Oregon Private Applicator Bundle - Part A
This course bundle is designed for the Oregon private applicator. The bundle focuses on general pesticide use and safety and contains four credits of core topics. All courses are approved by the Oregon Department of Agriculture Pesticides Program. Please click on course details for a list of specific courses.
BUNDLE CONTENTS:
- Reading the Pesticide Label: Beyond the Basics – 2 core credits
- Pest Identification: Rice, Cotton, and Peanut – 1 credit
- Seed Treatment Product Safety – 1 credit
- Calibration Clinic – Pesticide Sprayers and Spreaders – 1 core credit
- Balancing Pest Management and Pollinator Health – 1 core credit
- Fungicides and Plant Pathogen Sampling – 1 credit
- Pesticide Formulations – 1 credit
Reading the Pesticide Label: Beyond the Basics
Course Description
This training will cover many sections of a pesticide label and safety data sheets. Labels are increasing in complexity and depth of information. It is never suggested that anyone try to memorize a pesticide label. By reviewing parts of a label and recognizing label language and use, we hope that you feel more comfortable with the information on pesticide labels and feel confident in understanding the information the present. Many examples of labels are used in this training that cover a variety of types of pesticides and also represent a variety of sites. It’s essential that we look at REAL label language and not simply make generic statements to evaluate.
There is no endorsement for any company or product by representation of information in this training. All material presented is for educational purposes only and is not intended to purposefully include or exclude any company, tradename, product, use, proprietary, or any other information. Whenever you have questions about interpretations of label language, we encourage you to contact your local extension, land-grant university, department of agriculture, product dealer, or the manufacturer for more information.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Discuss different types of pesticide registrations.
- Identify where to find specific information on the pesticide label.
- Identify pests and site usage according to the label, and recognize information on safety data sheets.
Pest Identification: Rice, Cotton, and Peanuts
Course Description
Rice Insect Pests. This section details the major and the minor pests commonly associated with rice crops. These include weevils, stink bugs, armyworms, aphids, borers, midges, and more. Students will learn to identify insects at various stages of maturity and to recognize specific insects based on the damage done to the crop.
Cotton Insect Pest and Management Strategies. This section will demonstrate how to identify insect pests in cotton, and outline the most common management strategies. Major insect pests in cotton include thrips, plant bugs, stink bugs, bollworm, budworm, beet armyworm, fall armyworm, spider mites, and others.
Peanut Insect Pests. This section will cover the major pests commonly associated with peanut crops. These include thrips, cutworms, lesser cornstalk borer, threecornered alfalfa hopper, rednecked peanutworm, peanut burrower bug, and several defoliators.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Outline the most common insect pests of rice, the damage they cause, and prevention methods for each.
- Describe the impact these pests have on the yield and quality of rice grain.
- Identify various insect pests typically found in cotton.
- Develop management strategies to control these pests.
- Discuss the most common insect pests of peanuts, the damage they cause, and prevention methods for each.
Seed Treatment Product Safety
Course Description
In the last ten years, there has been a resurgence of treated seed use, largely due to the advent of improved chemical performance. We as agricultural producers are obviously concerned about the more modern applications of these processes, not only because they have been found to be beneficial to early crop protection but especially because they have been of concern to the safety of humans and the environment. This course will outline the benefits and risks associated with treated seed products.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Weigh the benefits of treated seed products against the concerns for both human and environmental safety.
- Outline the different types of seed treatment methods, dressings, and manufacturing processes.
- Be able to describe and integrate important safety guidelines based on EPA risk assessment recommendations.
- Describe the environmental impact of seed treatment processes, and best practices as environmental stewards.
Calibration Clinic – Pesticide Sprayers and Spreaders
Course Description
Proper application of pesticides and fertilizers on turfgrass is only possible with accurately calibrated equipment. These lessons discuss the calibration of three types of application equipment: handheld or back-pack pump-up sprayers, large acreage sprayers, and fertilizer or “dry-granular” spreaders as well as several different calibration techniques.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the baby bottle and the 5940 calibration methods
- Describe the steps to calibrate a boom sprayer
- Describe the steps to calibrate a granular broadcast spreader
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.
Fungicides and Plant Pathogen Sampling
Course Description
This course provides the learner with a few basics necessary for effective management of turf and ornamentals. Understanding how to properly collect specimens for accurate analysis by a lab will save time and money. Understanding how a fungus infects a plant and which fungicide will treat that fungus effectively will provide quick treatment that can limit the damage done to the plant. Plant appearance, the status of the infections, what to include in your sample, and fungicide mechanism of action are discussed to provide a framework from which to formulate treatment strategies.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Gain an understanding of how fungicides penetrate the structures of a targeted plant.
- Tailor a management strategy that addresses the prevention, identification, and treatment of fungal infections in plants.
- Identify the proper part of the plant to send to the diagnostic lab for analysis.
- Execute proper packaging and shipping of each sample to the diagnostic lab.
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.