The following is from Kari Lewis, MSU Extension Agent for Glacier County:

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MSU Extension and Montana Department of Ag will be offering both private and commercial pesticide applicator trainings in Browning, November 7 – 10, 2016.  The private applicator training will be Monday, November 7, and the commercial applicator training will be Tuesday, November 8 through Thursday morning, November 10, 2016.  Both trainings will have continuing education credits available through the Blackfeet Community College.

The initial private pesticide applicator training, Monday, November 7, 2016, will be held at the Blackfeet TERO Conference Room (65 Hospital Road, Browning, MT in the Blackfeet Tribal Employment Rights Office), beginning at 8:30 a.m.  Individuals must be licensed as a private applicator prior to purchasing and using restricted use pesticides (RUPs) on land that they or their employers own, rent or lease. For applicators to obtain their initial applicator license, they must either attend a private pesticide applicator initial training or pass a 50 question open book graded Montana Private Applicator Certification Exam at their local extension office.

The private applicator training will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and should end around 5:00 p.m. following the Montana Private Applicator Certification exam. Topics covered throughout the day will include details on the private pesticide license, reading the pesticide product label, pertinent pesticide laws, pesticides in the environment, pesticide safety, integrated pest management, and sprayer calibration.  Training will be provided by MSU Extension and Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) personnel.

Individuals who have a current private applicator license will receive 6 private applicator recertification credits. Individuals not currently holding a private applicator license will be qualified to submit an application for a private applicator’s license after the program.

The cost of the private applicator training is $25 which covers lunch and class materials, and may be paid on site.  Currently certified applicators can attend the training for $10 which will include lunch.  Participants do need to register to Glacier County Extension, 873-2239 or glacier@montana.edu by Wednesday, October 26 to reserve their class materials.  Questions regarding the private applicator training may be directed to Kari Lewis, MSU Extension-Glacier county agent at 873-2239.

The commercial applicator training will be held Tuesday through Thursday, November 8 – 10, 2016 at the Blackfeet TERO Conference Room (65 Hospital Road, Browning, MT in the Blackfeet Tribal Employment Rights Office).

This will include training for a commercial license and be an opportunity for people to prepare for the Core exam, which will be November 10 in the morning.  If a person chooses to take the exam and pass at 80% they will meet part of the qualifications for a commercial license. They will still need to take a category exam and complete the application process.  While not required to attend the private applicator training on November 7 in order to become a commercial applicator, some individuals may find the information presented on November 7 to be useful preparation for the following days of commercial training.

For questions regarding the commercial training or to order a book prior to the training, please contact Jolene Warneke-Roszel with the MT Department of Ag at 406-444-3732 or jwarnke-roszel@mt.gov.  To register for the commercial training, please contact Cheryl Madman at Blackfeet Community College at 406-338-5421, extension 2751.

 

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