Agricultural Row Crop and Private Applicator Pesticide Courses in Alachua County, Florida.
Agronomy & Pest Management
Kevin Korus
Ag & Natural Resource Agent
Gainesville
Abstract
Agricultural producers must become licensed to purchase and apply restricted use pesticides needed to manage their commodities when production is challenged by pests and diseases. Pesticide training aids clientele in preparing for core and category tests required for each license as well as providing stakeholders the necessary Continuing Educational Units (CEUs) required for license renewal (12 and 8 CEUs for Ag Row Crop and Private Applicator, respectively). In Alachua County, there are 88 Private Applicator and 49 Ag Row Crop pesticide license holders who need access to this training. The objectives of pesticide training are to increase the knowledge of Best Management Practices in pesticide safety, improve skills necessary for pesticide application (e.g. calibrating application equipment and calculating application rates), and to encourage license holders to adopt recommended practices. Annually, three hands-on workshops offering 4 CEUs each, are delivered. The workshops include a core review segment, spray calibration exercise, label demo and pesticide arithmetic. Post-training evaluations showed that 87% of survey respondents (82 of 94) gained knowledge in pesticide safety Best Management Practices and 92% (67 of 73) indicated their intent to adopt recommended practices on pesticide handling and application. Since these workshops started in 2017, 42 Ag Row Crop and 92 Private Applicator licenses were issued in Alachua County. In conclusion, the trainings provided by Alachua County Extension Agents have provided professionals the means to renew and obtain new pesticide applicator licenses. Furthermore, as a result of obtaining their licenses, post-training surveys revealed that 38% (27 of 92), 8% (6 of 92) and 10% (7 of 92) of attendees expected a $1-3, $4-6, and $7-10 per hour wage increase, respectively.
Authors: Tatiana Sanchez, Kevin Korus
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Tatiana Sanchez Commercial Horticulture Agent, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32669
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Kevin Korus Ag & Natural Resource Agent, UF/IFAS Extension, Florida, 32669