December 19, 2012
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators seeking first-time certification or recertification in 2013 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 for UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
UNL's pesticide education office has sent commercial/noncommercial pesticide applicators with certifications expiring in April a pesticide applicator education schedule booklet that has initial certification and recertification information, as well as training schedules.
Commercial applicators are those using restricted-use pesticides, and in some cases general-use pesticides, on a contract or for-hire basis, Ogg said. 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 local UNL extension educators, Ogg said. For more information, they should contact their local extension office.
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 http://pested.unl.edu/commercialschedule.
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 registered 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 early in 2013.
Initial certification requires passing a general standards exam and one or more specific applicator categories, Ogg said. Applicants can study by themselves, but for best results, he recommends combining the training with the study materials.
UNL conducts the training 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 402-471-2351 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 begin at 8:45 a.m., local time, at the following locations [preregister on-line (http://cpc.unl.edu) or at the door]:
Atkinson: Atkinson Community Center, 206 W. Fifth St., Jan. 15.
Beatrice: Armed Forces Reserve Center, 1400 W. Scott Rd., Jan. 17.
Fremont: Midland University Event Center, 900 N. Clarkson, Jan. 24.
Gering: Gering Civic Center, 1050 M St., Jan. 10.
Hastings: Adams County Fairgrounds, 947 S. Baltimore, Jan. 8.
Kearney: Younes Conference Center, 416 Talmadge Rd, Jan. 22.
Norfolk: Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin Ave, Jan. 23.
North Platte: Sandhills Convention Center, 2102 S. Jeffers, Jan. 9.
York: The Auditorium, 612 N. Nebraska Ave., Jan. 16.
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. 7, 26.
Beatrice: Gage County Extension Office, 1115 W. Scott, Feb. 7, 26 or March 21.
Chadron: 4-H Building, Fairgrounds, Feb. 21.
Columbus: Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Feb 26.
Dakota City: Farm Service Center, 1505 Broadway, Feb. 21.
Fremont: Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St., Feb. 7 or March 21.
Grand Island: College Park, 3180 W. Hwy. 34, Feb. 7, 26.
Holdrege: Phelps County Fairgrounds, Ag Center, 1308 2nd St., Feb. 7 or March 21.
Lincoln: Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd, Feb. 7, 26 or March 21.
Norfolk: Madison County Extension Office, Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin Ave, Feb. 7, 26 or March 21.
North Platte: UNL West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd, Feb. 7, 26.
Ogallala: Valentino's, 55 River Road, March 21.
Omaha: Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 West Center Rd, Feb. 7, 21, 26 or March 21.
Scottsbluff: UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave I, Feb. 7, 26 or March 21.
Valentine: Cherry County Extension Office, 365 N. Main St, Ste. 3, March 21.
UNL Extension also works with several trade organizations, making recertification available at their annual conferences. Conferences offering these opportunities for specific categories include:
Nebraska Turf Conference: Jan. 8, LaVista Conference Center, 12540 Westport Parkway, LaVista. Recertification in Ornamental and Turf pest control category and Demo/Research subcategory. Call the Nebraska Turfgrass Association at 402-472-5351 for registration materials.
Nebraska Urban Pest Management Conference: Feb. 13, The Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13th 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 Great Plains Conference, Feb. 19, The Cornhusker Hotel, 333 S. 13th St, Lincoln. Recertification in ornamental and turf pest control category. Call 402-390-1701 for registration information.
Nebraska Aviation Trades Association Conference: Feb. 19, 20, Younes Conference Center, 416 Talmadge Road, Kearney. 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 in advance of the training. Training categories vary at the listed sites:
Beatrice: Gage County Extension Office, Fairgrounds, 1115 W. Scott, March 19.
Columbus: Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St, March 19.
Fremont: Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St, Feb. 5.
Grand Island: College Park, 3180 W. Hwy. 34, Feb. 5, 28.
Lincoln: Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd, Feb. 5, 28 or April 11.
Norfolk: Madison County Extension Office, Lifelong Learning Center, 601 E. Benjamin, Feb. 28 or March 19.
North Platte: UNL West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Rd, Feb. 5, 28 or April 11.
Ogallala: Valentino's, 55 River Road, March 19.
Omaha: Douglas/Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 West Center Rd, Feb. 5, March 19 or April 11.
Scottsbluff: UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 4502 Ave I, Feb. 5, 28, March 19 or April 11.
Valentine: Cherry County Extension Office, 365 N. Main St., Ste. 3, March 19.
Agronomy & Horticulture
Education Educator
(402) 472-1632
Steve Ress
Nebraska Water Center - Communications Coordinator
(402) 472-3305