Pennsylvania Private Applicator Complete 12 Credit Bundle #2
This course bundle is geared toward the agricultural private applicator. The course bundle contains 6 credits of core training and 6 credits of private category training. All courses have been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Please click on course details for a full list of courses.
BUNDLED CONTENTS:
Core Credits:
- Pollinator Stewardship – 1 credit
- Environmental Fate and Transport of Pesticides – 2 credits
- Fruit Crop Pest Management – 3 credits (and 6 credits Private Applicator)
Private Category Credits:
- Fruit Crop Pest Management – 6 credits (and 3 credits Core)
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.
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
Fruit Crop Pest Management
Course Description
Pesticides protect plants and animals from insects, nematodes, weeds, and diseases; improve the efficiency of food productions, and provide for greater crop yields. This course outlines various invasive pests of fruit crops and how an applicator can effectively treat pest infestations while protecting themselves and maintaining productive fruit crop yields intended for human consumption.
After completing this course users will be able to:
- Identify invasive pests of fruit crops, including insects, weeds, diseases, and nematodes.
- Operate and properly calibrate various types of application equipment.
- Outline effective practices for the management of various pest populations.