A private pesticide applicator is anyone who applies pesticides to property they own, rent, or otherwise control for producing an agricultural commodity. Any private applicator wishing to buy and use restricted-use pesticides must be certified by passing the core exam, and then keeping the permit current by earning credits every five years.
Purdue Extension held 51 workforce development programs on 33 dates and in 32 Indiana counties, or virtually. Programs had a variety of titles, including Crop Management Workshop, Agronomic Update, Ag Day, Virtual Private Applicators Recertification Program, Ag Winter Meeting, Conservation Workshop, Grower Meeting, and many others. Regulatory updates were provided, along with topics like dicamba, anhydrous ammonia safety, pesticide minibulks, drift watch, and managing products in inventory. A total of 1,345 attendees completed the program evaluation.
Survey participants reported attending to earn professional credits: Private Applicator Recertification Program (79%), and Commercial Applicator Continuing Certification Hours (12%). Most participants (90%) indicated they learned something they didn’t know before. Half (46%) plan to adopt practices for their farms/operations. A third plan to adopt recommended fertilizer and/or pesticide practices (35%) or are already doing the recommended field crop practices (30%). Participants expressed program feedback: appreciation for practical and useful information, positive feedback on presentations and speakers, emphasis on education and continuous learning, positive comments on meeting logistics and environment, recognition of information quality and relevance, and acknowledgment of convenience and accessibility.
Purdue Extension’s Pesticide Programs helped 1,345 producers and employees learn how to safely apply pesticides to field crops and earn professional credits for private applicator recertification (79%) and commercial applicator continuing certification hours (12%). As a result, Indiana’s natural resources, soils, water, and environment are being protected via safe pesticide application.