WISCONSIN PESTICIDE APPLICATOR TEST COMMERCIAL
CATEGORY
1. Which formulations applied as liquids do the following: form suspensionsor solutions
when diluted, require agitation in the spray tank after mixing, tendto clog nozzles, are abrasive or
may cause sprayer parts to deteriorate, and arelikely to cause phytotoxicity.: Emulsifiable
concentrates form milky suspensionsand require minimal agitation to keep the suspension
uniformly mixed. Water-solubleconcentrates and soluble powders are both true solutions in
water and are non abrasive. Dry Flowables form a suspension in water and require some
agitation in the spray tank, they are abrasive to sprayer components. Flowables or suspension
concentrates are not soluble in water and they form suspensions that require moderate
agitation, but they seldom clog spray nozzles. Granules are usually appliedas a solid and are
nearly always used to treat soil and release the active ingredientslowly.
2. What are the health concerns associated with different formulations?: -
Emulsifiers are easily absorbed through the skin and contain a very high concentration of
active ingredients. Soluble powders pose the greatest risk when they arebeing mixed and
loaded when you might be able to inhale the concentrate powder.
3. What are the functions of, and precautions regarding the use of adjuvants?: Adjuvants are
chemical additives that are meant to modify the product's physical properties and/or enhance
the pesticide performance. They serve several purposes such as: wetting agents and emulsifiers
which allow pesticides to mix withwater and or coat treatment surfaces more effectively;
spreaders allow pesticides tospread over the treated surface; stickers increase the adherence of
the pesticides to treated leaves; penetrants which aid in the absorption of a pesticide by the
plant.Adjuvants must not be used indiscriminately because misuse can lead to injury of a
desirable plant, compatibility problems, or reduced pest control.
4. What is the most prominent federal pesticide law and which agency over- sees it?: The
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and it isoverseen by the EPA.
5. What is involved in pesticide registration and re-registration and the prac-tical importance
of each?: A pesticide must be registered by the EPA before it can legally be sold or used in the
U.S. The EPA will register the use of a product when test data, submitted by the manufacturer,
show that the intended use of the product will not create unreasonable risks. Pesticides are re-
registered when they are an older product that has not gone through FIFRA to ensure they do
not pose an unreasonable risk.
6. Why are some products classified as restricted-use and who may purchaseand apply such
products?: If the EPA determines that the benefits of a pesticide'suse will outweigh the risks
ONLY when trained persons use the pesticide, it will classify the pesticide as Restricted-Use
Pesticide (RUP). Only a certified applicatormay mix, load, apply, or direct the use of RUPs.
7. What should you do when state and federal laws differ?: State laws canbe more strict than
a federal law, but cannot be more lenient. It is the applicatorsresponsibility to know when the
laws differ and to follow the more strict state standard.
8. What is the difference between a private applicator, a commercial applica-tor for hire and a
,commercial applicator not for hire?: Private applicators use ordirect the use of pesticides for
the purpose of producing an agricultural commodityand the applications occur on land owned
or rented by you or your employer. Commercial applicators for hire use or direct the use of
pesticides on a contract basis, meaning you get paid by a third party to perform your services.
Commercial applicators not for hire use or direct the use of pesticides only to sites that your or
your employer controls and do not contract out your pesticide applicationservices.
9. What are the conditions that must be met to register an employee as a temporary
commercial applicator trainee?: The trainee registration is only valid
for 30 days, a trainee may not use a restricted-use pesticide or direct the use of a pesticide,
applications of pesticide must be under direct supervision of a commercialapplicator who is
certified and licensed in the appropriate category, trainee must have a copy of the registration
on hand when using a pesticide.
10. What are the certification and licensing requirements for commercial appli-cators?: You
must be at least 16 years old, pass an exam demonstrating knowledgeof the proper, safe and legal
use of pesticides, and possess a license allowing them to legally apply pesticides in Wisconsin
and a certification card. Commercial applicators must also re-certify every 5 years.
11. What applications should you keep records for, and how long should youkeep these
records?: Records must be kept for any application for which both certification and licensing
are required, however it is a good idea to keep record
of all pesticide applications whether required by law or not. Records should be keptfor at least
2 years.
12. What is meant by prohibited pesticide, limited-use pesticide and a pesti- cide governed
by a special rule?: A prohibited pesticide is prohibited from beingused due to the
exceptionally hazardous nature of the pesticide.
Limited-use pesticides are to be used only for specifically defined uses.
Special rule pesticides pose a risk to the environment or to human health and are regulated by
special rules. These rules may specify maximum product rates and thetiming and frequency of
applications withing a growing season.
13. What are the regulations that pertain to pesticide use around waters of thestate?: You
cannot apply pesticides to a water of the state and if you want to applythe pesticides to the
water, you must first obtain a permit for the application from the DNR and meet the
certification and licensing requirements for commercial pestcontrol category, Aquatic and
Mosquito (5.0).
