Idaho Pesticide Applicator Exam Readiness Pack
2025 | Correct and Verified Test Materials
FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) - Regulates production,
transport, sale, use, and disposal of pesticides
FIFRA Section 3 - Full federal registration
FIFRA section 24c - Special local need (application site or alternate control technique not
on label)
FIFRA Section 18 - Emergency exemption (pest with no current control)
the federal worker protection standard - Reduce risk of employee exposure to pesticides
Clean Water Act - (CWA, 1972) set maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants
that can be discharged into waterways; aims to make surface waters swimmable and fishable
Pesticide Hazard - Risk = toxicity x exposure
Phytotoxicity - Injury or damage to a sensitive plant caused by a chemical exposure
Adjuvant - Product added to spray tank to assist pesticide in application
Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) - A pesticide formulation produced by mixing an active
ingredient and an emulsifying agent in a suitable petroleum solvent. When combined with
water, a milky emulsion is usually formed. Easy to handle and easy on equipment.
Flowables (F or AF) - Insoluble solid active ingredients ground and mixed with liquid.
Forms a suspension (slurry) when ready to use. Requires agitation and leaves residue.
Solutions (S) - AI dissolved in liquid carrier. Does not settle when mixed with water.
Ready-to-Use (RTU) low concentrate solutions - Do not require further dilution before
application. Consist of small amount of active ingredient (often 1% or less per unit volume).
Expensive.
Ultra Low Volume (ULV) - Have almost 100% active ingredient, used as is, or diluted only
a little bit. Applied as very fine droplets (high drift potential). Requires specialized equipment.
Aerosols (A) - Fine liquid droplets with small amounts of AI. Some are ready to use (bug
spray). High drift and inhalation potential.
, Dry Formulations - Dry material suspended in water. High percentage of AI measured by
weight. Require constant agitation.
Dusts and Granules - Ready to use, reach hard to get places. Very little AI.
Baits - An active ingredient mixes with an edible substance or some other attractant. Low
AI percentage (less than 5%).
Granules and Pellets - Dry, ready-to-use materials usually containing from 2-15% active
ingredient. Most granules are prepared by applying the active ingredient as a liquid to a coarse,
porous, solid. Granular formulations are applied to the soil where the active ingredient can then
be absorbed by the roots and trans-located through the plant. Relatively low AI.
Microencapsulation - Liquid or dry pesticide coated in latex. Breaks down with water.
High hazard to bees.
Fumigants - Small molecules which are delivered as a gas to penetrate soil or other
materials. Must be used in closed spaces and soils. Most hazardous of all formulations.
Recharge - Water that seeps through soil
Water Table - The upper level of the saturated zone of groundwater
Leaching - Movement of pesticide by water through soil.
Runoff - Movement of pesticide in water over soil into surface water.
Adsorption - Binding of pesticide to soil particles. More common in fine soils (clay) and
oil-soluble pesticides.
Volatility - Conversion from a liquid to a gas. Causes pesticides to move off target.
Temperature inversions - Atmospheric condition in which warm air traps cooler air near
the earth's surface. Usually form at dusk and night. Keeps herbicide droplets concentrated.
Hydrolysis - The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.
Early pesticides - Derived from plants (nicotine and pyrethrum) and inorganic compounds
(Mercury, arsenic, sulfur)
Bordeaux mixture - Mixture of CuSO4 (copper sulfate) and lime used to prevent downy
mildew on grapes
Mechanical control - Insect pest control which uses a purpose-built mechanical device or
hands. Include fences, nets, screens, and hand destruction.
2025 | Correct and Verified Test Materials
FIFRA (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act) - Regulates production,
transport, sale, use, and disposal of pesticides
FIFRA Section 3 - Full federal registration
FIFRA section 24c - Special local need (application site or alternate control technique not
on label)
FIFRA Section 18 - Emergency exemption (pest with no current control)
the federal worker protection standard - Reduce risk of employee exposure to pesticides
Clean Water Act - (CWA, 1972) set maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants
that can be discharged into waterways; aims to make surface waters swimmable and fishable
Pesticide Hazard - Risk = toxicity x exposure
Phytotoxicity - Injury or damage to a sensitive plant caused by a chemical exposure
Adjuvant - Product added to spray tank to assist pesticide in application
Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) - A pesticide formulation produced by mixing an active
ingredient and an emulsifying agent in a suitable petroleum solvent. When combined with
water, a milky emulsion is usually formed. Easy to handle and easy on equipment.
Flowables (F or AF) - Insoluble solid active ingredients ground and mixed with liquid.
Forms a suspension (slurry) when ready to use. Requires agitation and leaves residue.
Solutions (S) - AI dissolved in liquid carrier. Does not settle when mixed with water.
Ready-to-Use (RTU) low concentrate solutions - Do not require further dilution before
application. Consist of small amount of active ingredient (often 1% or less per unit volume).
Expensive.
Ultra Low Volume (ULV) - Have almost 100% active ingredient, used as is, or diluted only
a little bit. Applied as very fine droplets (high drift potential). Requires specialized equipment.
Aerosols (A) - Fine liquid droplets with small amounts of AI. Some are ready to use (bug
spray). High drift and inhalation potential.
, Dry Formulations - Dry material suspended in water. High percentage of AI measured by
weight. Require constant agitation.
Dusts and Granules - Ready to use, reach hard to get places. Very little AI.
Baits - An active ingredient mixes with an edible substance or some other attractant. Low
AI percentage (less than 5%).
Granules and Pellets - Dry, ready-to-use materials usually containing from 2-15% active
ingredient. Most granules are prepared by applying the active ingredient as a liquid to a coarse,
porous, solid. Granular formulations are applied to the soil where the active ingredient can then
be absorbed by the roots and trans-located through the plant. Relatively low AI.
Microencapsulation - Liquid or dry pesticide coated in latex. Breaks down with water.
High hazard to bees.
Fumigants - Small molecules which are delivered as a gas to penetrate soil or other
materials. Must be used in closed spaces and soils. Most hazardous of all formulations.
Recharge - Water that seeps through soil
Water Table - The upper level of the saturated zone of groundwater
Leaching - Movement of pesticide by water through soil.
Runoff - Movement of pesticide in water over soil into surface water.
Adsorption - Binding of pesticide to soil particles. More common in fine soils (clay) and
oil-soluble pesticides.
Volatility - Conversion from a liquid to a gas. Causes pesticides to move off target.
Temperature inversions - Atmospheric condition in which warm air traps cooler air near
the earth's surface. Usually form at dusk and night. Keeps herbicide droplets concentrated.
Hydrolysis - The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.
Early pesticides - Derived from plants (nicotine and pyrethrum) and inorganic compounds
(Mercury, arsenic, sulfur)
Bordeaux mixture - Mixture of CuSO4 (copper sulfate) and lime used to prevent downy
mildew on grapes
Mechanical control - Insect pest control which uses a purpose-built mechanical device or
hands. Include fences, nets, screens, and hand destruction.
