TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE PESTICIDE
APPLICATOR'S STUDY GUIDE
COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS (FREQUENTLY
TESTED) WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
, Contact for further consultation
1. Define IPM Answer: 1. a pest population management system that anticipates and
prevents pests from causing damage.
2. an ecological approach to pest control.
2. Components of IPM Answer: 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
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Which state and federal agencies register pesticides? Answer: Texas
, Contact for further consultation
Department of Agriculture (TDA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
6. What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides?
Answer: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
7. What is a state-limited-use pesticide? Answer: A pesticide or pesticide use on which
additional restrictions are placed by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
8. As defined by law, what is a private pesticide applicator? Answer: 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.
9. When supervising pesticide use, must the private applicator be
physically pre- sent? Is the applicator responsible for actions of the
supervised workers? Answer: 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.
, Contact for further consultation
10. 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? Answer: The licensed
applicator (may be private, commercial, or noncommercial).
11. What practical knowledge and skills should a private applicator
have? Answer: The applicator should know how to Answer: recognize common pests and pest
damage; read and understand the label; apply pes- ticides according to the label instructions and
warnings; recognize environmental conditions and avoid contamination; and recognize poisoning
symptoms and perform first-aid.
12. 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.
13. What types of laws are violated when the applicator uses
pesticides incon- sistent with the label directions? Examples Answer:
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
AGRICULTURE PESTICIDE
APPLICATOR'S STUDY GUIDE
COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS (FREQUENTLY
TESTED) WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
, Contact for further consultation
1. Define IPM Answer: 1. a pest population management system that anticipates and
prevents pests from causing damage.
2. an ecological approach to pest control.
2. Components of IPM Answer: 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
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Which state and federal agencies register pesticides? Answer: Texas
, Contact for further consultation
Department of Agriculture (TDA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
6. What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides?
Answer: The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
7. What is a state-limited-use pesticide? Answer: A pesticide or pesticide use on which
additional restrictions are placed by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
8. As defined by law, what is a private pesticide applicator? Answer: 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.
9. When supervising pesticide use, must the private applicator be
physically pre- sent? Is the applicator responsible for actions of the
supervised workers? Answer: 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.
, Contact for further consultation
10. 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? Answer: The licensed
applicator (may be private, commercial, or noncommercial).
11. What practical knowledge and skills should a private applicator
have? Answer: The applicator should know how to Answer: recognize common pests and pest
damage; read and understand the label; apply pes- ticides according to the label instructions and
warnings; recognize environmental conditions and avoid contamination; and recognize poisoning
symptoms and perform first-aid.
12. 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.
13. What types of laws are violated when the applicator uses
pesticides incon- sistent with the label directions? Examples Answer:
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
