District 2 Winter Newsletter

Dear District 2 Private Applicators,

Happy New Year!

Private applicators in District 2 are now in the last year of their re-certification cycle. This means you have until 12/31/2019 to obtain six private applicator re-certification credits or to take a closed-book exam at your local MSU Extension office. You can look up your current credits online by entering your last name or license number. For more information on PAT and credit requirements please visit our Private Applicator Training Program webpage or contact your local Extension office. 

Keep an eye out for the Pest Management Tour in October for a last chance opportunity to obtain three or six credits. Full and half-day events will be located at multiple different locations around District 2. Mailers will be sent out to all of District 2 in advance of the training and notifications will be included in our e-mail newsletter.

Paraquat Mitigation Measures

The EPA has approved several paraquat mitigation measures due to increased human health concerns. The measures include: mandatory paraquat  training for applicators, changes to the label emphasizing safety, moving to closed-system packaging, and restricting use to only certified applicators. New product label requirements will be required when purchasing products with the new product label.  Containers with the new label language requiring use by only certified applicators and paraquat trainings are expected to be distributed some time during the 2019 field season while close container systems will be phased in likely after September 2020. It is important for applicators to read and follow the product label. For more information please read our article titled Paraquat Mitigation Measures Approved by EPA.

Upcoming Events in Private Applicator District 2 (Southwest Montana)

The following list of private applicator events are hosted by various organizations in your district. Please use the provided contact information for each event to register and obtain more information. This list is not comprehensive and only represents a few currently approved courses. Courses are added as they are sent to the MDA for approval. Use the MDA Course Locator to search for more events.

  • 1/28/2019, Fairmont, Organic Pesticides: Reviewing the Science - Part of the AMTOPP Conference, (406) 204-0100
  • 1/29/2019, Fairmont, The Many Ways Applications Go Wrong - Part of the AMTOPP Conference, (406) 204-0100
  • 1/30/2019, Boulder, Jefferson County Weed District Applicator Training, [email protected]
  • 2/12/2019, Butte, Commerical, Private and Governmental Pesticide Applicator Training, (406) 846-3348
  • 2/20/2019, Three Forks, Crop School, (406) 266-9242
  • 4/12/2019, Helena, Ag Plant Pest Recertification Training, (406) 444-3732

Recent Publications and News Updates

News: Regional Initial Private Applicator Trainings offered across Montana in 2019

News: Paraquat Mitigation Measures Approved by EPA

Meet Your Extension Specialist: Tim Seipel, Extension Cropland Weed Specialist

As the Cropland Weed Extension Specialist, Tim collaborates with agricultural stakeholders to develop and deliver research-based information on weed ecology and management.

Phone: (406) 994-4783

E-mail: [email protected]

For more information on Tim read the “Meet Your Specialist” article in the 2018 Fall IPM Bulletin.

 

Private applicator District 2 recertification dates