Pesticide Applicator Core Training Manual

7/25/2019 Pesticide Applicator Core Training Manual

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Pes t ic ide Applicator

Cor e Tr aining M anualCertification, Recertification and Registered TechnicianTraining

Par t ARequired reading for:

Private pesticide applicators

Commercial pesticide applicators

Registered technicians

Par t A and Par t BRequired reading for:



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Pes t ic ide Applicat orCor e Tr a ining M anualCertification, Recertification andRegistered Technician Training

Par t ARequired reading for: Private pesticide applicators

Commercial pesticide applicators

Registered technicians

Par t A and Par t BRequired reading for:


J ul ie Stac hecki J ohanningsmeier , edi tor200 2 r ev is ions by Car o lyn J . Randa l l


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Co n t r i b u to r sThis manual, Pesticide Applicator Core Training

Manual: Certification, Recertification and RegisteredTechnician Training, Parts A and B was produced byMichigan State University, Pesticide Education Programin conjunction with the Michigan Department ofAgriculture with Dr. Larry Olsen providing overall sup-port and leadership. The following team members gen-erously gave their time and contributed their expertiseby reviewing various segments of this manual. Theirinput guided the creation and direction of this trainingmaterial. We would like to give them distinct recognitionand thanks for their commitment to assisting thePesticide Education Program staff with this project.

M anus c r i pt Rev iew e r s :Jan Castanza, Urban Pest Management, DowElanco,

Bowling Green, OH

Elaine Chittenden, collections manager, GroundsMaintenance, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Gina Davis, pesticide certification manager, MichiganDepartment of Agriculture, Lansing, MI

Tim Doppel, Atwood LawnCare, Inc. Sterling Heights, MI

Doug Foytek, Aquatrol, Inc., Clarkston, MI

Lynnae Jess, extension associate, Pesticide EducationProgram, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Dan Rajzer, Cass county agriculture and natural resourceagent, Michigan State University Extension, Cassopolis,

MIBob Mansfield, Citizens Elevator, Vermontville, MI

George McManus III, Benton Harbor, MI

Carol Osborne, East Michigan Environmental ActionCouncil, Grosse Pointe, MI

Greg Patchan, Oakland county agriculture and naturalresource agent, Michigan State University Extension,Pontiac, MI

Natalie Rector, Calhoun county agriculture and naturalresource agent, Michigan State University Extension,Marshall, MI

Paul Wylie, Allegan county agriculture and natural

resource agent, Michigan State University Extension,Allegan, MI

Chapte r Rev iew er s :Bradley L. Aaron, academic specialist, EnvironmentalToxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Steve Allen, Countrymark Cooperative, Inc., Indianapolis,IN

Ned Birkey, Monroe county agriculture and naturalresources agent, Michigan State University Extension,Monroe, MI

Ben Darling, environmental engineer, site response man-ager, Michigan Department of Agriculture, Lansing, MI

Mike Kamrin, professor, Environmental Toxicology,Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Dale Mutch, district crop integrated pest managementagent, Michigan State University Extension, HickoryCorners, MI

Sandy Perry, extension associate, Pesticide EducationProgram, Michigan State University Extension, East

Lansing, MIJeffrey Rohlena, Raven Industries, Sioux Falls, SD

Robin Rosenbaum, pesticide registration manager,Michigan Department of Agriculture, Lansing, MI

Brian Rowe, pesticide enforcement coordinator, MichiganDepartment of Agriculture, Lansing, MI

Mark Swartz, groundwater manager, MichiganDepartment of Agriculture, Lansing, MI

Bob Wilkinson, agricultural engineer, AgriculturalEngineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.

AcknowledgementsMaterials from several sources were used to compile

this information with significant input from the nationalcore training manuals Applying Pesticides Correctly:A Guide for Commercial and Private PesticideApplicators, and Applying Pesticides Correctly:Private Applicator Supplement as well as PestManagement Principles for the Private ApplicatorbyUniversity of Wisconsin.

We would like to express our thanks to the followingpeople for assisting in the production of this manual:Larry G. Olsen, pesticide education coordinator,

Michigan State University Extension; Leslie Johnson,MSU Extension Outreach Communications; DaveRoberts, MSU Department of Botany and PlantPathology; Gary Van Ee, MSU Department of Agri-cultural Engineering; Karen Renner, MSU Crop and SoilScience Department; Phil Korson, Cherry MarketingInstitute; Tom Weise, Michigan Department of NaturalResources; Gary Thornton and Jim Bardenhagen,Michigan State University Extension; and Ken Dettmer,Graphicom, East Lansing, MI.


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Table of Cont ent s

Con t r i bu to r s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2How to use t h is manua l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Par t A: Commer c ia l and pr iva te app li ca to r s and r egis te r ed technic ians

Ch ap t er 1 Pr i nc i pl es o f Pe s t M a na ge me nt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Pest Management Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Integrated Pest Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Techniques Used in Pest Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Pest Control Failures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Ch ap t er 2 La w s a nd Re gu la t io ns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Federal Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Michigan Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Chapt er 3 Pes t ic ides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Pesticide Formulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Compatibility of Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Chap te r 4 Pes t i c ide Labe li ng and Regis t r a t i on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

EPA Approval of Pesticide Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Parts of Pesticide Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45Three Methods of Rating Hazardous Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Chap te r 5 Pes t i c ides in t he Env i r onment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Sources of Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Pesticide Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Processes Affecting Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Surface Water Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Groundwater Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Factors Affecting Surface and Groundwater Contamination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60Pesticide Effects on Nontarget Plants and Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Harmful Effects on Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Chap te r 6 Pes t i c ides and Human Heal th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Pesticide Hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Exposure: How Pesticides Enter the Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Acute Toxicity and Signal Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Acute Effects and First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70Insecticide Poisonings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Chronic and Other Delayed Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72Allergic Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Heat Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Heat Cramps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74


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Ch ap t er 7 Pe r s o na l Pr o t ec t i v e Eq ui pm en t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77Personal Safety Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78Safety: Protect Yourself From Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78Choosing Chemical-resistant Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Protective Clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Laundering Pesticide-contaminated Clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81Personal Care After Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Chap te r 8 Sa fe Pes t i c ide Hand li ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83Are You Prepared For Emergencies? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Safe Mixing and Loading Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Applying Pesticides Safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86After Mixing, Loading and Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Safety Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Pesticide Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89Prevent Pesticide Fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Transportation of Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Par t B: Pr iva te appl ica to r s on ly

Ch ap t er 1 La w s a nd Re gu la t io ns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99Federal Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100Michigan Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Ch ap t er 2 Pe s t s a nd Pe s t M a na ge me nt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105Insects and Insectlike Pests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Insects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106Insectlike Pests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Damage Caused by Insects and Insectlike Pests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109Insect Pest Management Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Plant Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Pathogenic Plant Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Diagnosis of Plant Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115Managing Plant Disease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Weeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118Weed Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118Development Stages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119Life Cycle of Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119Weed Management Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119Herbicides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121Choosing a Type of Herbicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121Chemicals That Change Plant Processes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Vertebrate Pests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122Controlling Vertebrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Chapter 3 Calcu la t ing Di lut ions and Si te Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127Diluting Pesticides Correctly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Diluting Dry Formulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128Diluting Liquid Formulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131Mixing Concentrates for Airblast Sprayers or Mist Blowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134Converting Between Square Feet and Acres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Calculating Size of Target Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Regularly Shaped Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Irregularly Shaped Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136Volume of Enclosed Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137


