Page 1 of 38
Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide
Applicator's ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
QUESTION: What is the significance of pesticide label directions with regard to the law? -
ANSWER-The label has the force of law and includes a statement stating that the use of any
chemical inconsistent with the label directions is a violation of the law.
QUESTION: What types of laws are violated when the applicator uses pesticides inconsistent
with the label directions? Examples: is it ever legal to use more than the labeled rate? Is it ever
legal to allow the pesticide to DRIFT off the target site? - ANSWER-Both federal and state law
prohibits uses pesticides inconsistent with label directions. It is NEVER legal to use more than
the labeled rate of a pesticide. It is NEVER legal to allow the pesticide to drift off the target site.
QUESTION: What role do Texas counties have in regulating pesticides? - ANSWER-Sale and use
of certain herbicides are regulated in some countries where a permit must be obtained to use
such products during certain times of the year.
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QUESTION: What is a spray permit? - ANSWER-A spray permit is a document issued by the TDA
that must be issued before application that authorizes a person to apply regulated herbicides in
a regulated county.
QUESTION: When does a spray permit expire? - ANSWER-All permits expire when the acreage
for which the permit was granted has been sprayed, OR days after issuance, whichever occurs
first.
QUESTION: List some applications that would require a spray permit and some that would not
require a spray permit and some that are prohibited from having a spray permit. - ANSWER-
Spraying with standard ground application equipment would require a permit. Applications of
regulated herbicides to lawns and by brush, mop, wick, basal treatment, or injection methods
are exempt from obtaining a permit. The use of any turbine or blower-type ground application
equipment to apply regulated herbicides is prohibited.
QUESTION: What Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are required to renew the private
applicator's license? - ANSWER-Private applicators are required to recertify every five years by
obtaining fifteen continuing education units (CEUs) including at least two credits in laws and
regulations and two credits in integrated pest management.
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QUESTION: What late fees are added to the renewal fee if a private applicator does not renew
the license by February 28th? - ANSWER-The renewal fee is $100 due by february 28. After Feb
28 to May 31 there is a $30 late fee. After a license is lost, the applicator must wait one year
before they can train and retest. TDA will NOT issue a new license until one full year elapses.
QUESTION: If an applicator fails to inform TDA of a change in mailing address, what can happen
to the license? - ANSWER-Failure to provide such information may be grounds for denial,
suspension or revocation of the license.
Q; Define IPM - ANSWER-1. a pest population management system that anticipates and
prevents pests from causing damage.
2. an ecological approach to pest control.
QUESTION: Components of IPM - ANSWER-1. Pest identification
2. Monitoring
3. Use of natural enemies (biological control)
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4. Pest-resistant plants
5. Cultural and structural changes
6. Judicious use of least toxic pesticides
QUESTION: Intent of IPM - ANSWER-To use tactics that include pesticide alternatives that
reduce the total amount of pesticide chemicals used thereby lessening the opportunity for
pests to develop resistance.
QUESTION: How is a pesticide defined by law? - ANSWER-Any substance or mixture of
substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest, and any
substance intended for use as a plant growth regulator, defoliant or desiccant.
QUESTION: Which state and federal agencies register pesticides? - ANSWER-Texas Department
of Agriculture (TDA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
QUESTION: What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides? - ANSWER-The
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
4
Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide
Applicator's ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR
QUESTION: What is the significance of pesticide label directions with regard to the law? -
ANSWER-The label has the force of law and includes a statement stating that the use of any
chemical inconsistent with the label directions is a violation of the law.
QUESTION: What types of laws are violated when the applicator uses pesticides inconsistent
with the label directions? Examples: is it ever legal to use more than the labeled rate? Is it ever
legal to allow the pesticide to DRIFT off the target site? - ANSWER-Both federal and state law
prohibits uses pesticides inconsistent with label directions. It is NEVER legal to use more than
the labeled rate of a pesticide. It is NEVER legal to allow the pesticide to drift off the target site.
QUESTION: What role do Texas counties have in regulating pesticides? - ANSWER-Sale and use
of certain herbicides are regulated in some countries where a permit must be obtained to use
such products during certain times of the year.
1
, Page 2 of 38
QUESTION: What is a spray permit? - ANSWER-A spray permit is a document issued by the TDA
that must be issued before application that authorizes a person to apply regulated herbicides in
a regulated county.
QUESTION: When does a spray permit expire? - ANSWER-All permits expire when the acreage
for which the permit was granted has been sprayed, OR days after issuance, whichever occurs
first.
QUESTION: List some applications that would require a spray permit and some that would not
require a spray permit and some that are prohibited from having a spray permit. - ANSWER-
Spraying with standard ground application equipment would require a permit. Applications of
regulated herbicides to lawns and by brush, mop, wick, basal treatment, or injection methods
are exempt from obtaining a permit. The use of any turbine or blower-type ground application
equipment to apply regulated herbicides is prohibited.
QUESTION: What Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are required to renew the private
applicator's license? - ANSWER-Private applicators are required to recertify every five years by
obtaining fifteen continuing education units (CEUs) including at least two credits in laws and
regulations and two credits in integrated pest management.
2
, Page 3 of 38
QUESTION: What late fees are added to the renewal fee if a private applicator does not renew
the license by February 28th? - ANSWER-The renewal fee is $100 due by february 28. After Feb
28 to May 31 there is a $30 late fee. After a license is lost, the applicator must wait one year
before they can train and retest. TDA will NOT issue a new license until one full year elapses.
QUESTION: If an applicator fails to inform TDA of a change in mailing address, what can happen
to the license? - ANSWER-Failure to provide such information may be grounds for denial,
suspension or revocation of the license.
Q; Define IPM - ANSWER-1. a pest population management system that anticipates and
prevents pests from causing damage.
2. an ecological approach to pest control.
QUESTION: Components of IPM - ANSWER-1. Pest identification
2. Monitoring
3. Use of natural enemies (biological control)
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, Page 4 of 38
4. Pest-resistant plants
5. Cultural and structural changes
6. Judicious use of least toxic pesticides
QUESTION: Intent of IPM - ANSWER-To use tactics that include pesticide alternatives that
reduce the total amount of pesticide chemicals used thereby lessening the opportunity for
pests to develop resistance.
QUESTION: How is a pesticide defined by law? - ANSWER-Any substance or mixture of
substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest, and any
substance intended for use as a plant growth regulator, defoliant or desiccant.
QUESTION: Which state and federal agencies register pesticides? - ANSWER-Texas Department
of Agriculture (TDA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
QUESTION: What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides? - ANSWER-The
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
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