14. What is the difference between label and labeling?: The label is the informa-tion printed on
tor attached to the pesticide container or wrapper. Labeling refers toboth the actual label and to
all additional product information, such as brochures and handouts.
15. What determines whether a given plant is a weed?: A weed is any unwantedplant
16. What are the two main goals of weed management?: The primary goal is to minimize
weed competition and the other main goal is to limit the weed's reproduction in order to
, manage the weed population in years to come.
17. Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from woody plants: Grasses
are considered monocots, meaning they have a single seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves
with parallel veins and a fibrous root system. Broadleafplants have two seed leaves and are
therefore called dicots, they have broad leaveswith veins that form a net patterns. Broadleaf
plants can be further classified into herbaceous and woody, where the woody plants have a
thick layer of dense tissuecalled bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
18. Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennialplants: Annual
plants live for less than a year, they produce many seeds in one growing season, and then die.
Summer annuals winter as seeds, and winter annualswinter as a low-growing plant, both
summer and winter annuals are easiest to control when they are small. Biennial plants live for
two growing seasons, they germinate from seed in the spring or summer and winter as a
rosette of leaves. They flower in their second year, produce seeds and then die. Both annuals
and biennials reproduce only by seed. Perennial plants live for at least 2 years and sometimes
longer, they may reproduce by seed or vegetatively through several different mechanisms.
19. What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when is
it easiest to do so?: To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the whole shoot. Controlling
these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them plus stop seed production, which will
reduce future weed problems. The most effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the
underground vegetative structures by either repeatedlytilling the soil or by using a herbicide that
translocates to destroy all of the plant parts.
20. How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's life cycleand which
timing is most effective?: All weeds may start as seedlings and it is most effective to treat the
plants at this stage because less energy is required to killthe plants at this stage than at any
other. Biennials and Annuals are controlled by afall or early spring treatment, and perennials
are controlled best with a fall treatmentas well.
21. What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on ap- plication of soil
herbicides?: Soil organic matter and clay particles can adsorb soil-applied herbicides,
meaning more herbicide will be required in these types of soils because the herbicide will be
bound to the soil particles and will not be availableto be absorbed by the weeds.
CATEGORY
1. Which formulations applied as liquids do the following: form suspensionsor solutions
when diluted, require agitation in the spray tank after mixing, tendto clog nozzles, are abrasive or
may cause sprayer parts to deteriorate, and arelikely to cause phytotoxicity.: Emulsifiable
concentrates form milky suspensionsand require minimal agitation to keep the suspension
uniformly mixed. Water-solubleconcentrates and soluble powders are both true solutions in
water and are non abrasive. Dry Flowables form a suspension in water and require some
agitation in the spray tank, they are abrasive to sprayer components. Flowables or suspension
concentrates are not soluble in water and they form suspensions that require moderate
agitation, but they seldom clog spray nozzles. Granules are usually appliedas a solid and are
nearly always used to treat soil and release the active ingredientslowly.
2. What are the health concerns associated with different formulations?: -
Emulsifiers are easily absorbed through the skin and contain a very high concentration of
active ingredients. Soluble powders pose the greatest risk when they arebeing mixed and
loaded when you might be able to inhale the concentrate powder.
3. What are the functions of, and precautions regarding the use of adjuvants?: Adjuvants are
chemical additives that are meant to modify the product's physical properties and/or enhance
the pesticide performance. They serve several purposes such as: wetting agents and emulsifiers
which allow pesticides to mix withwater and or coat treatment surfaces more effectively;
spreaders allow pesticides tospread over the treated surface; stickers increase the adherence of
the pesticides to treated leaves; penetrants which aid in the absorption of a pesticide by the
plant.Adjuvants must not be used indiscriminately because misuse can lead to injury of a
desirable plant, compatibility problems, or reduced pest control.
4. What is the most prominent federal pesticide law and which agency over- sees it?: The
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and it isoverseen by the EPA.
5. What is involved in pesticide registration and re-registration and the prac-tical importance
of each?: A pesticide must be registered by the EPA before it can legally be sold or used in the
U.S. The EPA will register the use of a product when test data, submitted by the manufacturer,
show that the intended use of the product will not create unreasonable risks. Pesticides are re-
registered when they are an older product that has not gone through FIFRA to ensure they do
not pose an unreasonable risk.
6. Why are some products classified as restricted-use and who may purchaseand apply such
products?: If the EPA determines that the benefits of a pesticide'suse will outweigh the risks
ONLY when trained persons use the pesticide, it will classify the pesticide as Restricted-Use
Pesticide (RUP). Only a certified applicatormay mix, load, apply, or direct the use of RUPs.