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Chap te r 4 Appl ica t i on Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143Sprayers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144Sprayer Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147Aerosol Generators and Foggers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Dusters and Granule Applicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Animal Application Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153Bait Application Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154Specialized Application Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Chapt er 5 Calibr at ion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158Calibrating for Liquid Pesticide Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Calibrating Granule Applicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Answ er s t o Rev iew Quest ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

APPENDIXES (This information is not included on the Michigan Department of Agriculture pesticide applicatorcertification examinations.)......... .............. .............. .............. .............. ............... .............. ............... .............. ...... 187

A: Convenient Conversion Factors.................................................................................................................... 187B: EPA Chemical Resistance Category Chart ................................................................................................... 191C: SARA Title III List ........................................................................................................................................... 192D: Compatibility Test for Pesticide Tank Mixes ........................ ............... .............. .............. .............. ............. 194E: Resources ......................................................................................................................................................... 196

Michigan State University Extension Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196Michigan Department of Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198Michigan Department of Environmental Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199Michigan Groundwater and Fresh Water Protection Act: Sources of Information and Assistance . . . 200Michigan Counties with Endangered Species Interim Bulletins Available for the Kirklands Warbler 200Pesticide Emergency Information (Telephone numbers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201


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6Part A: Principles of Pest Management

STOP! Read th is impor t ant infor mat ion!

How t o use th is manual and become ac e r t i f ie d a pp li c ato r o r r e gi s te r e dtechnic ian.

This manual, Pesticide Applicator Core Training ManualCertification, Recertification and Registered TechnicianTraining, Parts A and B is intended to prepare pesticideapplicators for certification, recertification or registeredtechnician status under Act 451, Part 83, Pesticide Control.It also satisfies the applicator training requirements of theFederal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

Many people representing commercial and privateapplicators, pesticide dealers and distributors and many

departments at Michigan State University (MSU), theMichigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), Extensionfield staff and specialists were involved with the devel-opment of this document. The format of this manual haschanged to better serve all pesticide applicators. The pre-vious versions, while giving much basic information,were slanted toward agricultural pesticide use.Recognizing that more and more applicants for certifica-tion come from areas other than agriculture, Part A ofthis version has taken a broad approach. The core ofinformation it contains is, in general, necessary andapplicable to the entire range of categories in which cer-tification is granted. Part B then satisfies the informationneeded by private applicators to perform pesticide-relat-

ed tasks safely and effectively. Commercial applicatorsreceive category-specific pest management informationin the appropriate category manuals and registered tech-nicians receive task-specific training.

This manual is divided into two sections of studymaterial: Part A and Part B. Information in the appendicesis not required for the MDA certification examinations.

Par t A is r equ ir ed r ead ing fo r : Private pesticide applicators.

Commercial pesticide applicators.

Registered technicians.

Par t A and Pa r t B ar e r equ ir ed r ead ing fo r : Private pesticide applicators.

This edition of the core manual addresses the com-mon needs of all pesticide applicator groups (Part A)and then supplements that information for private appli-cators with the information in Part B.

Part A should be read by all persons preparing to take

the core pesticide applicator state certification, recertifi-cation or registered technician exam.

Part B serves as supplemental information pertinent topesticide-related tasks performed by private applicatorsand should be read in addition to Part A by people certi-fying or recertifying as private pesticide applicators.

Ini t ia l Cer t i f ic at ion ExamsThere will be different versions of the core exam

based on this manual. To become initially certified, com-mercial applicator candidates are required to pass an exam-ination that reflects information in Part A of this manual.Commercial applicators also must pass an exam on the

category(ies) information specific to their pest manage-ment and pesticide application tasks. Category informa-tion is presented in separate study manuals. See table onpage 8.

Registered technician candidates in any category mustpass an examination that tests their knowledge on theinformation found in Part A of this manual. Next, regis-tered technician candidates must undergo MDA-approved category-specific training by an MDA-approved trainer.

Private applicator candidates must pass an initial coreexam that will reflect information in both Part A andPart B of this manual.

Recer t i f ic at ion ExamsThis manual is used for recertification purposes, also.

If recertifying by exam, commercial applicators can takea recertification exam that reflects information in Part Aof this manual. They must also pass recertification examsin the categories in which they want to recertify.

Registered technicians, if recertifying by exam, can takea recertification exam that reflects information in Part Aof this manual. They must also go through a refresher,MDA-approved category-specific training by an MDA-approved trainer.

Private applicators can recertify by passing a recertifica-tion core exam that reflects information in Parts A and Bof this manual.

Applicators have the option of recertifying by trainingmeeting attendance. See below.

PLEASE continue reading for more complete details on certification andrecertification procedures and definitions.


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7 Part A: Principles of Pest Management

Who mus t have ce r t i f i cat i on or r egi s te r edtechn ic ian cr edent ia ls?

Act 451, Part 83, Pesticide Control, requires any per-son who applies a pesticide product for a commercialpurpose, or applies any pesticide in the course of his orher employment or other business activity for any pur-pose other than a private agricultural purpose, to beeither a commercially certified applicator or a registeredtechnician.

Pesticide applicators not required to be licensed bythe act, and who use only general-use, ready-to-use pes-ticide products, are exempt from the certification andregistered technician requirements. For example, a per-son who works at a hospital, school, factory, golf course,or apartment complex who uses only a general-use,ready-to-use product for controlling a pest would not berequired to be a certified applicator or a registered tech-nician. (See pp. 18 and 19 for definitions of general-useand ready-to-use pesticides.)

What is the d if fe r ence betw een a commer c ia l anda p r i va te appl ica to r ?

Two classes of applicators are defined underMichigan law: private and commercial. Within eachclass, applicators may be certified applicators or regis-tered technicians.

1. Private applicators. Persons using or supervisingthe use of restricted-use pesticides in the production ofan agricultural commodity on their own or theiremployer s land, or on lands rented by them, are privateapplicators. Production of an agricultural commodity

means production for sale into commerce and includescrops, livestock, ornamentals, forest products and otherproducts regarded as agricultural commodities.

2. Commercial applicators. A commercial applicatoris any person other than private applicators applyingpesticides.

Subclass A - Any person (including homeowners)who uses or supervises the use ofrestricted-use pesticides (RUPs) for anon-agricultural purpose.

Subclass B - Any person who either:

(i) Applies pesticides other than ready-to-use pesticides in the course of his orher employment.

(ii) Or, applies a pesticide for acommercial purpose (for hire).

Applicators included in subclass A must be certifiedas commercial applicators. Those in subclass B have theoption of becoming certified commercial applicators orregistered technicians (applicators). Because pesticidesare used in a wide variety of operations, commercialapplicators are certified or registered in special commod-ity or site-specific categories.

What is a r eg is t er ed techn ic ian?The 1988 amendments to the Michigan Pesticide

Control Act established a subclass of applicators calledregistered technicians. This classification includes peoplewho are authorized to apply pesticides for a commercialpurpose or apply general-use pesticides as a scheduled

and required work assignment.A registered technician working for a licensed pesti-

cide applicator firm may apply general use pesticidesunder supervision of a certified applicator and restricted-use pesticide (RUPs) while under direct supervision.(See definitions for supervise [supervision] and directsupervision on pp. 18 and 19).

Wher e can I ob ta in pest ic ide app lica tor cer t i f i ca-t ion appl ica t ion for ms?

Application forms can be obtained from the MDA orfrom MSU Extension offices. (See Appendix E.)

Wher e do I ge t the pest ic ide app lica tor s tudymanuals?

