NEW HAMPSHIRE COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
CATEGORY A3 EXAM — AGRICULTURAL PEST CONTROL,
FIELD CROPS QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS .PDF
New Hampshire Commercial Pesticide Applicator Category A3
Agricultural Pest Control — Field Crops
200-Question Practice Examination with Correct Answers and Rationales
Important: Always follow the current pesticide product label and current New Hampshire
requirements. Product-specific rates, crops, pests, application restrictions, PHIs, REIs, and PPE
requirements must be taken from the applicable label rather than memorized from this practice
exam. New Hampshire identifies A3 as Agricultural Pest Control—Field Crops and specifically
includes pesticides, including soil fumigants, used to control pests associated with crops such as
corn, potatoes, beans, and other field crops.
Table of Contents
Section Topic Questions
1 Crop Production, Pest Identification & Field-Crop Pest Management Q1–Q40
2 Pesticide Properties, Formulations, Labels, Toxicology & Residues Q41–Q80
3 Mixing, Loading, Application Equipment & Calibration Q81–Q120
Q121–
4 IPM, Resistance Management, Environmental Protection & Phytotoxicity
Q160
New Hampshire Requirements, Worker Protection, Safety, Storage, Q161–
5
Disposal & Records Q200
SECTION 1 — Crop Production, Pest Identification & Field-Crop Pest Management
Questions 1–40
Q1
Which crop is specifically included within the scope of New Hampshire A3 field-crop pest
control?
A. Apples
B. Potatoes
,C. Christmas trees
D. Greenhouse ornamentals
Correct answer: B. Potatoes
Rationale: Potatoes are specifically identified as an example of a field crop covered by A3.
Apples and Christmas trees fall under other pest-control categories.
Q2
Which pest characteristic is most useful when determining whether a pesticide treatment is
justified?
A. Pest population relative to the economic threshold
B. Color of the farm equipment
C. Age of the applicator
D. Brand of fertilizer being used
Correct answer: A. Pest population relative to the economic threshold
Rationale: Treatment decisions should consider whether pest populations are likely to cause
economically important damage. The other factors do not establish the need for pest control.
Q3
What is an economic threshold?
A. The maximum pesticide price a farmer will pay
B. The pest population at which control should begin to prevent economic injury
C. The amount of fertilizer needed per acre
D. The highest legal pesticide application rate
Correct answer: B. The pest population at which control should begin to prevent economic
injury
Rationale: An economic threshold is used to determine when management action should begin.
It is designed to prevent pest populations from reaching an economically damaging level.
Q4
Which observation provides the strongest evidence that a field-crop pest is present?
,A. A pesticide container is stored nearby
B. Characteristic feeding injury and the pest itself are observed
C. The crop is growing slowly
D. Rain occurred the previous week
Correct answer: B. Characteristic feeding injury and the pest itself are observed
Rationale: Positive identification is strengthened when both the pest and characteristic
symptoms or damage are observed. Slow growth or recent rainfall can have many causes.
Q5
Why is correct pest identification important before pesticide application?
A. It determines which pesticide and control strategy may be appropriate
B. It eliminates the need to read the label
C. It guarantees complete pest elimination
D. It determines the pesticide's purchase price
Correct answer: A. It determines which pesticide and control strategy may be appropriate
Rationale: Different pests may require different products, rates, timing, or nonchemical controls.
Misidentification can result in ineffective treatment or unnecessary pesticide use.
Q6
Which organism is generally classified as a weed?
A. An unwanted plant growing where it interferes with crop production
B. A beneficial insect
C. A plant pathogen
D. A vertebrate pest
Correct answer: A. An unwanted plant growing where it interferes with crop production
Rationale: Weeds are plants growing where they are undesirable or interfere with intended
production. Insects, pathogens, and vertebrates are different pest groups.
Q7
Which pest group includes fungi and bacteria?
, A. Arthropods
B. Vertebrates
C. Plant pathogens
D. Weeds
Correct answer: C. Plant pathogens
Rationale: Fungi and bacteria can cause plant diseases and are therefore plant pathogens.
Arthropods include insects and mites.
Q8
What is scouting?
A. Applying pesticide to every acre on a fixed schedule
B. Systematically examining crops and fields for pests and damage
C. Cleaning pesticide containers
D. Calibrating fertilizer spreaders only
Correct answer: B. Systematically examining crops and fields for pests and damage
Rationale: Scouting provides information about pest presence, abundance, crop condition, and
treatment need. Routine pesticide use without scouting can result in unnecessary applications.
Q9
Why should pest populations be monitored after treatment?
A. To determine whether the management action was effective
B. To increase the pesticide rate automatically
C. To eliminate the need for records
D. To determine the crop's market price
Correct answer: A. To determine whether the management action was effective
Rationale: Post-treatment monitoring allows the applicator to evaluate control and determine
whether additional action is justified. A second application should not automatically follow the
first.
Q10
Which factor can strongly influence insect development?
