There are specific groups of people who need pesticide applicator licenses in order to apply pesticides.
Private applicators apply restricted-use pesticides on their own land or on rented land and produce a commodity. This category includes farmers, greenhouse and nursery managers, fruit and vegetable growers and others.
A commercial pesticide applicator is one who applies pesticides for hire or applies them on publicly accessible sites such as golf courses, apartment complexes, schools, restaurants, etc.
Both private and commercial licenses require a test and then continuing certification credits in order to keep the license current.
Ohio State University Extension Educators are tasked by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) to teach pesticide certification. Currently Educators are in the throes of winter pesticide applicator training schools (PAT).
The training covers the basics of pesticides and pesticide safety, which is important for the individual as well as employees and those who purchase the crops.
All applicators are required to pass the Core test and to get Core recertification. Core curriculum covers basic pesticide safety and also includes record-keeping, protecting bees, reading a label and many other topics.
For instance, one topic covered is a topic that is important to many gardeners — protecting honeybees.
Ohio law requires that if a pesticide is toxic to bees, the applicator is responsible to contact any beekeepers with registered apiaries within 1/2 mile of the area to be treated at least 24 hours prior to treatment.
Pesticide applicators can then find a list of registered apiaries online at the ODA website.
This is a win-win for everyone. The bees are protected during pesticide application and the crops are protected from insects.
If you have beehives, protect them by registering voluntarily with ODA so that private and commercial applicators know to alert you. Go to the ODA website and search for apiary registry.
Now, let’s talk about homeowners and pesticides.
Do you know what PPE? Do you completely read the label of a pesticide before you spray your plants? Did you know that the label has first aid instructions? And what about storage and disposal of your pesticides?
Do you know that the pesticide label is the law? And that to use a pesticide that is inconsistent with the label is breaking the law?
Off and on during the winter I will be covering pesticide safety in this column. We will talk about helping you to protect bees and other pollinators as well as how to keep yourself safe when you choose to use pesticides.
I love teaching pesticide safety and hope to enlighten you in the coming months regarding pesticides and how to use them correctly.
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