Persons should obtain the training manual(s) from theExtension bulletin system. Some local Extension officescarry an inventory of select manuals. Otherwise, theywill assist you in ordering what you need. Allow twoweeks.

Wher e ar e the pest ic ide app lica tor exams g iven?Call the regional MDA office to request a list of cur-

rent test sites and dates in your area and to schedule a

time to take your examination. Take your completedapplication form and certification fee to the exam site.

How do I r ecer t i fy by t r a ining meet ing at tendance?During the three-year certification period, pesticide

applicators may obtain credits toward recertification byattending preapproved pesticide applicator training meet-ings. At the end of the certification period, if the applicatorhas earned the proper number of credits, he/she can berecertified without taking a recertification examination(s).

When the applicator receives a MDA renewal packettoward the end of his/her certification period, the applica-tor sends a check for the recertification fee and a record of

the seminars and credits earned to the MDA Lansingoffice. After verifying the information, the MDA will mailthe new credentials to the applicator.

Continued on next page


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8

Category Training manual # of core credits Categorybulletin # for recertification credits

Private applicators E-2195, Part A and B 12 n/a

Registered technicians E-2195, Part A 8 plus appropriate see belowcategory credits

Commercial applicators E-2195, Part A 8 plus appropriate see belowcategory credits

1A Field crop E-2034 4

1B Vegetable E-2160 4

1C Fruit E-2037 4

1D Livestock E-2601 4

2 Forest E-2045 4

2A Wood preservation E-2046 4

3A Turfgrass E-2327 4

3B Ornamental E-2291 4

4 Seed treatment E-2035 4

5 Aquatic E-2437 4

5A Swimming pool E-2621 4

5B Microbial E-2435 4

5C Sewer line root control E-2609 4

6 Right-of-way E-2043 4

7A General E-2048 4

7B Wood-destroying E-2047 4

7C Contractual public health E-2049 4

7D Vertebrate E-2050 4

7E Interiorscape E-2308 4

7F Mosquito E-2180 4

7G Small animal E-2492* 4

8 Public health E-2049 4

9 Regulatory E-2055 4

10 Demonstration & research none n/a n/a

Aerial standard E-2019 2 Must also attend oneOperation Safe Fly-in

with aircraft

Fumigation E-2579 2

NOTE:

* This manual currently contains core information and does not require the purchase of the core manual if certifying inthat category only.


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9

Pest ic ide Applicat orCor e Tr a ining M anualCertification, Recertification andRegistered Technician Training

Par t ARequired reading for:


Commercial pesticide applicators Registered technicians


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After you complete your study of this chapter, youshould be able to:

Understand integrated pest management and listseveral management tactics that may be used in anIPM strategy.

Explain monitoring as it relates to pest manage-ment and explain why it is important to pest manage-ment strategy.

Explain why identification of the pest is an importantstep in developing an effective pest control strategy.

Determine pest management goals as they relate toprevention, suppression and eradication of pests.

Describe thresholdsand why they are an importantconsideration in developing a pest management strat-egy.

Avoid factors that can cause pesticide applications tofail to control pests.

Help prevent pest resistance to pesticides.

Host A plant or animal on or in which a pest lives orfeeds.

IPM Integrated pest management.

Juven i l e ho r mones Natural insect chemicals that keepthe earlier stages of an insect from changing into normaladult form.

Labeling The pesticide product label and other accom-panying materials that contain directions that pesticideusers are legally required to follow.

Mycop lasmas The smallest known living organisms thatcan reproduce and exist apart from other living organ-isms.

Nematodes Small, usually microscopic, eel-like round-worms.

Non ta r ge t o r gani smAll plants, animals and microorgan-isms other than the intended target(s) of a pesticideapplication.

P ar as i t eAn organism living on, in or with another liv-ing organism for the purpose of obtaining food.

P a thogen An organism that causes disease in otherorganisms.

Pest An unwanted organism (animal, plant, bacteria,fungus, etc.).

Pest ic ideA substance or mixture of substances used toprevent, destroy, repel or control undesirable organisms.

Pher omonesChemicals emitted by an organism to influ-ence the behavior of other organisms of the samespecies.

P r edato r An organism that attacks, kills and feeds onother organisms.

Scout ing Regular monitoring of a crop or site in a pre-scribed manner to determine pest population levels andthe extent of pest damage.

PART A

PRINCIPLES OF PEST MANAGEMENT

CHAPT

ER 1LEARNING OBJ ECTIVES TERMS TO KNOW


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WHAT IS A PEST?A pest is any organism that: Competes with humans, domestic animals or desir-

able plants for food or water.

Injures humans, animals, desirable plants, struc-tures or possessions.

Spreads disease to humans, domestic animals,wildlife or desirable plants.

Annoys humans or animals.

Types of Pest sTypes of pests include:

Insects, such as roaches, termites, mosquitoes,aphids, beetles, fleas and caterpillars.

Insectlike organisms, such as mites, ticks and spi-ders.

Microbial organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, nema-todes, viruses and mycoplasmas.

Weeds, which are any plants growing where theyare not wanted.

Mollusks, such as snails, slugs and shipworms.

Vertebrates, such as rats, mice, other rodents, birds,bats, fish and snakes.

Most organisms are not pests. A species may be a pestin some situations and not in others. An organismshould not be considered a pest until it is proven to beone.

PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIESAny time you are considering whether pest manage-

ment is necessary, remember: Control a pest only when it is causing or is expect-

ed to cause more harm than is reasonable to accept.

Use a tactic or combination of tactics that willreduce pest numbers to an acceptable level.

Cause as little harm as possible to everythingexcept the pest.

Even though a pest is present, it may not do verymuch harm. It could cost more to manage the pest thanwould be lost because of the pests damage.

Pest M anagement GoalsWhenever you manage a pest, you will want toachieve one or a combination of these three goals:

Prevention keeping a pest from becoming aproblem.

Suppression reducing pest numbers or damageto an acceptable level.

Eradication destroying an entire pest popula-tion.

P reven t i on may be a goal when the pests presence orabundance can be predicted in advance. For example,some plant diseases occur only under certain environ-mental conditions. If such conditions are present, stepscan be taken to prevent the plant disease organisms fromharming desirable plants.

Suppr ess ion is a common goal in many pest situations.The intent is to reduce the number of pests to a levelwhere the harm they are causing is acceptable. Once a

pests presence is detected and the decision is made thatcontrol is necessary, suppression and prevention oftenare joint goals. The right combination of managementmeasures can often suppress the pests already presentand prevent them from building up again to a levelwhere they cause unacceptable harm.

Er ad ica t ion is rarely a goal in outdoor pest situationsbecause it is difficult to achieve. Usually the goal is pre-vention and/or suppression. Eradication is occasionallyattempted when a foreign pest has been accidentallyintroduced but is not yet established in an area. Sucheradication strategies often are supported by the govern-ment. Mediterranean fruit fly, gypsy moth and fire antcontrol programs are examples.

In indoor areas, eradication is a more common butstill difficult goal to achieve for some pests. Enclosedenvironments usually are smaller, less complex andmore easily controlled than outdoor areas. In manyenclosed areas (dwellings, schools, office buildings,water heating and cooling systems, and health care, foodprocessing and food preparation facilities), certain pestscannot or will not be tolerated.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)Integrated pest management is the use of all appropri-

ate and economical strategies to manage pests and theirdamage to acceptable levels with the least disruption tothe environment. Using many different tactics to managea pest problem tends to cause the least disruption tonon-target organisms and the surroundings at the appli-cation site. Relying only on pesticides for pest controlcan cause pests to develop resistance to pesticides andmay cause outbreaks of other pests. IPM provides theapplicator with a diverse pest management programthat avoids sole reliance on one technique and its poten-tial shortcomings.


