Last Chance Private Applicator Credit Opportunities Offered in Southwest Montana

Cecil Tharp, MSU Extension Pesticide Education Specialist

The Montana State University Extension Pesticide Education Program (MSU PEP) would like to announce multiple last chance private applicator credit opportunities for applicators in need of credits within private applicator training (PAT) District 2. Montana private applicators in PAT District 2 need six credits prior to the deadline of December 31, 2024, to avoid losing their pesticide certification. PAT District 2 includes Madison, Jefferson, Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Granite, Silver Bow, Gallatin, Park, Meagher, Broadwater, Powell and Lewis and Clark counties (Fig. 1). Applicators can view their credit information online by entering their last name or license number. Online courses, webinars and on-site trainings within District 2 are available.

PAT District 2

Figure 1. Montana Counties within Private Applicator Training District 2

Onsite Opportunities in Private Applicator Training District 2

Events sponsored by MSU are marked with an *.

  • *December 9. Anaconda. 2024 Columbia River Basin (CRB) Watershed Pesticide Tour. Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, 1500 Fairmont Rd. Topics include MT PSPP update, pesticide movement into surface or ground water, pesticide disposal program, pesticide detects in CRB water sources, DEQ general permit, and integrated pest management. 4 PAT credits. $10 fee. Register online by December 6. For more information contact Amy Bowser, (406) 994-5171 or [email protected]. 
  • *December 9. Dillon. Herbicide Resistance, Richardson's Ground Squirrels, and Grant Meeting. Beaverhead County 4-H Building. 710 S Argenta St. Topics include the science behind resistance and Palmar Amaranth, Richardson's ground squirrel control, and Noxious Weed Trust Fund meeting. 2 PAT credits. No fee. Register by contacting Jack Bazemore, (406) 683-3785 or [email protected]. 
  • *December 10. Phillipsburg. 2024 Columbia River Basin (CRB) Watershed Pesticide Tour. Flint Creek Baptist Church, US 10A. Topics include MT PSPP update, pesticide movement into surface or ground water, pesticide disposal program, pesticide detects in CRB water sources, DEQ general permit, best practices, and integrated pest management. 4 PAT credits. $10 fee. Register online by December 6. For more information contact Amy Bowser, (406) 994-5171 or [email protected]. 
  • December 11. Helena. Montana Department of Agriculture Fall Recertification - Half Day. Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds - Entry Hall, 98 West Custer Avenue, Entry Hall. Topics include Montana's New C and T plan, water quality, professionalism, and diagnosing non-target injury. 4 PAT credits. Register by contacting Beth Thomas, (406) 444-3732 or [email protected]. 
  • December 11. Helena. Montana Department of Agriculture Fall Recertification - Full Day. Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds - Entry Hall, 98 West Custer Avenue, Entry Hall. Topics include Montana's New C and T plan, water quality, professionalism, diagnosing non-target injury, native plant communities and ecologically based EBIPM, and DEQ general permits. 6 PAT credits. Register by contacting Beth Thomas, (406) 444-3732 or [email protected]. 

Webinar Opportunities

An alternative to attending on-site programs are live webinars delivered to individuals attending online from their home or office. You must be present for all attendance checks to obtain pesticide education credits for these events. Events sponsored by MSU are marked with an *.

  • ##December 3. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (MST). MDA Webinar. Balancing Pollinator Conservation with Pesticide Application using IPM. 1 PAT credit. Register online or contact Beth Thomas for more information at (406) 444-3732 or [email protected]. 
  • December 4. 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM (EST). PCT Rodent Control Virtual Conference. 4 PAT credits. Contact Liz Ziots, (216) 393-0290 or [email protected] for more information. Register online. 
  • December 4. 3:00 PM (EST). Tips for Managing Blood Feeding Insects. 1 PAT credit. Contact Joann Smalls, (973) 449-5294 or email [email protected]. Register online. 
  • *December 5. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (MST). Pesticide Education Webinar Series: An Introduction to Pesticide Formulations. 1 PAT credit. Contact Amy Bowser for more information at (406) 994-5178 or [email protected]. Register online. 
  • December 12. 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (MST). 2024 National Right-of-Way Applicator Webinar. 6 PAT credits. Contact Sandra McDonald for more information or registration, (970) 266-9573 or [email protected]. Register online. 
  • *December 19. 12:00 - 1:00 PM (MST). Pesticide Education Webinar Series: Developing a Pest Management Plan for Vertebrate Pests. 1 PAT credit. Contact Amy Bowser for more information at (406) 994-5178 or [email protected]. Register online.  

Online Courses

Online courses consisting of modules and a corresponding quiz can be taken at any time from your office or home for credits. There are 267 online courses available for private applicator credits (usually 1) over a variety of pesticide education topics. View the instructions for using the MDA Course Locator and follow the instructions under 'online programs' and following the link provided. 

End of Cycle Instructions

Each private applicator in District 2 should have received a Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) pesticide license renewal letter the first week of November. Applicators who have not received a renewal letter by December 1, 2024 should contact their local MSU Extension PAT Coordinator or MDA Licensing Program, Kyra Allison-Wright, (406) 444-3691 ([email protected]; (406) 444-3691). Applicators who have accumulated six or more private applicator credits or who passed a closed book exam in the last year of the cycle should sign the renewal letter and return to the MDA with the $60 license fee. 

For More Information

Contact your MSU Extension Agricultural Agent (PAT Coordinator) for more information regarding other last chance programs in your area, or to assess your private applicator credits. For any other pesticide education question contact Cecil Tharp, Pesticide Education Specialist, at the MSU Extension Pesticide Education Program office (406-994-5067, [email protected]). 

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