Texas Pesticide Applicator's Test Questions With Verified Answers, Latest Updated 2024 Graded A+

Define IPM - 1. a pest population management system that anticipates and prevents pests from causing damage. 2. an ecological approach to pest control. Components of IPM - 1. Pest identification 2. Monitoring 3. Use of natural enemies (biological control) 4. Pest-resistant plants 5. Cultural and structural changes 6. Judicious use of least toxic pesticides Intent of IPM - 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. How is a pesticide defined by law? - 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. Which state and federal agencies register pesticides? - Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides? - The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) What is a state-limited-use pesticide? - A pesticide or pesticide use on which additional restrictions are placed by the Texas Department of Agriculture. As defined by law, what is a private pesticide applicator? - A person who uses or supervises the use of a restricted-use or state-limited use pesticide or a regulated herbicide for the purpose producing an agricultural commodity. Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator's Test Questions With Verified Answers Latest Updated 2024 Graded A+ P a g e 2 | 18 When supervising pesticide use, must the private applicator be physically present? Is the applicator responsible for actions of the supervised workers? - The applicator need not be physically present, unless required by the label or other conditions of use, but must be available if and when needed. The licensed applicator and the supervised person may keep in touch by phone, radio, etc. The applicator is responsible for actions of individuals being supervised. Who is responsible for assuring that any person working under the licensee's direct supervision is knowledgeable of the label requirements and rules and regulations governing the use of the particular pesticide being used by the individual? - The licensed applicator (may be private, commercial, or noncommercial). What practical knowledge and skills should a private applicator have? - The applicator should know how to: recognize common pests and pest damage; read and understand the label; apply pesticides according to the label instructions and warnings; recognize environmental conditions and avoid contamination; and recognize poisoning symptoms and perform first-aid. What is the significance of pesticide label directions with regard to the law? - 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. 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? - 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. What role do Texas counties have in regulating pesticides? - 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. What is a spray permit? - 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. When does a spray permit expire? - All permits expire when the acreage for which the permit was granted has been sprayed, OR days after issuance, whichever occurs first. P a g e 3 | 18 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. - 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. What Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are required to renew the private applicator's license? - 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. What late fees are added to the renewal fee if a private applicator does not renew the license by February 28th? - 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. If an applicator fails to inform TDA of a change in mailing address, what can happen to the license? - Failure to provide such information may be grounds for denial, suspension or revocation of the license. When can a person request prior notification? - Prior notification can be requested when pesticides are being applied with air-blast, mist blowing or aerial equipment by people on adjoining property living within 1/4 mile or by persons in charge of day-care centers, hospitals, or nursing homes, and schools within 1/4 mile of the application. Name an accepted method of giving prior notification of a scheduled application to a neighbor who has requested prior notification. - The notification may be made by raising an EPA WPS flag/sign in or about the field to which pesticides are scheduled to be applied. How long are licensed pesticide applicators required to keep records? What type of pesticides are required to be included in these records? - A person license or certified as a private applicator must maintain records of each application of a restricted-use pesticide, statelimited0use pesticide, or regulated herbicide. Records of pesticide use must be maintained for a period of two years. P a g e 4 | 18 Explain what is needed when the regulations require that the total volume of spray mix, dust, granules, or other materials applied per unit be recorded. Give an example of what is meant here. - Record the rate/area. Examples: 1 gallon per 1000 square feet or 30 gallons per acre this would include water, pesticide, surfactant and any other additive put into the tank. List locations that are covered by Worker Protection Standard WPS and others that are exempt. - WPS applies to most agricultural production such as field crops (cotton, corn, sorghum, etc. also turfgrass production for sod, and greenhouse plant production). Pastures and rangeland are exempt from WPS. Compare the terms "Agricultural Employer" and "Handler Employer" as used in the WPS. - When reading the WPS Laws and Regs the term "Agricultural Employer" is used when they discuss the employer of "workers" and the term "Handler Employer" is used when they discuss employees of the "handlers". These two people may well be the same person so don't let the terminology confuse you. What is an agricultural employer? - The person ultimately responsible for insuring worker compliance with WPS restricted entry intervals before entering treated fields. How often is a supervisor required to monitor a handler who is using a highly toxic pesticide marked with a skull and cross bones and how can they be monitored? - Handlers handling highly toxic pesticides: The handler employer shall assure that any handler who is performing any handling activity with a product that has the skull and crossbones symbol on the front panel of the label is monitored visually or by voice communication at least every two hours. What items are necessary at the decontamination site(s) and who is responsible for providing these items? - The handler employer must provide enough water for routine washing, for emergency eye flushing, and for washing the entire body, soap and single-use towels in quantities sufficient to meet handlers' needs, and one clean change of clothing, such as coveralls in case of an emergency. How to Read Pesticide Labels - 1. Look for the brand name on the front of the label. 