7. What should you do when state and federal laws differ?: State laws canbe more strict than
a federal law, but cannot be more lenient. It is the applicatorsresponsibility to know when the
laws differ and to follow the more strict state standard.
8. What is the difference between a private applicator, a commercial applica-tor for hire and a
,commercial applicator not for hire?: Private applicators use ordirect the use of pesticides for
the purpose of producing an agricultural commodityand the applications occur on land owned
or rented by you or your employer. Commercial applicators for hire use or direct the use of
pesticides on a contract basis, meaning you get paid by a third party to perform your services.
Commercial applicators not for hire use or direct the use of pesticides only to sites that your or
your employer controls and do not contract out your pesticide applicationservices.
9. What are the conditions that must be met to register an employee as a temporary
commercial applicator trainee?: The trainee registration is only valid
for 30 days, a trainee may not use a restricted-use pesticide or direct the use of a pesticide,
applications of pesticide must be under direct supervision of a commercialapplicator who is
certified and licensed in the appropriate category, trainee must have a copy of the registration
on hand when using a pesticide.
10. What are the certification and licensing requirements for commercial appli-cators?: You
must be at least 16 years old, pass an exam demonstrating knowledgeof the proper, safe and legal
use of pesticides, and possess a license allowing them to legally apply pesticides in Wisconsin
and a certification card. Commercial applicators must also re-certify every 5 years.
11. What applications should you keep records for, and how long should youkeep these
records?: Records must be kept for any application for which both certification and licensing
are required, however it is a good idea to keep record
of all pesticide applications whether required by law or not. Records should be keptfor at least
2 years.
12. What is meant by prohibited pesticide, limited-use pesticide and a pesti- cide governed
by a special rule?: A prohibited pesticide is prohibited from beingused due to the
exceptionally hazardous nature of the pesticide.
Limited-use pesticides are to be used only for specifically defined uses.
Special rule pesticides pose a risk to the environment or to human health and are regulated by
special rules. These rules may specify maximum product rates and thetiming and frequency of
applications withing a growing season.
13. What are the regulations that pertain to pesticide use around waters of thestate?: You
cannot apply pesticides to a water of the state and if you want to applythe pesticides to the
water, you must first obtain a permit for the application from the DNR and meet the
certification and licensing requirements for commercial pestcontrol category, Aquatic and
Mosquito (5.0).
14. What is the difference between label and labeling?: The label is the informa-tion printed on
tor attached to the pesticide container or wrapper. Labeling refers toboth the actual label and to
all additional product information, such as brochures and handouts.
15. What determines whether a given plant is a weed?: A weed is any unwantedplant
16. What are the two main goals of weed management?: The primary goal is to minimize
weed competition and the other main goal is to limit the weed's reproduction in order to
, manage the weed population in years to come.
17. Distinguish grasses from broadleaf plants and herbaceous from woody plants: Grasses
are considered monocots, meaning they have a single seed leaf, they also have narrow leaves
with parallel veins and a fibrous root system. Broadleafplants have two seed leaves and are
therefore called dicots, they have broad leaveswith veins that form a net patterns. Broadleaf
plants can be further classified into herbaceous and woody, where the woody plants have a
thick layer of dense tissuecalled bark, which herbaceous plants lack.
18. Describe the life cycles and propagation of annual, biennial, and perennialplants: Annual
plants live for less than a year, they produce many seeds in one growing season, and then die.
Summer annuals winter as seeds, and winter annualswinter as a low-growing plant, both
summer and winter annuals are easiest to control when they are small. Biennial plants live for
two growing seasons, they germinate from seed in the spring or summer and winter as a
rosette of leaves. They flower in their second year, produce seeds and then die. Both annuals
and biennials reproduce only by seed. Perennial plants live for at least 2 years and sometimes
longer, they may reproduce by seed or vegetatively through several different mechanisms.
19. What is needed to kill annual, biennial, and perennial weeds and when is
it easiest to do so?: To kill annuals or biennials, you must kill the whole shoot. Controlling
these weeds with tillage or herbicides will kill them plus stop seed production, which will
reduce future weed problems. The most effective way to kill perennials is to destroy the
underground vegetative structures by either repeatedlytilling the soil or by using a herbicide that
translocates to destroy all of the plant parts.
20. How should you time herbicide application with respect to a plant's life cycleand which
timing is most effective?: All weeds may start as seedlings and it is most effective to treat the
plants at this stage because less energy is required to killthe plants at this stage than at any
other. Biennials and Annuals are controlled by afall or early spring treatment, and perennials
are controlled best with a fall treatmentas well.
21. What are the effects of soil texture and organic matter content on ap- plication of soil
herbicides?: Soil organic matter and clay particles can adsorb soil-applied herbicides,
meaning more herbicide will be required in these types of soils because the herbicide will be
bound to the soil particles and will not be availableto be absorbed by the weeds.