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IPM involves monitoring, identifying pests, determin-ing threshold levels, selecting management tactics evalu-ating the results, and keeping records.

To solve pest problems, pest managers must:

Determine pest management goal(s).

Detect and identify the pest(s) and determinewhether control is warranted.

Know what management strategies are available.

Evaluate the benefits and risks of each tactic orcombination of tactics.

Choose a strategy that will be most effective andwill cause the least harm to people, nontargetorganisms and the environment.

Use each tactic in the strategy correctly.

Observe local, state and federal regulations thatapply to the situation.

Evaluate the strategy and make adjustments asnecessary.

Keep records of activities and results.

Pes t M oni to r ingIn most pest management situations, the area to be

protected should be monitored (visually inspected orscouted) often. Regular monitoring can answer severalimportant questions:

What kinds of pests are present?

Are the numbers great enough to do damage andto warrant control?

Are natural controls present and working?

When is the right time to begin control?

Have management efforts successfully reduced thenumber of pests?

Monitoring of insect, insectlike, mollusk and verte-brate pests usually is done by trapping or by scouting;weeds, by visual inspection (scouting); and microbialpest detection by looking for the injury or damage theycause or lab analysis.

Environmental conditions should also be monitoredin the area being managed. Temperature and moisturelevels, especially humidity, are often important clues inpredicting when a pest outbreak will occur or hit thresh-old levels.

Pest Ident i f icat ionAccurate identification is necessary for an effective

pest management program. Never attempt a pest controlprogram until the pest has been correctly identified. Themore you know about the pest and the factors that influ-ence its development and spread, the easier, more cost-effective and more successful your pest managementwill be. Correct identification of a pest allows you todetermine basic information about it, including its lifecycle, what stage is most destructive and when it is mostsusceptible to being controlled.

As a certified applicator, you need to be familiar withthe pests you are likely to encounter in your line ofwork. To be able to identify and manage pests, you needto know:

The physical features of the pests. Characteristics of the damage they cause.

Their development and biology.

What the pest management goal is.

An organism should not be classified or treated as apest until it is proven to be one. A species may be a pestin some situations and not in others. If you need helpidentifying a pest, contact commodity or industry orga-nizations, an Extension agent or Michigan StateUniversity.

Pest monitoringtechniques

Scouting

Insect Traps

TemperatureMonitoring

weather

Thr eshold LevelsThresholds are the levels of pest populations at which

pest management action should be taken to prevent thepests from causing unacceptable damage. These levels,which are known as action thresholds, have beenidentified for many pests. Thresholds may be based onaesthetic, health or economic considerations.


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A threshold often is set at the level where the econom-ic losses caused by pest damage would be greater thanthe cost of controlling the pests. These types of thresh-olds sometimes are called economic thresholds.

In some pest management situations, the thresholdlevel is zero: even a single pest in such a situation isunreasonably harmful. For example, the presence of anyrodents in food processing facilities forces action. Inhomes, people generally take action to control some

pests, such as rodents or roaches, even if only one or afew have been seen.

In contrast, some pest species in low numbers maycause limited injury and the threshold level for takingpest management action is likely to be much higher. Asthe pest manager, you and your customer or client mayestablish the threshold that requires action.

Thresholds can vary depending on the vigor of thehost, potential of injury based on environmental condi-tions, or the time of year.

TECHNIQUES USED IN PEST MANAGEMENTNatural and applied techniques are used to managepests. Proper identification and knowledge of the pestslife cycle, the pests density, and its relationship to theplants or animals stage of development allow applica-tors to choose the right tactic or combination of tactics tomanage the pest in the most economical and least dis-ruptive manner.

Natur a l Cont r o lsSome natural forces act on all organisms, causing

their populations to rise and fall. These natural forces actindependently of humans and may either help or hinderpest control. Natural forces that affect pest populationsinclude climate, natural enemies, natural barriers, avail-ability of shelter, food and water supplies.

Cl imate Weather conditions especially tempera-ture, day length and humidity affect pests develop-ment, activity and rate of reproduction. Pests may bekilled or suppressed by rain, freezing temperatures,drought or other adverse weather.

N a t u r a l en e m i e s Birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishand mammals feed on some pests and help control theirnumbers. These are sometimes called beneficial organ-isms. Many predatory and parasitic insect and insect-like species feed on other organisms, some of which arepests. Pathogens often suppress pest populations.

It is important to identify these beneficial organismswhen scouting the site. These natural enemies mayalready be hard at work reducing a pest outbreak, reduc-ing or eliminating the need for intervention.

Geogr aphi c ba r r i e r s Features such as large bodies ofwater and mountains restrict the spread of many pests.Other features of the landscape can have similar effects.

Food and w a te r supp ly Pest populations can thriveonly as long as their food and water supply lasts. Once

the food source plant or animal is exhausted, thepests die or become inactive. The life cycle of many pestsdepends on the availability of water.

Shelter The availability of shelter from predators orfor overwintering can affect some pest populations.

Appl ied Contr olsUnfortunately, natural controls often do not control

pests quickly or completely enough to prevent unaccept-able injury or damage. Then other management mea-sures must be used. Those available include:

Host resistance.

Biological control.

Cultural control.

Mechanical control.

Habitat modification and sanitation.

Chemical control.

Hos t r es i s tanceSome plants, animals and structuresresist pests better than others. Use of resistant types,when available, helps keep pest populations belowharmful levels by making conditions less favorable forthe pests.

Host resistance works in three main ways:

Chemicals in the host repel the pest or prevent thepest from completing its life cycle (some crops havethis ability).

The host is more vigorous or tolerant than othervarieties and thus less likely to be seriously dam-aged by pest attacks (this may be true for plantsand animals).

The host has physical characteristics that make itmore difficult to attack (certain buildings aredesigned to be less attractive or prone to insectinvasions).

Biological contr olBiological control involves the use

of natural enemies parasites, predators and pathogens.There is a time lag between pest population increase andthe corresponding increase in natural controls. You cansupplement this natural control by releasing more of apests enemies into the target area or by introducing newenemies that were not in the area before. The degree ofcontrol fluctuates, but, under proper conditions, suffi-cient control can be achieved over time.

Biological control also includes methods by which thepest is biologically altered, as in the production andrelease of large numbers of sterile males, and the use ofpheromones or juvenile hormones.Wasp parasitizing an aphid


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Pheromones are chemicals emitted by an organism toinfluence the behavior of other organisms of the samespecies. Pheromones can be useful in monitoring pestpopulations. When placed in a trap, they can attract theinsects in a sample area so that pest numbers can be esti-mated. Pheromones also can be a control tool. A manu-factured copy of the pheromone that a female insect usesto attract males can be used to attract and trap or con-fuse males and so prevent mating, resulting in lowernumbers of pests. Applying juvenile hormones to anarea can reduce pest numbers by keeping some imma-ture pests from becoming reproducing adults.

reduced by crop residue management or crop rotation.Modifying a structure by repairing water leaks and rot-ting wood can often eliminate structural pest problems.

