It’s that time of year again when SDSU Extension brings about many educational and informational programs and opportunities.  So it’s the time of year for Private Pesticide Applicator certification and recertification training.
Who needs to be certified or recertified as a Private Pesticide Applicator?  If you plan to apply any pesticides to an agriculture commodity worth $1,000 or more, you need to be certified.  It does not matter what pesticide you apply (herbicide, insecticide, or fungicide, etc.) you need to be certified as a Private Applicator.
You have three options to get certified.  You many attend a three-hour recertification class at any certification site, you may stop by at your local Extension Office or Regional Extension Center and pick up the materials to complete the open-book home-study exam, or you may take the Private Applicator exam online at the Department of Agriculture’s Web site: http://apps.sd.gov/doa/pwt/.
No matter how you choose to get certified or recertified, you must bring along your government issued photo ID.  For most people this is your driver’s license, but it could also be your passport, military ID, etc.  If you are recertifying, please bring along your certification number.  It will make the sign-in process easier for all.
Why do you need to become certified?  First and foremost, it’s the law, but certification gives you the tools to apply pesticides more properly, safely and profitably.  You must be competent to read and follow a label, calibrate your sprayer and apply pesticides. Your certification is good for five years and allows you to buy and apply general and restricted use pesticides. A private applicator cannot accept cash for spraying applications but can trade agricultural services. For example, you can spray your neighbor’s field if they bale your hay.
A private applicator is required to keep records for two years of all restricted use pesticides that they apply.  Record keeping is a requirement for restricted use pesticides, but consider keeping records of all pesticide applications as part of a good farm management plan. Record keeping books and information are available at your local Extension office or Regional Extension Center.  There are a certain percentage of individuals who are spot checked by the State Department of Agriculture every year.
For those of you who are coming to training, we hope you will find the program very useful and practical.  The training session is three hours long, but it goes by fast (I know, because I have heard it more than once!).  We have mailed out letters alerting those whose licenses expired Dec. 31, 2015, to those who are certified in the southeast part of the state.
There will not be any charge for attending the private applicator class, taking the open-book home-study exam or taking the private pesticide applicator exam on-line to become certified or recertified.
Training will be held on the following dates, times, and locations:
2016 Private Applicator Training Schedule – Southeast Region
Feb. 1, Forestburg, 4-H Building along Hwy. 34, 1-4 p.m.
Feb. 8, Armour, Douglas County 4-H Center, 39182 280th St., 1 – 4 p.m.
Feb. 19, Parker, Parker Community Building, 299 North Main, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 – 4 p.m.
Feb. 22, Madison, 4-H Center, 1000 South Egan Ave., 1 – 4 p.m.
Feb. 23, Salem, Armory, 740 N. Peck St., 1 – 4 p.m.
Feb. 24, Platte, First Fidelity Bank, 501 Main Ave., 1 – 4 p.m.
Feb. 25, Yankton, NFAA Easton Yankton Archery Complex, 800 Archery Lane, 1 – 4 p.m.
Feb. 26, Flandreau, Moody County 4-H Office, 500 First Ave W., 1 – 4 p.m.
March 4, Tyndall, 4-H Fairgrounds, 1910 Birch, 1 – 4 p.m.
March 9, Lake Andes, 4-H Building, 100 School Street, 1 – 4 p.m.
March 14, Sioux Falls, Extension Regional Center, 2001 East 8th St., 1 – 4 p.m.
March 16, Plankinton, Aurora County 4-H Ag Building, 1302 E. 1st St., 1 – 4 p.m.
March 18, Freeman, Freeman Community Building, 224 S. Wipf St. (east end of building), 1 – 4 p.m.
March 21, Beresford, Bridges of Beresford Event Center, 601 S. 7th St., 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 – 4 p.m.
March 22, Tripp, Fire Hall, west side of Main St., 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 – 4 p.m.
March 23, Wessington Springs, 4-H Ag Building, 604 2nd St. NE, 1 – 4 p.m.
March 24, Vermillion, 4-H Building, 515 High Street, 1 – 4 p.m.
March 29, Sioux Falls, Extension Regional Center, 2001 East 8th St., 1 – 4 p.m., 6 – 9 p.m.
March 30, Pukwana, Ag Building, 200 County Road 122, 1 – 4 p.m.
March 31, Fulton, Town Hall, 230 North Main, 1 – 4 p.m.
Individuals needing to become certified or recertified are encouraged to attend one of the three-hour private applicator sessions listed above.   For more information please feel free to contact the Sioux Falls Regional Extension Center at (605) 782-3290 or email connie.strunk@sdstate.edu.