Idaho Professional Applicator Complete 16 Credit Bundle - Ornamental and Turf Pest Management
This course bundle is designed for professional applicators and contains 16 credits of continuing education focused on ornamental and turf pest management. All courses are approved by the Idaho Department of Agriculture. Please click on course details for a list of specific courses.
BUNDLE CONTENTS:
- IPM Practices for Landscape Pest Management – 1 credit
- Management Strategies for Disease Issues in the Landscape – 3 credits
- Mole Management – 1 credit
- Pesticide Emergency Management and Environmental Protection – 1 credit
- Common Landscape Pests of the West Coast – 1 credit
- IPM for Ornamental Plant Pest Management – 1 credit
- Common Ornamental Plant Pests – 3 credits
- Ornamental Application Equipment and Calibration – 1 credit
- Common Turfgrass Weeds – 1 credit
- Cultural Practices for Turf Management – 1 credit
- IPM for Turf Management – 1 credit
- Turfgrass Disease, Insect, and Vertebrate Pests – 1 credit
IPM Practices for Landscape Pest Management
Course Description
This course discusses the benefits and considerations for developing an integrated pest management (IPM) program. This course covers a variety of methods for pest management, such as augmentation, mechanical and cultural control, sanitation, and the use of pesticides. In addition, this course includes information concerning liquid pesticide application equipment and equipment calibration, as well as application methods for granule pesticides, tree injection and implantation, and baits/traps. This course also explains how to properly maintain pesticide application equipment and determine the amount of pesticide needed based on area size and type of pesticide.
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- List the different approaches to pest management that comprise an IPM.
- Discuss types of pesticide application equipment used in landscape, turf, and interiorscape settings.
- Explain how to utilize granule pesticides, tree injection and implantation, and baits/traps.
- Determine how to maintain and calibrate pesticide application equipment.
Management Strategies for Disease Issues in the Landscape
Course Description
Landscape maintenance is a cut-throat business. The keys to success lie in minimizing costs and creating successful plantings through careful planning, disease prevention, and maintenance of a healthy environment. This course teaches the basics of disease management of landscape plantings, and the different tools and techniques needed to successfully control the diverse world of landscaping.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Gain an understanding of the issues involved in controlling pests and disease in landscape plantings.
- Tailor a management strategy that addresses the unique needs of landscape plantings all within a reasonable budget.
Mole Management
Course Description
Moles can be the bane of a well-kept lawn. But is it really a mole? Mole, vole, shrew, and pocket gopher damage can look the same to the untrained eye. This course covers the physiological differences between moles and other look-alike vertebrate pests, trapping techniques, and toxicant options.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Correctly identify mole damage.
- Distinguish the differences between moles, voles, shrews, and pocket gophers.
- Describe the different traps and toxicants available and when best to use each one.
Pesticide Emergency Management and Environmental Protection
Course Description
Approved by the Idaho Department of Agriculture, this one-credit course guides pest managers through the safe use and legal handling of pesticides.
Safe pesticide use starts with planning. Select the right service containers to store, transport, and mix chemicals. Care in chemical selection, equipment use, application techniques, cleanup, disposal, recordkeeping and liability keeps exposure risk to a minimum.
The best way to avoid exposure is to avoid using toxic pesticides at all. Safer alternatives are discussed. When pesticides are needed, preparatory tools like management plans, advance notification and public warning signs become essential safety tools.
This course also covers effective emergency response for misapplications, leaks and spills. Exposure to skin, eyes, the respiratory system or even clothing may require first aid. Learn how to act to remedy common exposure hazards and minimize injury.
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify pesticide safety measures to protect people and the environment from pesticide exposure.
- Discuss effective equipment selection, safe application techniques and proper practices for cleanup and disposal.
- Describe appropriate ways to handle and apply pesticides.
- Recognize different types of pesticide emergencies and corresponding first aid measures.
- Explain how to handle pesticide emergencies such as leaks, spills and misapplications.
Common Landscape Pests of the West Coast
Course Description
When dealing with pest control and management, a key aspect is correctly distinguishing which kind of pest is the problem. Proper identification of the pest will help determine if it is the sole cause of damage, allowing the appropriate management methods to be applied correctly. Furthermore, it is also essential to identify the plants to protect them from pest damage and select a pesticide that won’t harm the landscape.
