Texas Private Applicator 10 CEU Recertification Bundle
This course bundle is designed for the Texas Agricultural Private Applicator. The course bundle contains 10 CEUs of Texas Department of Agriculture approved courses and includes 1 CEU of IPM, and 9 CEUS of General credits. NOTE: Private applicators may complete 10 of the required 15 credits in an online format each cycle.
BUNDLE CONTENTS:
Integrated Pest Management credits
- IPM for Turf Management – 1 CEU
General credits
- Natural Areas Weed Management – 3 CEUs
- Identification & Control of Noxious Weeds – 1 CEU
- Mole Management – 1 CEU
- Voles: Biology, Damage, and Control – 1 CEU
- Respiratory Protection – 1 CEU
- Environmental Fate and Transport of Pesticides – 1 CEU
- Application Equipment and Calibration – 1 CEU
Natural Areas Weed Management
Course Description
This course is for agricultural pesticide applicators who want to become certified as commercial or public applicators of restricted-use pesticides for the control of natural areas. It outlines various invasive weeds in natural areas and how an applicator should go about treating natural areas with respect to wildlife and the environment.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify which equipment and pesticide product should be used in each application.
- Identify various applications in natural areas.
IPM for Turf Management
Course Description
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
Identification & Control of Noxious Weeds
Course Description
Managing noxious weeds can be a tricky proposition. Applicators need to be aware of both the federal and state noxious weed lists and how that affects management tactics. This course covers several weeds on the federal noxious weeds list as well as other noxious weeds found throughout the southeastern United States.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Identify common noxious weeds the southeastern United States
- Recommend the proper treatment strategies for each noxious weed identified
Mole Management
Course Description
Moles can be the bane of a well-kept lawn. But is it really a mole? Moles, voles, shrews, 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.
Voles: Biology, Damage, and Control
Course Description
Voles are known by a variety of names, meadow mice or field mice for example. Voles are rodents, meaning they like to chew on things, but they rarely enter structures and are primarily a pest in landscape settings. But they are often confused with mice by many homeowners. The damage caused by voles is to the grass and other plants in the landscape and garden and is most noticeable after the snow melts in northern climates. This course will cover the basics of vole identification, biology, and damage as well as several control methods including trapping and rodenticide use.
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Correctly distinguish between a vole, a shrew, and a mouse.
- Identify vole damage in grass, garden, and landscape areas.
- Outline the different types of rodenticides labeled for controlling voles.
- Discuss the different types of traps and how to set them.
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
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
Application Equipment and Calibration
Course Description
When pesticide applications become necessary for good turf management, it’s important to understand how application equipment works and how to properly calibrate the equipment. An accurate measurement of the area to be treated and properly calibrated equipment are critical to applying pesticides within an acceptable range of the label requirements. This course will discuss the most common types of equipment used for pesticide applications on turf, the way to calculate the area of an irregularly shaped space, 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