Pesticide applicator test help available

WASHINGTON, Iowa ? A training session designed to help individuals prepare for the commercial pesticide applicator examinations will be offered 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 5 at the Washington County Extension Office in Washington.

All commercial pesticide applicators must take examinations in order to become initially certified and some choose to become re-certified by examination rather than by attending continuing instructional courses.

The training session will cover the Iowa Core Manual and categories 1A (Agricultural Weed Management), 1B (Agricultural Insect Control), 1C (Agricultural Crop Disease Management), 3O, 3T, and 3G (Ornamental, Turf, and Greenhouse Pest Management), 4 (Seed Treatment) and 6 (Right-of-Way).

Training on the Iowa Core Manual will be given for the first two hours, with the training on the other categories following.

The actual tests are administered by the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship; the test schedule for both private and commercial pesticide applicators can be found at www.agriculture.state.ia.us/Pesticide/pesticidetesting.asp.

The fee is $25 fee per person for the training session.

The session does not qualify as a continuing instructional course.

For information, contact Virgil Schmitt at vschmitt@iastate.edu or 563-263-5701, Patrick O?Malley at omall@iastate.edu or 319-337-2145, or Mark Carlton at mcarltn@iastate.edu or 641-932-5612.