December 20, 2011
UNL Commercial and Noncommercial Pesticide Safety Education Program Is January through April
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators seeking first-time certification or recertification in 2012 to use or purchase restricted-use pesticides can get training through University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.
"The training is offered statewide from January through April," said Clyde Ogg, pesticide safety educator in UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
UNL's pesticide education office has sent commercial/noncommercial pesticide applicators with certifications expiring in April 2012 a pesticide applicator education schedule booklet that has initial certification and recertification information, training schedules and instructions for registration and ordering study materials.
Commercial applicators are those using restricted-use pesticides, and in some cases general-use pesticides, on a contract or for-hire basis. Noncommercial applicators are those applying these same pesticides to sites owned by an employer or for a governmental agency or political subdivision of the state.
Farmers and ranchers classified as private applicators will have their pesticide safety education programs as scheduled by their UNL extension educators, Ogg said. More information is available from local extension offices.
Commercial and noncommercial applicators interested in training can get a copy of the schedule booklet at local extension offices, by phoning UNL's pesticide education office at (800) 627-7216 or (402) 472-1632 or online at Pesticide Safety Education Program .
Advance registration is required for all initial commercial/noncommercial applicator training and most other training sessions. A $60 fee applies for each applicator registering for February through April sessions, regardless of the number of categories they register for.
Required study materials for initial training range from $10 to $30 per manual, depending on category.
Recertification opportunities are available at several extension offices in February and March and at several annual conferences and trade association meetings in early 2012.
Initial certification requires passing a general standards exam and one or more specific applicator categories, Ogg said.
Applicants can study by themselves, but best results are normally obtained by combining the training with the study materials, Ogg said.
UNL conducts the educational programs, and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture grants the licenses. NDA testing is offered at initial training locations. Questions about individual applicator license status should be directed to NDA at (402) 471-2394 or (877) 800-4080.
The only opportunity for commercial applicators to recertify in the Agricultural Plant category and Demo/Research subcategory, other than by examination, will be at UNL Crop Production Clinics.
Crop Production Clinics start at 8:45 a.m., local time, at the following locations (preregister at http://cpc.unl.edu or pay at the door):
Ainsworth: Community Center, 606 E. Fourth St., Jan. 17.
Beatrice: Classics Country Club, 1301 Oak St., Jan. 4.
Fremont: Midland Lutheran College, 900 N. Clarkson, Jan. 19.
Gering: Gering Civic Center, 1050 M Street, Jan. 12.
Hastings: Adams County Fairgrounds, 947 S. Baltimore, Jan. 10.
Kearney: Younes Convention Center, 416 Talmadge Rd., Jan. 6.
Norfolk: Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin Ave., Jan. 18.
North Platte: West Central R & E Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., Jan. 11.
York: The Auditorium, 612 N. Nebraska Ave., Jan. 5.
Recertification in additional applicator categories is offered at the following locations and dates. Available categories vary at each of the locations; check the pesticide applicator education schedule booklet for details. Preregistration required:
Ainsworth: Courthouse meeting room, 148 W. Fourth St., Feb. 9, 28.
Beatrice: Gage County Extension Office, 1115 W. Scott, Feb. 9, 28, or Mar. 22.
Columbus: Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Feb 28.
Fremont: Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St., Feb. 9, or Mar. 22.
Grand Island: College Park, 3180 W. Hwy 34, Feb. 9, 21.
Holdrege: Phelps County Fairgrounds, Ag Center, 1308 Second St., Feb. 28 or Mar. 22.
Lincoln: Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd., Feb. 9 or Mar. 22.
Norfolk: Lifelong Learning Center, Northeast Community College, 601 E. Benjamin, Feb. 9, 28 or Mar. 22.
North Platte: UNL West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., Feb. 9, 28.
Ogallala: Valentino's, 55 River Rd., March 22.
Omaha: Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 West Center Rd., Feb. 9, or March 22.
Scottsbluff: UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave. I, Feb. 9, 28 or March 22.
Valentine: Cherry County Extension Office, 132 S. Hall St., March 22.
UNL Extension also works with several trade organizations to make recertification available at their annual conferences. Conferences offering these opportunities for specific categories include:
Nebraska Green Expo: Jan. 23, Mid-America Center, 1 Arena Way, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Recertification in Ornamental and Turf pest control category and Demo/Research subcategory. Call the Nebraska Turfgrass Association at (402) 475-8873 for registration materials.
Nebraska Urban Pest Management Conference: Feb. 14-15, Cornhusker-Marriott Hotel, 333 S. 13 St., Lincoln. Recertification in Structural/Health-related pest control, Public Health pest control, Wood Destroying Organisms, and Fumigation categories. Contact Shripat Kamble, UNL Department of Entomology, (402) 472-6857 for copies of the program and registration forms.
Nebraska Aviation Trades Association Conference: Feb. 13-15, Midtown Holiday Inn, 2503 S. Locust St., Grand Island. Recertification in Aerial Pest Control category. Call Nebraska Aviation Trades Association (402) 475-6282 for information.
Those seeking initial certification must preregister for one of the following training sessions and purchase study materials 10 days ahead of the training. Training categories vary at the listed sites:
Beatrice: Gage County Extension Office, Fairgrounds, 1115 W. Scott, March 20.
Columbus: Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., March 20.
Fremont: Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St., Feb. 7.
Grand Island: College Park, 3180 W. Hwy 34, Feb. 7 or March 1.
Lincoln: Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd., Feb. 7, March 1 or April 12.
Norfolk: Lifelong Learning Center, Northeast Community College, 601 E. Benjamin, March 1, 20.
North Platte: UNL West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd., Feb. 7, March 1 or April 12.
Ogallala: Valentino's, 55 River Rd., March 20.
Omaha: Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Rd., Feb. 7, March 20, or April 12.
Scottsbluff: UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave I, Feb. 7, March 1, 20 or April 12.
Valentine: Cherry County Extension Office, 132 S. Hall St, March 20.
12/20/11-SR Clyde Ogg
Agronomy & Horticulture Education Educator (402) 472-1632
 
Steve Ress Nebraska Water Center - Communications Coordinator (402) 472-3305
Department:
Extension
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