Do We Really Need Do We Really Need Another Pesticide License Another Pesticide License

(or two)?(or two)?

Margaret TuckerMargaret TuckerWA State Dept. of AgricultureWA State Dept. of Agriculture

Do We Really Need Do We Really Need Another Pesticide License Another Pesticide License

(or two)?(or two)?

Margaret TuckerMargaret TuckerWA State Dept. of AgricultureWA State Dept. of Agriculture

Limited & RancherLimited & RancherPrivate ApplicatorsPrivate ApplicatorsLimited & RancherLimited & RancherPrivate ApplicatorsPrivate Applicators

What Will Be CoveredWhat Will Be Covered

Why were licenses adopted?Why were licenses adopted?

How do licenses differ from the How do licenses differ from the traditional Private Applicator traditional Private Applicator license?license?

What Will Be CoveredWhat Will Be Covered

Why were licenses adopted?Why were licenses adopted?

How do licenses differ from the How do licenses differ from the traditional Private Applicator traditional Private Applicator license?license?

Private ApplicatorPrivate Applicator Applies or supervises the use of Applies or supervises the use of

a Restricted Use Pesticide a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) on own or employer’s (RUP) on own or employer’s land for the purpose of land for the purpose of producing an ag commodityproducing an ag commodity

Federal & state requirementFederal & state requirement

Why Were Licenses Adopted?Why Were Licenses Adopted?Why Were Licenses Adopted?Why Were Licenses Adopted?

Issues with Private Applicator license:Issues with Private Applicator license:Exam too complex and broad for Exam too complex and broad for

limited noxious weed controllimited noxious weed controlWeed control mandated by noxious Weed control mandated by noxious

weed lawsweed lawsKey herbicides restricted useKey herbicides restricted use

Tordon – federal RUPTordon – federal RUP 2,4-D – often state RUP2,4-D – often state RUP

Issues with Private Applicator license:Issues with Private Applicator license:Exam too complex and broad for Exam too complex and broad for

limited noxious weed controllimited noxious weed controlWeed control mandated by noxious Weed control mandated by noxious

weed lawsweed lawsKey herbicides restricted useKey herbicides restricted use

Tordon – federal RUPTordon – federal RUP 2,4-D – often state RUP2,4-D – often state RUP

More Issues with Private More Issues with Private Applicator licenseApplicator license

More Issues with Private More Issues with Private Applicator licenseApplicator license

Many felt that:Many felt that: Annual renewal and fee ($25) Annual renewal and fee ($25)

excessiveexcessive Recertification requirements too Recertification requirements too

high for limited pesticide usehigh for limited pesticide use

Many felt that:Many felt that: Annual renewal and fee ($25) Annual renewal and fee ($25)

excessiveexcessive Recertification requirements too Recertification requirements too

high for limited pesticide usehigh for limited pesticide use

RecertificationRecertification

Two Methods:Two Methods:

(1) credit accumulation(1) credit accumulation 20 credits/5 years20 credits/5 years no greater than 8/yearno greater than 8/year

(2) retesting every 5 years(2) retesting every 5 years

Guiding PrinciplesGuiding PrinciplesMeet federal certification Meet federal certification

requirementsrequirementsFocus exam, licensing and Focus exam, licensing and

recertification requirements to target recertification requirements to target audienceaudienceLandowners on non-production ag Landowners on non-production ag

landlandRanchersRanchersNOTNOT production ag production ag

Historical ProspectiveHistorical ProspectiveWSDA worked with legislators, WSDA worked with legislators,

county extension and weed board county extension and weed board staff to develop pilot project staff to develop pilot project

5-year pilot 2000 – 2004 in four 5-year pilot 2000 – 2004 in four northeastern WA countiesnortheastern WA counties

Cooperative effort to implement Cooperative effort to implement and determine effectivenessand determine effectiveness

Keys to EffectivenessKeys to EffectivenessDo revised requirements encourage Do revised requirements encourage

participation in licensing program?participation in licensing program?

Do licenses encourage sponsorship Do licenses encourage sponsorship of add’l weed control courses?of add’l weed control courses?

Do licenses facilitate the control of Do licenses facilitate the control of noxious & other problem weeds?noxious & other problem weeds?

Was the Pilot Effective?Was the Pilot Effective?

YES!YES!Adopted into law this yearAdopted into law this year

Licenses available throughout Licenses available throughout eastern WA beginning Jan. ‘05eastern WA beginning Jan. ‘05

Limited Private ApplicatorLimited Private Applicator

May only use RU May only use RU herbicidesherbicides on on non- production ag landnon- production ag land**

5 year/$25 license5 year/$25 license

8 weed control related credits8 weed control related credits

**Includes pastures, rangeland, fence rows, areas Includes pastures, rangeland, fence rows, areas around farm buildings, mixed rangeland-timberaround farm buildings, mixed rangeland-timber

Rancher Private ApplicatorRancher Private Applicator May only use Restricted Use May only use Restricted Use

herbicides & rodenticidesherbicides & rodenticides on: on: Non-production ag landNon-production ag land Production ag land where grain Production ag land where grain

and hay grown for primarily and hay grown for primarily personal usepersonal use

5 year/$75 license5 year/$75 license

12 credits12 credits

Exam RequirementExam RequirementPrivate Applicator – laws, safety, Private Applicator – laws, safety,

weed, insect & disease controlweed, insect & disease control

Limited PA –laws, safety, & Limited PA –laws, safety, & weed control related materialweed control related material

Rancher PA – Limited PA + Rancher PA – Limited PA + vertebrate pest controlvertebrate pest control

??Questions????Questions??

Please Contact Me At:Please Contact Me At:Margaret TuckerMargaret Tucker(360) 902 - 2015(360) 902 - 2015

mtucker@agr.wa.govmtucker@agr.wa.gov

Thank You!Thank You!

http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/ http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/