Lamar-Ordway Hosting Pesticide Applicator Workshops

PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT WORKSHOPS

In Colorado, the application of pesticides is regulated by a very strict set of guidelines and laws.  Since 2007, these regulations are enforced by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA).  Some of the regulations include the licensing of private and commercial pesticide applicators. The purpose of the license is to ensure that the applicators have a good working knowledge of how the pesticides work as well as how to handle and apply them safety and correctly.  Under the Colorado Pesticide Applicators Act, to maintain the status of Private Applicator, Qualified Supervisor or a Certified Operator, applicators must accumulate seven Continuing Education Credits (CEC’s) in core subjects and one or two CEC(s) in each of the categories in which Qualified Supervisor or Certified Operator are currently licensed.

Colorado State University Southeast Area Extension and the Colorado Environmental Education Program will conduct two Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education Credit Workshops on March 24 and 25, 2015.  The training is aimed to provide new information on pest control, health and environmental safety, pest management technology and changes in pesticide laws and regulations.

These workshops will provide area applicators all seven core credits to renew their license.  In addition commercial applicators will earn one credit for each of the following categories: Agricultural Insect Control (101), Rangeland Pest Control (107) and Industrial and Right-of-Way Weed Control (109).  The speakers are Thia Walker, CSU Pesticide Safety Specialist, Terry Randolph, CSU Entomologist, Rick Roehm, Helena Chemical Company, and Bruce Fickenscher, CSU Extension Rangeland Management Agent.

The Pesticide Applicator Workshops are scheduled as follows:

March 24 – Lamar, CO

8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  Prowers County Fairgrounds, Home Economics Building. Street)

March 25 – Ordway, CO

8:00 am to 12:30 pm.  Ordway Senior Center (401 Colorado Avenue).  None commercial credits will be offered.

These workshops make pesticide application safer not only for the applicators but for everyone who may be in close proximity to an area that has been sprayed or may come in contact with agricultural products.

The workshop fee is $40 for private and $80 for commercial applicators.  If you are interested in attending any of the workshops scheduled, please contact your local County Extension Office (Bent, Baca, Cheyenne, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers).  You can also contact Wilma Trujillo, Southeast Area Agronomist, at the Prowers Extension Office, 1001 S Main Street, Lamar, CO. Tel: (719) 336-7734 or email wilma.trujillo@colostate.edu.