of the same information. While the label is the law, an SDS is not considered the law. As an applicator, it is important to understand the difference between a pesticide label and a safety data sheet and know what information can be found in each document. This course will review the various parts of pesticide labels and safety data sheets to identify the similarities and differences.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify the content and sections of a pesticide label
- Identify the content and sections of a safety data sheet (SDS)
- Outline the differences between information such as signal words and PPE on pesticide labels and safety data sheets
- Explain how to use pesticide labels and safety data sheets to prepare applications
Forest Pests Pesticide Use
Course Description
This online course is approved by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and explains how to control pests within forest environments while keeping non-target organisms safe. Here is an overview of what you’ll learn.
The course starts by explaining the required safety measures and risks associated with all stages of the pesticide-mixing process. Then, learn how to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies and methods to prevent pesticides from contaminating water sources. There is also a discussion about the environmental fate of pesticides.
Dive into pesticide use with lessons about forestry herbicide types, preventing pesticide resistance, managing forest vegetation and modes of action.
Review the precautions you must take before, during and after the various methods of fumigating greenhouse plants. Environmental concerns within greenhouses, such as exposure and protective measures, are also discussed.
Lastly, learn how to manage pesticide waste with lessons focusing on disposal, spill cleanup, and hazardous waste.
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Identify the risks and safety measures related to mixing pesticides.
- Describe ways of protecting water sources with IPM strategies.
- Explain why IPM is a successful practice and understand the strategies needed for a successful program.
- Summarize diverse tactics used to manage herbicide resistance.
- Discuss the goals and modes of action for forest herbicides.
- Identify practices for vegetation management.
- Describe safety concerns and methods of fumigation in greenhouses.
- Summarize health and environmental concerns in greenhouses.
- Communicate methods of managing pesticide waste.
Pollinator Stewardship
Course Description
Honey Bee Stewardship. The primary concern plaguing the bee keeping industry is the decline of honey bees around the world. Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is the leading cause behind this steady decline in honey bee numbers. There are a number of different factors affecting this decline. This course provides an outline of the best practices concerning honeybee stewardship.
Minimizing Pesticide Risk for Pollinators. Whether applying pesticides in the home garden or in a commercial setting, many of the chemical pesticides used to control insects, fungal diseases, and even weeds can hurt non-target pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies. This section will ensure your ability to effectively and efficiently apply pesticides without harming beneficial insects.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify the factors that contribute to colony collapse disorder.
- Recognize the importance of beekeeper/grower communication.
- Describe the importance of pollinators in agriculture and why protecting native pollinators is of great concern.
- Outline the federal and state enforcement and compliance procedure as related to pollinator safety and alternatives to hard chemicals.
Respiratory Protection
Course Description
Respirators protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. These hazards may cause cancer, lung impairment, diseases, or death. Some pesticide labels require the use of a respirator as part of the personal protective equipment. This course outlines the types of respirators available, proper fit, and inspection/maintenance requirements.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Discuss the different types of respirators and when to use each type
- Describe the steps of a successful fit test
- Outline the necessary care and maintenance required for each type of respirator
Understanding Rodenticides & Their Labels
Course Description
Rodenticides are becoming a widely discussed and concerning topic in the pest control field. There is a growing public concern at the risk of secondary and non-target poisonings when rodenticides are used. As a pest control operator is it your responsibility to understand how rodenticides work and how to read their labels. This course discusses the common types of rodenticides, their appropriate application, the risks involved with the use of each type of rodenticide, and takes a look at specific label language.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Outline and describe the primary classifications of rodenticides
- Describe the differences in toxicity and risk between first-generation and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides
- Describe how to use appropriate baiting techniques and the importance of carcass removal