Private Pesticide Applicator Training in Webster County Starts Feb. 6

     A valid certification is needed to allow the purchase and use of restricted use pesticides on the farm. Producers will therefore need to attend a training session for initial certification, or to renew their certification for another three years. This applies if they received a letter from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, haven’t held a PSEP card, or if their card has expired. Producers that received a bar-coded letter from the NDA should bring it to the meeting that you choose to go to.

     The UNL Extension in Webster County will present several sessions where producers or ag workers may re-certify or extend pesticide certification. Dewey Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator, will be doing the Private Pesticide Applicator training at four sites in Webster County. They are as follows: Lawrence – at Dick’s Place on February 6 starting at 1:00 pm; Blue Hill - at the Community Center on February 27 starting at 6:30 pm; Bladen - at the Fire Hall on March 13, starting at 9:00 am; and Red Cloud - at the Webster County Museum Exhibit Hall on March 20, starting at 1:30 pm. Producers should plan to spend about two and ½ to three hours to certify or re-certify.  A $30 materials fee will be charged for attending the session. Attendees should plan to arrive 10 minutes early to register and pick up their material.

     Basic information that will be covered in the private applicator training meetings include: protective clothing, equipment and safety; reading pesticide labels and mixing herbicides; update on new pesticide laws, and regulations; record keeping agreements and forms; fumigation procedures for grain and rodents; records and pesticide application reporting; pesticide and container storage, disposal, & bio-security; pesticide drift management, nozzles, wind, and compass use; Worker Protection Standards; and new information that affects production agriculture, integrated pest management and/or pesticide application. Attendees will get the current pesticide information guide, hand-outs, field record books and other materials, including the new UNL 2013 Guide for Weed Management in Nebraska.

    There are of course other trainings across the state. Please contact our office in Red Cloud if you are not sure if you are certified, or if you need further information on the classes described in this news release or for other classes that are available in other counties. You may go to http://pested.unl.edu  for information on applicator status or training sessions. Producers may also take the class through a self-study method. Please contact Dewey Lienemann at the Webster County Extension office in Red Cloud at (402) 746-3417 or via his cell phone at (402) 469-0357 or email at dlienemann2@unl.edu for questions or for more information.