CATEGORY A3 EXAM — AGRICULTURAL PEST CONTROL,
FIELD CROPS QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS .PDF
New Hampshire Commercial Pesticide Applicator Category A3
Agricultural Pest Control — Field Crops
200-Question Practice Examination with Correct Answers and Rationales
Important: Always follow the current pesticide product label and current New Hampshire
requirements. Product-specific rates, crops, pests, application restrictions, PHIs, REIs, and PPE
requirements must be taken from the applicable label rather than memorized from this practice
exam. New Hampshire identifies A3 as Agricultural Pest Control—Field Crops and specifically
includes pesticides, including soil fumigants, used to control pests associated with crops such as
corn, potatoes, beans, and other field crops.
Table of Contents
Section Topic Questions
1 Crop Production, Pest Identification & Field-Crop Pest Management Q1–Q40
2 Pesticide Properties, Formulations, Labels, Toxicology & Residues Q41–Q80
3 Mixing, Loading, Application Equipment & Calibration Q81–Q120
Q121–
4 IPM, Resistance Management, Environmental Protection & Phytotoxicity
Q160
New Hampshire Requirements, Worker Protection, Safety, Storage, Q161–
5
Disposal & Records Q200
SECTION 1 — Crop Production, Pest Identification & Field-Crop Pest Management
Questions 1–40
Q1
Which crop is specifically included within the scope of New Hampshire A3 field-crop pest
control?
A. Apples
B. Potatoes
,C. Christmas trees
D. Greenhouse ornamentals
Correct answer: B. Potatoes
Rationale: Potatoes are specifically identified as an example of a field crop covered by A3.
Apples and Christmas trees fall under other pest-control categories.
Q2
Which pest characteristic is most useful when determining whether a pesticide treatment is
justified?
A. Pest population relative to the economic threshold
B. Color of the farm equipment
C. Age of the applicator
D. Brand of fertilizer being used
Correct answer: A. Pest population relative to the economic threshold
Rationale: Treatment decisions should consider whether pest populations are likely to cause
economically important damage. The other factors do not establish the need for pest control.
Q3
What is an economic threshold?
A. The maximum pesticide price a farmer will pay
B. The pest population at which control should begin to prevent economic injury
C. The amount of fertilizer needed per acre
D. The highest legal pesticide application rate
Correct answer: B. The pest population at which control should begin to prevent economic
injury
Rationale: An economic threshold is used to determine when management action should begin.
It is designed to prevent pest populations from reaching an economically damaging level.
Q4
Which observation provides the strongest evidence that a field-crop pest is present?
,A. A pesticide container is stored nearby
B. Characteristic feeding injury and the pest itself are observed
C. The crop is growing slowly
D. Rain occurred the previous week
Correct answer: B. Characteristic feeding injury and the pest itself are observed
Rationale: Positive identification is strengthened when both the pest and characteristic
symptoms or damage are observed. Slow growth or recent rainfall can have many causes.
Q5
Why is correct pest identification important before pesticide application?
A. It determines which pesticide and control strategy may be appropriate
B. It eliminates the need to read the label
C. It guarantees complete pest elimination
D. It determines the pesticide's purchase price
Correct answer: A. It determines which pesticide and control strategy may be appropriate
Rationale: Different pests may require different products, rates, timing, or nonchemical controls.
Misidentification can result in ineffective treatment or unnecessary pesticide use.
Q6
Which organism is generally classified as a weed?
A. An unwanted plant growing where it interferes with crop production
B. A beneficial insect
C. A plant pathogen
D. A vertebrate pest
Correct answer: A. An unwanted plant growing where it interferes with crop production
Rationale: Weeds are plants growing where they are undesirable or interfere with intended
production. Insects, pathogens, and vertebrates are different pest groups.
Q7
Which pest group includes fungi and bacteria?
, A. Arthropods
B. Vertebrates
C. Plant pathogens
D. Weeds
Correct answer: C. Plant pathogens
Rationale: Fungi and bacteria can cause plant diseases and are therefore plant pathogens.
Arthropods include insects and mites.
Q8
What is scouting?
A. Applying pesticide to every acre on a fixed schedule
B. Systematically examining crops and fields for pests and damage
C. Cleaning pesticide containers
D. Calibrating fertilizer spreaders only
Correct answer: B. Systematically examining crops and fields for pests and damage
Rationale: Scouting provides information about pest presence, abundance, crop condition, and
treatment need. Routine pesticide use without scouting can result in unnecessary applications.
Q9
Why should pest populations be monitored after treatment?
A. To determine whether the management action was effective
B. To increase the pesticide rate automatically
C. To eliminate the need for records
D. To determine the crop's market price
Correct answer: A. To determine whether the management action was effective
Rationale: Post-treatment monitoring allows the applicator to evaluate control and determine
whether additional action is justified. A second application should not automatically follow the
first.
Q10
Which factor can strongly influence insect development?
