Upcoming pesticide training and certification courses

In Montana, the State Department of Agriculture issues private pesticide applicator’s licenses for people interested in purchasing and applying restricted-use pesticides to property they rent, own or lease; or applying general-use pesticides on lands of their immediate neighbors. Pesticide is a collective term including herbicides, insecticides and rodenticides. MSU Extension coordinates the educational component of the licensing process. Commonly applied restricted use products include the herbicide Tordon 22k and strychnine baits used for northern pocket gopher control.

Montana is divided into five, five year cycle licensing regions. Currently licensed applicators in western Montana may have noticed that their private pesticide applicators license has an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2013. To that end we are scheduling training sessions to meet the requirements of both initial and recertification credits for those interested in maintaining or obtaining their certification for the upcoming five year cycle, Jan. 1, 2014 - Dec. 31, 2018.

While the private applicator or farm license is required for restricted use products, the information provided will be equally valuable for those using general use products on lawns, gardens, etc. Topics include calibration, labels, applicator & environmental safety.

- Friday, March 8, 2013 @ the Plains Grange Hall from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Below are two additional area relicensing sessions that will also fulfill your six credit relicensing requirements. All programs run from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

?- Saturday, March 16, 2013. 701 1st Street E, Polson, MT Contact Rene Kittle, MSU Extension/Flathead Reservation @ 275-2756

- Friday, March 22, 2013 Ronan Community Center (Fairgrounds) Contact Jack Stivers, MSU Extension/Lake County @ 676-4271

We will also be conducting private applicator training sessions in October, 2013. Those dates will be announced in the future. Plains Grange Hall will be providing a chili, cornbread, salad & dessert lunch to participants at $5 each. Coffee and refreshments also are provided at morning and afternoon breaks. For program and meal planning purposes, please register at Sanders County Extension Office at 827-6934 or register online at http://www.msuextension.org/sanders/ by Fri., March 1st.