Other forms of sanitation that help prevent pestspread include using pest-free seeds or transplants anddecontaminating equipment, animals and other possiblecarriers before allowing them to enter a pest-free area orleave an infested area. The proper design of food-han-dling areas can reduce access and shelter for many pests.

Ch e m i c a l c o n t r o l Chemical controls use naturallyderived or synthetic chemicals called pesticides thatkill, repel, attract, sterilize or otherwise interfere withthe normal behavior of pests. In many instances, pesti-cides are the only control tactic available. Examples ofchemical control include pentachlorophenol to protecttelephone poles from wood-damaging pests, chlorine indrinking water to control bacteria, mothballs to repelclothes moths, sex pheromones of gypsy moth toreduce mating incidence, herbicides to kill weeds,insecticides to manage insects, and fungicides to man-age fungal diseases.

C u l t u r a l c o n t r o l Cultural practices are used toreduce the numbers of pests that attack cultivatedplants. These practices alter the environment, the condi-tion of the host plant or the behavior of the pest to pre-vent or suppress an infestation. They disrupt the normal

relationship between the pest and the host plant andmake the pest less likely to survive, grow or reproduce.Common cultural practices include rotating crops, culti-vating the soil, varying time of planting or harvesting,planting trap crops, adjusting row width, pruning, thin-ning, irrigating and fertilizing cultivated plants.

Mechan ica l (phys ica l ) con t r o lDevices, machines andother physical methods used to control pests or altertheir environment are called mechanical or physical con-trols. Traps, screens, barriers, fences, nets, radiation andelectricity sometimes can be used to prevent the spreadof pests into an area or to remove pests from an area.

Lights, heat and refrigeration can alter the environ-ment enough to suppress or eradicate some pest popula-tions. Altering the amount of water, including humidity,can control some pests, especially insects and diseases.

Habitat modif icat ion and sanitat ionSanitation practiceshelp to prevent and suppress some pests by removing thepests themselves or their sources of food and shelter.Urban and industrial pests can be reduced by improvingcleanliness, eliminating pest hiding places and increasingthe frequency of garbage pickup. Management of pestsattacking domestic animals is enhanced by good manuremanagement and other sanitation practices. Carryover ofagricultural pests from one planting to the next can be

Evaluat ion and Recor dkeepingIt is extremely important to evaluate

the results of pest managementprograms. This can be done inseveral ways, such as monitoringpest populations or infectionbefore and after treatment,comparative damageratings, etc. Take note ofthe conditions during

your pest managementactivities such astiming, pest numbers,temperature and anyother factor that mayinfluence the outcomeof your efforts.Record the results fromthe evaluation forfuture reference.

Evaluate your pest management procedures and keeprecords of the results.


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PEST CONTROL FAILURESSometimes, even though you applied a pesticide or

pest control method, the pest was not controlled. Youshould review the situation to determine what wentwrong. There are several possible reasons for pest con-trol failure.

Pest ResistanceA pesticide may fail to manage some pests because

the pests have developed resistance to the product.Consider this when planning pest management pro-grams that rely on the use of pesticides. Rarely does apesticide application kill all the target pests. Each time apesticide is used, it selectively kills the most susceptiblepests. Some pests avoid the pesticide by escaping fromthe application site. Others withstand its effects. Peststhat are not destroyed may pass along to their offspringthe trait that allowed them to survive.

When one pesticide is used repeatedly in the sameplace against the same pest, the surviving pest popula-tion may be more resistant to the pesticide than the

original population was. The opportunity for resistanceincreases when a pesticide is used over a wide geo-graphic area or when a pesticide is applied repeatedlyto a rather small area where pest populations are isolat-ed. Rotating the pesticides used by selecting from dif-ferent chemical families may help reduce the develop-ment of pest resistance. Use of controls other than pes-ticides helps to minimize pest control failures due topest resistance.

Other Reasons for Fa i lur eMake sure that the correct pesticide and the correct

dosage have been used and that the pesticide wasapplied according to the label directions. Improper mix-ing of chemicals and poorly calibrated application

equipment cause pest control failures. Occasionally, pes-ticide failure is caused by pest resistance. More common-ly a pesticide application fails to manage a pest becausethe pest was not identified correctly and the wrong pes-ticide was chosen. Other applications fail because thepesticide was not applied at an appropriate time thepest may not have been in the area during the applica-tion or it may have been in a life cycle stage that was notsusceptible to the pesticide. Weather conditions (too dry,wet, hot or cold) can also cause failure. Pesticide applica-tors must be able to recognize when a pesticide treat-ment is fitting as well as when the situation is not suit-able for an effective application. Misplacing a pesticideand not getting complete coverage can cause an applica-tion to fail, e.g., spraying the top of branches and leavesof a plant when the pest is on the underside.

Avoiding Har mful Effec t sPest management involves more than simply identify-

ing a pest and using a control strategy. The treatmentsite, whether an outdoor area or inside a structure, usu-ally contains other living organisms (such as people, ani-

mals and plants) and nonliving surroundings (such asair, water, structures, objects and surfaces). Most treat-ment sites are disrupted to some degree by pest manage-ment strategies. The actions of every type of organism orcomponent sharing the site usually affect the actions andwell-being of many others. When the balance is disrupt-ed, certain organisms may be destroyed or reduced innumber, and others sometimes the pests may dom-inate. Unless you consider the possible effects on theentire system where the pest exists, your pest manage-ment effort could cause harm or lead to continued ornew pest problems. Use good judgment and, when pes-ticides are part of the strategy, follow the pesticide label-ing for safe and effective use.


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Write the answers to the following questions andthen check your answers with those in the back ofthis manual.

1. What is the first thing you should do when you detectthe presence of a pest?

a. Select a control tactic.

b. Notify the Department of Agriculture.

c. Identify the organism and gain information aboutits biology.

d. Determine the economic threshold for control.

2. How can pest identification help you develop a goodpest control strategy?

3. Suppression of a pest is:

a. Keeping a pest from becoming a problem.

b.Reducing pest numbers or damage to an acceptablelevel.

c. Destroying an entire pest population.

d.None of the above.

4. What is a threshold as it relates to IPM?

a. The level of pesticide required to control a pest.

b. The levels of pest populations at which you musttake pest control action to prevent unacceptabledamage or injury.

c. A type of structure designed to be more resistant topest invasion.

d. The levels of heat and moisture required for a pestto survive.

Rev iew Quest ions5. Why should you consider thresholds when you

develop a pest control strategy?

6. What is pest monitoring ?

a. Watching your pesticide application kill the pest.b. Recordkeeping of the pesticide used.

c. Checking or scouting for pests in an area to deter-mine what pests are present, how many and howmuch damage they are causing.

d. Identifying the pests predators.

7. Why is pest monitoring so important to pest manage-ment?

8. Define integrated pest management (IPM).

9. List several possible control tactics that may be usedin an IPM strategy.

10. A pesticide was applied, but it did not control thepest. Name four reasons why the pesticide applica-tion might have failed to control the pest.

11. What can you do to keep the pests you are trying tocontrol from becoming resistant to the pesticides youuse?

Pr inc iples ofPest M anagement

PART ACHAPTER

1


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18Part A: Laws & Regulations

After you complete your study of this chapter, youshould be able to:

Understand the laws and regulations that affect pesti-cide applicators.

Evaluate your pesticide use practices and avoid usesthat are inconsistent with the pesticide labeling.

Understand the difference between restricted use pes-ticides and general use pesticides and who can pur-chase and use them.