This continuing education course, which is approved by the Idaho Department of Agriculture, reviews how to identify and treat pests in landscape, turf, and interiorscape settings. Students will discuss common landscape pests, including weeds, invertebrates, vertebrates, and disease agents.
After completing this course, participants will:
- Determine the development stage at which to apply pest treatment.
- Outline identifying characteristics and symptoms of pests.
- Evaluate the steps to send pest samples to a lab for identification.
IPM for Ornamental Plant Pest Management
Course Description
Integrated Pest Management of ornamental plants involves multiple steps; producing a healthy plant, correctly identifying the problem, recognizing that there will always be some pests and damage, and only using pesticides as a last resort. This course teaches the basics of pest and disease management for ornamental plants, and the different tools and techniques needed to successfully provide your clients with a healthy and attractive landscape.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Discuss several ways to track pest development
- Outline the issues involved in controlling pests and disease in managed landscape situations
- Tailor a management strategy that addresses the unique needs of each ornamental planting
Common Ornamental Plant Pests
Course Description
Pest management of ornamental plants involves multiple steps from growing a healthy plant that is more resistant to pest damage to correctly identifying the problem when present. This course will cover the most common pests of ornamental plants.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify common landscape weeks and outline how to manage them.
- Identify common plant disorders and identify how to avoid them in the future.
- Identify common plant diseases and outline how to manage them.
- Describe nematode damage and explain why sampling prior to planting is important.
- Identify common vertebrate and invertebrate pests and outline the best management strategy for each.
Ornamental Pesticide Application Equipment and Calibration
Course Description
When pesticide applications become necessary for good ornamental plant management it’s important to understand how application equipment works and how to properly calibrate the equipment. Accurate measurement of the area to be treated or the number of plants to be treated and properly calibrated equipment are critical to successful control of the pest as well as staying within label requirements. This course will discuss the most common types of equipment used for pesticide applications on ornamental plants, the way to calculate the volume of solution needed, and how to properly calculate the flow rate of the equipment.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Describe the different types of equipment used in pesticide applications
- Accurately calculate the square footage of irregular areas
- Accurately calibrate common application equipment
Common Turfgrass Weeds
Course Description
Managing weeds in a turf stand can be a tricky proposition. Often times the client fails to recognize that the presence of weeds in a turf stand is the result of poor turf, not the cause. Correct identification of the problem weed is a must of developing a management strategy, as is a working knowledge of weed biology and how herbicides work. This course will provide applicators with a good foundation from which to build their knowledge.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Explain the major similarities and differences between weeds and turf
- Identify common turfgrass weeds
- Explain how herbicides work
Cultural Practices for Turf Management
Course Description
Turf responds best to consistent cultural practices – mowing, irrigating, and fertilizing. A consistent mowing height that is appropriate for the variety of turf, good irrigation, and proper fertilization will result in a healthy vigorous turf that will be enjoyed for years.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Discuss adverse turf conditions and how to correct them
- Recognize common turf problems and how to remedy them
- Tailor a management strategy that addresses the unique needs of turfgrass
IPM for Turf Management
Integrated Pest Management of turfgrasses involves multiple steps; producing a healthy plant, correctly identifying the problem, recognizing that there will always be some pests and damage, and only using pesticides as a last resort. This course teaches the basics of pest and disease management for turfgrass, and the different tools and techniques needed to successfully provide your clients with a healthy and attractive turf stand.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Understand the settings and ecosystems of a turf stand
- Gain an understanding of the issues involved in controlling pests and disease in managed turfgrass
- Tailor a management strategy that addresses the unique needs of turfgrass
Turfgrass Disease, Insect, and Vertebrate Pests
There are a variety of diseases, disorders, insects, and vertebrate pests that can cause problems in turfgrass. Being able to correctly identify these common turfgrass maladies is of utmost importance to turfgrass managers. This course will look at the common diseases and disorders found in turf, and cover the situations and environmental conditions favorable to those diseases. The course also covers common insect and vertebrate pests and how to manage them.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify a disease, describe favorable disease conditions, and recommend treatment strategies for each disease
- Identify common insect turf pests and recommend treatment strategies
- Recognize the preferred habitat for common vertebrate pests and be able to recommend the appropriate deterrent or management strategy