Washington Private Applicator 10 Credit Bundle - CRP
This course bundle is designed for the Washington State Private Applicator with an emphasis specific to the conservation reserve program. The course bundle contains 10 of the 20 required recertification credits of training approved by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Only 10 recertification credits may be completed in one calendar year. Please click on course details for a list of specific courses.
BUNDLE CONTENTS
- Pesticide Labels and Safety Data Sheets – 1 credit
- Calibration Clinic: Pesticide Sprayers and Spreaders – 1 credit
- Cultural Practices for Turf Management – 1 credit
- Environmental Fate and Transport of Pesticides – 1 credit
- Application Equipment and Calibration – 1 credit
- Pollinator Stewardship – 1 credit
- Right-of-Way: Weed Control – 4 credits
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
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
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
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. 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
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.
Right-of-Way: Weed Control
Course Description
This course will review the methods and techniques to manage vegetation on rights of way and non-cropland industrial sites safely without damage to non-target species, sites, objects, or the environment
After completing this course participants will be able to:
- Gain an understanding of the issues involved in controlling vegetation by roadways, utility lines, and pipelines.
- Tailor a management strategy that addresses the unique needs of rights of way weed management.