Know what agencies administer and enforce the lawsand regulations that affect pesticide applicators.

Understand the difference between a certified pesti-cide applicator and a registered technician.

Understand the importance of having up-to-dateknowledge about how to comply with all laws andregulations.

Cer t i f i ed commer c ia l app li ca to r Any person (other thanprivate applicators) who is certified or registered to useor supervise the use of a restricted use pesticide andwho is in the business of applying pesticides for others.

CZMACoastal Zone Management Act.

Di r ec t supe r v i s i on When a certified applicator is super-vising the application of a pesticide and is physicallypresent at the time and the place the pesticide is beingapplied.

DOTU.S. Department of Transportation.

EPAU.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Endanger ed species A plant or animal that is in dangerof becoming extinct.

FAAFederal Aviation Administration.

FIFRAFederal Insecticide, Fungicide, and RodenticideAct, as amended.

Gener a l use pes t ic ideA pesticide that is not classified asa restricted use pesticide.

M DAMichigan Department of Agriculture.

MDNRMichigan Department of Natural Resources.

MIOSHA Michigan Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration.

NOAANational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

OSHAOccupational Safety and Health Administration,part of the U.S. Department of Labor.

P r i va te appl i cato r sPersons using or supervising the useof restricted use pesticides to produce an agriculturalcommodity on their own or their employer s land, or onrented lands.

RCRAResource Conservation and Recovery Act thefederal law regulating the transport, storage, treatmentand disposal of hazardous wastes.

PART A

LAWS & REGULATIONS

CHAPT

ER 2LEARNING OBJ ECTIVES TERMS TO KNOW


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19 Part A: Laws & Regulations

Ready-to-use pest ic ideA pesticide that is applied directlyfrom its original container consistent with label direc-tions, such as an aerosol insecticide or rodent bait box,which does not require mixing or loading prior to appli-cation.

Rec ipr oc i ty An agreement between states to allow certi-fied applicators in one state to obtain certification cre-dentials in the other state.

Reg is te r ed t echn i c i anA classification of applicators inMichigan who are authorized to apply general use pesti-cides for a commercial or private purpose as a scheduledand required work assignment.

Rest r ic ted use pes t ic ide (RUP)Pesticides designated bythe EPA for restricted use because, without additionalregulatory restrictions, unreasonable adverse effects onthe environment, including injury to humans, couldoccur. A restricted use pesticide may be used only by orunder the direct supervision of a certified applicator.

SARASuperfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act amendments to the Comprehensive EnvironmentalResponse, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Sta te Management P lanA written plan that establishesguidelines for activities that will protect groundwaterfrom pesticide contamination. Required by the EPA sothat states may register pesticides that pose a threat togroundwater quality.

Super v ise The act or process of a certified applicator indirecting the application of a pesticide by a competentperson under his or her instruction and control and forwhose actions the certified applicator is responsible,even though the certified applicator is not physicallypresent at the time and the place the pesticide applied.

USDAU.S. Department of Agriculture.

WPSWorker Protection Standard for agricultural pesti-cides

Many federal and state laws and regulations havebeen adopted to help protect the public, the environ-ment, pesticide handlers and agricultural workers frompossible adverse effects caused by pesticide use. In thischapter, you will learn about the state and federal lawsthat regulate pesticide applicators.

Keep up to date with legal requirements at all govern-mental levelslaws and regulations are constantly

evolving as pesticide application becomes more complexand more is learned about potential hazards. Ignoranceof the law is never an accepted excuse for a violation.

FEDERAL LAWSSeveral federal laws regulate and set standards for

pesticide use. Both state and federal agencies enforcethese laws. The following sections describe requirementsof pesticide laws and tell which agencies enforce them.

The U.S. Congress established the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) in 1970 and has mandated that

the agency regulate pesticides. Through its Office ofPesticide Programs (OPP), the EPA uses the FederalInsecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) tocarry out its mandate.

FIFRAThe basic federal law administered by the EPA in reg-

ulating pesticides is the Federal Insecticide, Fungicideand Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), enacted in 1947. This lawhas been amended several times since then. TheMichigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has a coop-erative agreement with the EPA to enforce some provi-sions of FIFRA in Michigan. The major provisions ofFIFRA are:

The EPA has authority to develop rules establish-ing national standards for safe use, storage, trans-portation and disposal of pesticides.

States may establish standards governing pesti-cides that exceed federal minimum standards.

The EPA must register all pesticides before they canbe sold or used.

Pesticides must be classified as either general useor restricted use.

Anyone who uses a restricted use pesticide must becertified in an applicable pest control category orbe directly supervised by a person with such certi-fication.

States have the authority to certify applicators, reg-ister selected pesticides for use in those states andinitiate programs designed to meet local needs.

State Management Plans (SMP) are required for

pesticides that may pose a threat to groundwater. Persons who misuse pesticides (in a way that is

inconsistent with the pesticide labeling) are sub-ject to penalties.

Applicators who violate the provisions of FIFRAcan incur a civil or a criminal penalty.

Civ i l pena l t i e s A private applicator who violatesFIFRA after a written warning or other citation for aprior violation may be fined up to $1,000 for eachoffense. A commercial applicator may be fined up to$5,000 for each offense.


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Cr iminal penalt ies An applicator who knowingly vio-lates FIFRA is guilty of a misdemeanor. A commercialapplicator may be fined up to $25,000 and imprisonedfor up to one year. A private applicator may be fined upto $1,000 and imprisoned up to 30 days.

FIFRA defines the term misuseas to use any pesti-cide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. Formore information on pesticide labels and labeling, seechapter 4, Pesticide Labeling and Registration. However,

the law specifies that the following activities do not con-stitute misuse:

Using a pesticide for a pest not noted on the label ifthe application is made to the site, system, plant oranimal specified on the label (e.g., applying aninsecticide labeled for use on roses to roses to con-trol aphids, though aphids are not listed on thelabel).

Any method of application unless expressly forbid-den by the label.

Using a pesticide at dosages (rates) less (but notmore) than the labeled dosage (rate) or frequency.

These exemptions apply only if the pesticide is other-wise used according to the label. Do not use theseexemptions unless you are certain of their results. Theexempted uses may not be covered by the pesticidemanufacturers warranty.

Feder al Pest ic ide Recor dkeepingThe 1990 Farm Bill (officially called the Food,

Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade [FACT] Act of1990) mandated keeping records of RUP applications.Congress included these requirements in the Farm Bill asa response to public concerns about food and environ-mental safety, and as a way to acquire data to aid policy-

making and the pesticide registration process. The feder-al pesticide recordkeeping requirements primarily affectprivate applicators because commercial applicators arealready required to keep records by MichigansRegulation 636 (see page 24). However, these regulationsadd the stipulation that commercial pesticide applicatorsmust now provide a copy of their RUP pesticide applica-tion records to the client within 30 days. There is norequired record form. Private applicators should readPart B: Laws and Regulations of this manual for moreinformation.

SARA Title IIITitle III of the federal Superfund Amendments and

Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) is also called theEmergency Planning and Community Right-to-Knowact. This legislation provides a means to protect peoplefrom chemical emergencies by requiring state and localagencies to gather information about the quantities andlocations of hazardous chemicals in their community.Pesticide users including farmers, dealers and pesti-cide application businesses are some of the groups thatmust comply with this law. The law is divided intonumerous sections.

