Pesticide safety is at the heart of more than four dozen January-April training sessions throughout Nebraska, offered in multiple formats for commercial/noncommercial pesticide applicators to become certified or recertified.
Awareness and knowledge about pesticides are important, said Clyde Ogg, Nebraska Extension educator who leads training and the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
“Applicators bear the burden to responsibly use pesticides and document their use,” Ogg said. “Knowledge and training help applicators keep current on products, methods and technology.”
Commercial applicators are those using RUPs; and GUPs when making applications in lawn care or structural settings, for hire or compensation. Noncommercial applicators are those applying these same pesticides to sites owned by their employer, or for a governmental agency or political subdivision of the state.
Separate training also is required prior to using paraquat and RUP dicamba.
“The label is the law,” Ogg said. “The label is a legal document so it is the applicator’s responsibility to read and comply with ALL label directions, even if they’ve used that same product before.”
Labels can change without warning due to updates in formulations or research. The result could be changes such as requiring respirators, longer restricted-entry interval, protecting a new wildlife species or a new rate of application.
PSEP conducts pesticide safety and RUP dicamba training; the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) issues 3-year licenses for applicators who pass their certification exams and pay the fee.
A new option is available this year for potential commercial/noncommercial applicators to study for their initial (first-time) certification.
“Our new digital FlipBooks are a segue into the new decade,” Ogg said. Internet-based FlipBooks combine video with text, eliminating time and expense to attend on-site training. They are convenient, have searchable text and most have color images. Information about purchasing FlipBooks and subsequent testing are at https://pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training#commercial.
Initial Training Schedule
Anyone preferring the traditional initial training through print materials and on-site videos may still do so. Advance registration of $80 is required through https://pested.unl.edu/initial-classes-registration. Start time is 8:30 a.m. for each of the following locations; exams are conducted at the end of sessions.
- Beatrice: Gage County Extension Office, Fairgrounds, 1115 W. Scott, March 17
- Columbus: Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Feb. 25
- Grand Island: College Park, Hall County Extension Office, 3180 W. Highway 34, Feb. 4 and 25
- Lincoln: Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Road, Feb. 4 and 27; March 17; April 9
- Norfolk: Madison County Extension Office, 1305 S. 13th St., Feb. 4 and 25, March 17
- North Platte: Nebraska West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Road, Feb. 11 and 27, March 17, April 9
- Omaha: Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Road, Feb. 11, April 9 and 16
- O’Neill: Holt County Annex, 128 N. Sixth St., Suite 100, April 16
- Scottsbluff: Nebraska Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Feb. 11, 25 and 27; April 9
Once certification is attained in the commercial classification, NDA issues a license for an additional $90 fee. There is no charge for a noncommercial license.
Recertification Training
Commercial/noncommercial applicators whose licenses expire in April 2020 may recertify at an on-site Extension video training session in February-March.
In 2020 approximately 3,500 commercial/noncommercial applicators -- such as fumigators, lawn care workers, exterminators and others -- need to be recertified. For individual applicator license status, see http://www.kellysolutions.com/ or call NDA at 402-471-2351. Applicators whose licenses have expired must retest.
Preregistration of $80 is required, https://pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training#commercial. Start time is 8:30 a.m. for each of the following recertification locations:
- Beatrice: Gage County Extension Office, Fairgrounds, 1115 W. Scott, Feb. 18, March 10 and 19
- Columbus: Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Feb 20, March 19
- Grand Island: College Park, Hall County Extension Office, 3180 W. Hwy. 34, Feb. 6 and 18
- Holdrege: Phelps County Fairgrounds, Ag Center, 1308 2nd St., Feb. 12, March 10
- Lincoln: Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd., Feb. 6 and 20, March 26
- Norfolk: Madison County Extension Office, 1305 S. 13th St., Feb. 12, 13 and 18; March 10
- North Platte: Nebraska West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., Feb. 13 and 18, March 19
- Omaha: Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Rd., Feb. 13, March 19 and 26
- O'Neill: Holt County Annex, 128 N. Sixth St., Suite 100, Feb. 13, March 19
- Scottsbluff: UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Feb. 6 and 20, March 24
Paraquat, RUP Dicamba Training
Training is required prior to use; no fee is charged for either.
Annual RUP Dicamba Training https://pested.unl.edu/certification-and-training#dicamba for PSEP training information beginning Jan. 2.
Paraquat Training https://campus.extension.org/login/index.php, due every three years.
Other recertification and training options:
Crop Production Clinics are a great option to recertify in the Agricultural Plant (01) category and Demonstration/Research (D/R) subcategory. Registration of $80 required at https://agronomy.unl.edu/cpc. Clinics begin at 8:45 a.m. local times.
- Jan. 7 – Gering, Gering Civic Center, 1050 M St.
- Jan. 8 – North Platte, Sandhills Convention Center 2102 S. Jeffers St.
- Jan. 10 – Beatrice, Southeast Community College, Truman Center
- Jan. 13 – Norfolk, Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin Ave.
- Jan. 14 - York, Holthus Convention Center, 3130 Holen Ave.
- Jan. 15 – Mead, Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, 1071 County Rd. G
Nebraska Crop Management Conference Jan. 22-23 (Note new date from previous announcements) in Kearney, Younes Conference Center, 416 Talmadge Rd. Preregistration required, https://agronomy.unl.edu/NCMC at $80 per day or both days for $150. Recertification is available either day.
Nebraska Turfgrass Conference Jan. 7-9 in LaVista, LaVista Conference Center, 12540 Westport Parkway. Recertification in Ornamental and Turf Pest Control (04). Preregister, https://nebraskaturfgrass.com/ or call the Nebraska Turfgrass Association at 402-207-0911.
Nebraska Aviation Trades Association Convention Feb. 25-26 at Younes Conference Center, 416 W Talmadge Rd., Kearney. Recertification in Ag Plant (01) and Aerial Pest Control (12). For more information, contact tayor@youraam.com or the Nebraska Aviation Trades Association, 531-289-8323.
More details at: https://pested.unl.edu