Business : ISU Extension Offers Commercial Pesticide Applicator Test Help Sessions

All commercial pesticide applicators must take exams in order to become initially certified and some choose to become re-certified by exam rather than by attending continuing instructional courses. With the increased interest in fungicide applications on corn and soybeans, many commercial applicators are considering adding agricultural diseases (category 1C) to their certification.

Iowa State University Extension will offer two training sessions designed to help prepare individuals for the commercial pesticide applicator examinations in SE Iowa. One session is in Marion on Wednesday, February 23 in the Linn County Extension Office at 3279 7th Ave. A second session will be offered in Bettendorf on Tuesday, March 8 in the Scott County Extension Office, 875 Tanglefoot Lane. Both sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m.

The training sessions will cover the Iowa Core Manual and categories 1A (Agricultural Weed Management), 1B (Agricultural Insect Control), 1C (Agricultural Crop Disease Management), 3O,T, and G (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 1.5 hours with training on the other categories following.

There is a $25 fee per person at each training session. These training sessions do NOT qualify as continuing instructional courses. For more information, please contact Jim Fawcett at (319) 337-2145, Patrick O’Malley at (319) 337-2145, or Virgil Schmitt at (563) 263-5701.