Sect ion 302 (facility notification) requires that anyonewho stores a specified quantity of an EPA-designatedextremely hazardous substancemust notify properauthorities and provide the name of the person responsi-ble for the storage facility.

S ec t i on 304 (emergency release notification) requiresthat applicators or businesses report any release (spills,leaks, etc.) of an extremely hazardous substance abovespecific reportable quantities.

Sect ion 311 requires that businesses that sell and storelarge quantities of pesticides (dealers) need to supplymaterial safety data sheets (MSDS) or a list of the chemi-cals stored with specific information to the appropriatecommittees and the local fire department.

S ec t i on 312 requires that dealers provide an annualTier 1 or Tier 2 inventory report form to the appropriatecommittees and the local fire department.

For more information on SARA Title III and the EPA-designated extremely hazardous substance (EHS) list,call the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality(MDEQ) SARA Title III office, (517) 373-8481. MSUExtension bulletin E-2575 explains SARA Title III, how to

comply with its requirements and the EHS list.

Wor ker Pr o tec t ion Standar ds (WPS)The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a federal

regulation issued by the U.S. EPA. It covers pesticidesthat are used in the production of agricultural plants onfarms, and in forests, nurseries and greenhouses. TheWPS requires that you take steps to reduce the risk ofpesticide-related illness and injury if you use such pesti-cides, or employ workers or pesticide handlers who areexposed to such pesticides.

WPS were revised in 1992. Some of the basic require-ments the WPS establishes for employers include:

Displaying information about pesticide safety,emergency information and recent pesticide appli-cations on an agricultural establishment.

Training workers and handlers about pesticidesafety.

Setting up decontamination sites.

Compliance with restricted-entry intervals thetime immediately after a pesticide applicationwhen workers may not enter the treated area.


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Notifying workers (through posted and/or oralwarnings) about areas where applications are tak-ing place and areas where restricted-entry intervalsare in effect.

Providing personal protective equipment for pesti-cide handlers and for workers who enter pesticide-treated areas before expiration of the restricted-entry interval (in a few limited circumstances per-mitted by the WPS).

These rules apply only to persons involved with theproduction of agricultural plants on farms, and inforests, nurseries and greenhouses.

Agricultural custom (for hire) applicators must sup-ply information related to pesticide applications to theagricultural customer. The owner/operator will then usethis information to protect his/her workers and others.(See the chart below for a list of the information thatmust be provided.) In turn, the agricultural operatormust supply the custom applicator with informationabout treated areas on the agricultural establishment,such as restricted entry intervals (REI).

Occ upat ional Safet y and Healt h Act (OSHA)The federal Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) is in the Department of Labor(DOL). OSHA recordkeeping and reporting require-ments apply to employers with 10 or more workers. Therecords must include all work-related deaths, injuriesand illnesses. Minor injuries needing only first aid treat-ment need not be recorded. A record must be made if theinjury involves any of the following:

Medical treatment.

Loss of consciousness.

Restriction of work or motion.

Transfer to another job.

Regardless of the number of employees you have, if awork-related death occurs or if five or more employeesare hospitalized, OSHA must be notified within 48hours. (Also, see Michigan Occupational Safety andHealth Act in this chapter.)

Endanger ed Species ActThe federal Endangered Species Act requires the U.S.

EPA to ensure that endangered species are protectedfrom pesticides. An endangered species is a plant or ani-mal that is in danger of becoming extinct. There are twoclassifications of plants and animals in jeopardy endangered species and threatened species. Theterm endangered species is used here to refer to thetwo classifications collectively.

The Act requires each pesticide label to limit its use inareas where endangered species could be harmed. Theselimitations usually will apply only in currently occupiedhabitats of the species at risk. The label may direct youto another source for detailed information about what

the applicator must do. County bulletins that definehabitat areas will be available from pesticide dealers orcounty Extension offices. For further information onendangered species, contact the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, Department of the Interior, at (517) 351-2555.

WPS-required information to be providedto agricultural establishment owners andoperators by custom applicators.

Location and description of area to be treated

Product name

EPA registration number

Active ingredient:common or chemical name

Application month/day/time

Restricted entry interval:Entry restricted until month/day/time

Whether both posting and oral notification arerequired

Personal protection equipment (PPE) required forhandlers

Early entry PPE required for workers

Other label-specific requirements to protect workersand others

Adapted from The Worker Protection Standard forAgricultural PesticidesHow To Comply Manual,p.115.

For complete Worker Protection Standard compliancerequirements, refer to the manual, The WorkerProtection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides Howto Comply. This manual is available for free from theEPA. It can also be ordered from Gempler s Inc. (800-382-8473).

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources(MDNR) Land and Water Management Division admin-isters the Michigan Endangered Species Act (Act 451,Part 365) and maintains the federal and state endan-gered species lists in the state. Michigan applicators whowant to be sure they are complying with the act must


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take the initiative and consult with the MDNR and theFWS to be sure there are no endangered species in theirarea. The Nature Conservancy, a private land and habi-tat conservation organization, is working with theMDNR and the FWS and is conducting a landownercontact program to notify and work with landownerswho own property important for endangered speciesprotection.

Coast al Zone M anagement Act (CZM A)The EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) have identified urban runoff,agriculture, forestry and marinas as leading contributorsto non-point source water pollution. (See Chapter 5:Pesticides and the Environment, p. 55, for the definitionsof point and non-point source pollution.) As a result,Congress amended the Coastal Zone Management Act in1990 by enacting Section 6217, Protecting CoastalWaters. This provision requires Michigan and otherstates to develop and implement Coastal Non-pointPollution Control Programs to improve and protectwater quality. These programs must be jointly approved

by the EPA and the NOAA.The pesticide management measures should mini-

mize water quality problems by reducing pesticide use,improving timing and efficiency of application, prevent-ing backflow of pesticides into water supplies andimproving calibration of equipment. A key componentof this measure is the use of integrated pest manage-ment. The penalty for states that do not comply with theprogram is a progressive reduction in federal funds forboth the Clean Water Act and Section 306 of the CoastalZone Management Act. For more information, contactthe MDA at (517) 373-1087.

Tr anspor tat ion Regulat ionsShipment of pesticides and other dangerous sub-

stances across state lines is regulated by the federalDepartment of Transportation (DOT). The DOT issuesthe rules for hauling these materials. DOT standards tellyou which pesticides may create a health hazard duringtransportation.

If you haul pesticides between states, you shouldknow that:

They must be in their original packages. Eachpackage must meet DOT standards.

The vehicle must have a DOT-approved sign.Manufacturers must put the correct warning signson each package.

Pesticides may not be hauled in the same vehicle

with food products. You must contact DOT immediately after an acci-

dent if:

-Someone is killed.

-Someone is injured badly enough to go to ahospital.

-Damage is more than $50,000.

You must tell DOT about all spills during ship-ment.

Contact a local DOT office for information on whichpesticides are listed as hazardous substances and whatrules apply to them during transportation. Local laws

may require that additional precautions be taken.

Aer ial Pest ic ide Appl icat ionsApplication of pesticides from aircraft requires a

pilots license issued by the Federal AviationAdministration (FAA) and MDA pesticide certificationincluding the aerial standard. Pesticide applicationsmade from aircraft are regulated by the FAA, the MDAand the Michigan Aeronautics Commission. An aerialapplicator must attend one or more annual program(s)called Operation S.A.F.E. Fly-In to recertify by seminarattendance. This program provides pilots the opportuni-ty to fly a flight line that assists in analyzing their equip-ments calibration accuracy and spray deposition. Theymust bring their aircraft to this program at least onceduring the three-year certification period and have theminspected and calibrated and must also attend a separateeducational component that is held later in the year. Formore information, contact the MDA at (517) 373-1087.