2. Active ingredients are the ones that kill or control the pests. 3. Signal words tell you how poisonous the pesticide is. -CAUTION: least poisonous pesticides - low toxicity -WARNING: more poisonous or irritating - moderately toxic P a g e 5 | 18 - DANGER: very poisonous or irritating; may also have skull and crossbones - highly toxic *when handling pesticides with the DANGER signal word, someone should check on you every two hours. *The precautionary statements section tells you which parts of your body need special protection and what kind of personal protective equipment to wear. 4. The environmental hazards section tells you if you must take extra care to protect bees and wildlife or to keep the pesticide out of groundwater and surface water. 5. A restricted use pesticide is classified as restricted use by EPA because it may, without additional regulatory restrictions, cause unreasonable adverse effects to the environment or to human health (including injury to the applicator). Labels say for sale to and for use by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision and only for uses covered by the Licensed Applicator's license. 6. The Drections for use section lists information on mixing, loading, and application. 7. All agricultural pesticides have a restricted entry interval or REI. The REI is the time immediately after the pesticide application during which entry into the treated area is restricted. ( while the REI is in effect certain PPE is required for entry into the area: after the REI has expired workers and handlers can enter the area without PPE.) 8. The PREHARVEST interval is the number of days between when the pesticide is applied and when the crop is harvested. 9. Using a little MORE pesticide than the label recomments is NEVER legal since it is a use inconsistent with label directions. 10. The label never allows drift off of the intended spray target. What are some consequences of groundwater contamination? - Potentially prohibitive clean-up expenses; possible cancellation of registered pesticides; health effects, ect. List some routes by which pesticides may reach groundwater. - By leaching with recharge water and via spills, abandoned wells, sinkholes, back-siphoning into wells, and improper rinsate and container disposal. P a g e 6 | 18 What site features contribute to a greater potential for chemical movement through soil? - Coarse (sandy) soil, low in organic matter, a shallow depth to groundwater and highly permeable materials between soil and groundwater. What chemical and physical properties contribute to a pesticide's potential for leaching? - A pesticide is more likely to leach if it is very soluble in water, if it does not strongly adsorb onto soil, and if it persists in the soil (does not readily break down) over time. What pesticide application practices help minimize the potential for groundwater contamination? - In general, the same practices that you follow to obtain the most efficient and economical pest control, such as accurate measuring and mixing, proper equipment calibration, etc. List some ways to minimize direct contamination of groundwater. - Protect well heads and other water sources, move needed water to the field for mixing and loading, conduct all water using activities away from well heads and other water sources. How can back-siphoning be prevented? - By keeping the discharge end of the water delivery hose above the level of the liquid in the tank (referred to as an air-gap), by using check valves and anti-backflow devices on pumping equipment. What procedures should be used to clean out pesticide containers? - Triple rinse or pressure rinse the containers and return rinse water to the spray tank. What are the benefits of biological diversity? - Many properties of plants, animals and microorganisms are used for food, clothing, medicine and shelter were found in nature. For example, nearly half of pharmaceutical drugs were developed from substances found in nature. Most crops produced in this country originated elsewhere in the world. What is an endangered species? - A species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. What responsibility does the Environmental Protection Agency have with regard to endangered species protection? - To ensure that EPA registration of pesticides does not harm an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat. P a g e 7 | 18 How can the label help protect endangered species? - By including statements of limitations on the label, by prohibiting chemical use at certain times or within certain areas, by referral to a County Bulletin with additional information and instructions. Name two government agencies that can provide information on endangered species. - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (state agency) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (federal agency) The 1990 Farm Bill and subsequent amendments require you to record basic information about a pesticide application. The required information includes: - 1. applicator name and certification/license number 2. the month, day and year of application 3. product or brand name and EPA Registration number 4. total amount applied of undiluted pesticide 5. crop, commodity, stored product or site that received the application 6. the size of the area treated, in acres, number of trees or other measurement 7. the location of application (using maps, county field numbers or legal descriptions so that the exact area can be identified 2 years later if requested) If you make a spot application to an area that is less than one-tenth of an acre over a 24 hour period, then you only need to record: - 1. date of application 2. brand or product name 3. EPA registration number 4. total amount applied 5. the location (designated as spot application, followed with short description) Greenhouse and nursery applications: - are not considered spot applications and therefore do NOT qualify for the shorter list of required data Records must be recorded withing how many days of application? Then kept for how long? - Recorded within 14 days and then kept for 2 years The regs require that the total volume of spray mix, dust, granules, or other materials applied per unit be recorded - Give an example of what is meant here. - Example - 30 gallons per acre this would include water, pesticide, surfactant and any other additive put into the tank. P a g e 8 | 18 Protecting Yourself from Pesticides - 1. When handling pesticides, watch out for spills and splashes. Avoid sprays and dusts from pesticides applications. Also avoid residues, which are pesticides that remain on the plants, soil, water, equipment, clothing or in the air after an application. 2. Pesticides can poison or injure you if you: swallow or breathe them or get them into your eyes or on your skin.