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MICHIGAN LAWSMichigans environmental laws were recodified in

March 1995. Two of these laws and their regulations arepertinent to pesticide use and are discussed below. ThePesticide Control Act of 1976 (Act 171, as Amended)and the Groundwater and Freshwater Protection Act(Act 247) have been incorporated as parts of Act 451,Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act.

Natur a l Resour ces and Env i r onmenta lPr otec t ion Act , Ac t No. 451 , Par t 83 ,Pest ic ide Cont r o l , Sect ions 83 01 t o 833 6

The Michigan Legislature passed the Pesticide ControlAct of 1976 to assure that pesticides are properly regis-tered and applied. The Act was amended in 1988 and 1993and recodified into Act 451, Natural Resources andEnvironmental Protection, Part 83 in 1995. This legislationgives the director of the MDA authority to register or cer-tify private and commercial applicators and to prescribestandards for certification and registration. The MDA alsoregisters, suspends and cancels pesticide registrationsused in Michigan; investigates the use and misuse of pes-ticides; enacts rules; licenses restricted use pesticide deal-ers and firms performing pesticide applications for hire;and issues oral and written orders. The 1993 amendmentsprovided the MDA the ability to develop an EPA-accept-able State Management Plan (SMP) for pesticides thatmay pose a threat to groundwater quality.

2 . Commer c ia l app l i cato r s . A commercial applicator isany person other than private applicators applying pes-ticides.

Subclass A - Any person (including homeowners)who uses or supervises the use of restricted use pesti-cides (RUPs) for a non-agricultural purpose.

Subclass B - Any person who either:

(i) Applies pesticides other than ready-

to-use pesticides in the course of hisor her employment.

(ii) Or, applies a pesticide for a commer-cial purpose (for hire).

Applicators included in subclass A must be certifiedas commercial applicators. Those in subclass B have theoption of becoming certified commercial applicators orregistered technicians (applicators). Because pesticidesare used in a wide variety of operations, commercialapplicators are certified or registered in special commod-ity or site-specific categories (a list is provided in theintroduction of this manual).

To become a cer t i f ied commer cial appl icator in any catego-ry, an individual must complete an application form, paya fee and pass a written multiple-choice/true-false exam-ination relating to the information found in Part A of thiscore manual and an exam on information found in theappropriate commercial category training manual(s).Application forms can be obtained from the MDA orfrom MSU Extension offices. (See Appendix E.) Personsshould obtain the training manual(s) from the Extensionbulletin system. When you feel you understand the con-tents of the manual(s), call the regional MDA office andschedule a time to take the examination on this materialor to receive a list of current test sites and dates. Takeyour completed application form and certification fee tothe exam site.

Commercial applicators who purchase or apply pesti-cides must keep records. (See State Law: Regulation636in this chapter.)

Co m m e r c i a l r e g i s t e r e d t e c h n i c i a ns . This classificationincludes people who are authorized to apply general usepesticides for a commercial purpose or apply generaluse pesticides as a scheduled and required work assign-ment. A registered technician working for a licensed pes-ticide applicator firm may apply general use pesticidesunder supervision of a certified applicator and restricteduse pesticide (RUPs) while under direct supervision.

(See Terms to Knowfor definitions of supervision anddirect supervision). The intent of this portion of the Actis to establish minimum competency standards for allcommercial applicators.

To become a registered technician in any category,you must pass an examination that tests your knowl-edge on the information found in Part A of this manual.Next, you must undergo category-specific training by anMDA-approved trainer.

Two classes of applicators are defined under the law:private and commercial. Within each class, applicatorsmay be certified applicators or registered technicians.

1 . P r i va te appl i cato r s . Persons using or supervising theuse of restricted use pesticides in the production of anagricultural commodity on their own or their employ-ers land, or on lands rented by them, are private appli-

cators. Production of an agricultural commoditymeans production for sale into commerce and includescrops, livestock, ornamentals, forest products and otherproducts regarded as agricultural commodities.

To become a ce r t i f i ed p r i va te app l i ca to r , an individualmust complete an application form, pay a certificationfee and pass a written multiple-choice/true-false exami-nation relating to the information found in Part A andPart B of this manual.

Private applicators are required to keep pesticideapplication records. See the Laws and Regulationschapter in Part B of this manual.


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Regulat ion 63 6 Pest ic ide Appl icator sRegulation 636 establishes the two types of certified

applicators as discussed aboveprivate and commercial.The regulation also sets the criteria for registered applica-tor standards. It states that persons who do not work fora licensed pesticide applicator and who use general use,ready-to-use pesticides are exempt from the certificationor registration requirements. All other persons and busi-nesses that apply pesticides for hire, such as using fleashampoos on animals or treating pests in agricultural

All employees of businesses such as veterinary clin-ics, golf courses, outdoor and indoor pest control opera-tions, industrial sites, hospitals, schools, municipalities,nurseries, licensed pesticide application businesses, etc.,who apply pesticides other than general use, ready-to-use

pesticides must either be certified applicators or regis-tered technicians.

Rec ipr oc i ty. Each state has its own certification regula-tions. An agreement between states to allow certified

applicators who are residents in one state to obtain certi-fication credentials to use pesticides without takingexams in the other state is called reciprocity. Currently,Michigan has reciprocal agreements with Indiana, Ohioand Wisconsin.

Commer c ia l pes t i c i de app l i ca t i on business l i cense. Anybusiness established to apply pesticides for hire mustobtain an annual commercial pesticide applicator licenseby sending an application and fee to the MDA. Such busi-nesses must employ at least one certified commercialapplicator before the license can be issued. Note that thebusiness is licensed, and the applicator is certified. Thebusiness must also provide proof of insurance as requiredby Regulation 636 (R 285.636.14, Financial responsibility).

An applicator may not obtain a commercial pesticideapplicator license for a business without first meetingthe necessary experience requirements. Businessesapplying for a license must have one person with at leasttwo years of pesticide application experience or theequivalent, or one year of application experience and afour-year college degree in a related discipline.

Rest r ic ted use pes t ic ide dea ler s l i cense. Any person orbusiness wishing to sell or distribute RUPs must obtainan RUP dealers license from the MDA. The licenseddealer must keep records on the sale of any RUP andsubmit those records each month to the MDA. It is illegalto sell or distribute RUPs to anyone who is not a certi-

fied applicator.Penalt ies. Significant criminal penalties exist for viola-

tors of the Pesticide Control Act:

Private and commercial applicators are subject toadministrative fines of up to $1,000 per violation ofany provision of the act.

Commercial applicators who knowingly violatethis act can be fined up to $5,000. If the violation iswith malicious intent, the applicator can be finedup to $25,000.

The MDA is responsible for investigating pesticidemisuse and failures of pesticides to perform when used

in accordance with label instructions. If you have a com-plaint involving a pesticide or suspect pesticide misuseor failure, notify the nearest MDA office as soon as possi-ble. Delays greatly reduce the chances of a satisfactoryinvestigation.

Gener a l use pes t ic ide means a pesticide that is not clas-sified as a restricted use pesticide.

Ready-to-use pest ic ide means a pesticide that is applieddirectly from its origina

Pesticide Applicator Core Training Manual

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