Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator's study guide
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hprjtt
1. Define IPM: 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: 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: 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?: 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?: Texas Department of Agriculture
(TDA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
6. What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides?: The Federa
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
7. What is a state-limited-use pesticide?: 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?: 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?: 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.
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
, Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator's study guide
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hprjtt
regulations governing the use of the particular pesticide being used by the
individual?: The licensed applicator (may be private, commercial, or noncommercial).
11. What practical knowledge and skills should a private applicator have?: The
applicator should know how to: 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?: 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: 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?: Both federal and state law prohibits uses pesticides inconsistent with label directions. It is NEVER legal to use
more than the labeled rate of a pesticide. It is NEVER legal to allow the pesticide to drift off the target site.
14. What role do Texas counties have in regulating pesticides?: Sale and use of certain
herbicides are regulated in some countries where a permit must be obtained to use such products during certain times
of the year.
15. What is a spray permit?: A spray permit is a document issued by the TDA that must be issued before
application that authorizes a person to apply regulated herbicides in a regulated county.
16. When does a spray permit expire?: All permits expire when the acreage for which the permit was
granted has been sprayed, OR days after issuance, whichever occurs first.
17. List some applications that would require a spray permit and some that
would not require a spray permit and some that are prohibited from having
a spray permit.: Spraying with standard ground application equipment would require a permit. Applications
of regulated herbicides to lawns and by brush, mop, wick, basal treatment, or injection methods are exempt from
obtaining a permit. The use of any turbine or blower-type ground application equipment to apply regulated herbicides
is prohibited.
18. What Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are required to renew the private
applicator's license?: Private applicators are required to recertify every five years by obtaining fifteen contin-
uing education units (CEUs) including at least two credits in laws and regulations and two credits in integrated pest
management.
, Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator's study guide
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hprjtt
19. What late fees are added to the renewal fee if a private applicator does not
renew the license by February 28th?: The renewal fee is $100 due by february 28. After Feb 28 to
May 31 there is a $30 late fee. After a license is lost, the applicator must wait one year before they can train and retest.
TDA will NOT issue a new license until one full year elapses.
20. If an applicator fails to inform TDA of a change in mailing address, what can
happen to the license?: Failure to provide such information may be grounds for denial, suspension or
revocation of the license.
21. When can a person request prior notification?: Prior notification can be requested when
pesticides are being applied with air-blast, mist blowing or aerial equipment by people on adjoining property living
within 1/4 mile or by persons in charge of day-care centers, hospitals, or nursing homes, and schools within 1/4 mile
of the application.
22. Name an accepted method of giving prior notification of a scheduled appli-
cation to a neighbor who has requested prior notification.: The notification may be made
by raising an EPA WPS flag/sign in or about the field to which pesticides are scheduled to be applied.
23. How long are licensed pesticide applicators required to keep records? What
type of pesticides are required to be included in these records?: A person license or
certified as a private applicator must maintain records of each application of a restricted-use pesticide, state-limited0use
pesticide, or regulated herbicide. Records of pesticide use must be maintained for a period of two years.
24. Explain what is needed when the regulations require that the total volume
of spray mix, dust, granules, or other materials applied per unit be recorded.
Give an example of what is meant here.: Record the rate/area. Examples: 1 gallon per 1000 square
feet or 30 gallons per acre this would include water, pesticide, surfactant and any other additive put into the tank.
25. List locations that are covered by Worker Protection Standard WPS and
others that are exempt.: WPS applies to most agricultural production such as field crops (cotton, corn,
sorghum, etc. also turfgrass production for sod, and greenhouse plant production). Pastures and rangeland are exempt
from WPS.
26. Compare the terms "Agricultural Employer" and "Handler Employer" as used
in the WPS.: When reading the WPS Laws and Regs the term "Agricultural Employer" is used when they discuss
the employer of "workers" and the term "Handler Employer" is used when they discuss employees of the "handlers".
These two people may well be the same person so don't let the terminology confuse you.
27. What is an agricultural employer?: The person ultimately responsible for insuring worker compli-
ance with WPS restricted entry intervals before entering treated fields.
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hprjtt
1. Define IPM: 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: 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: 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?: 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?: Texas Department of Agriculture
(TDA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
6. What is the federal law that regulates the sale and use of pesticides?: The Federa
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
7. What is a state-limited-use pesticide?: 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?: 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?: 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.
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
, Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator's study guide
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hprjtt
regulations governing the use of the particular pesticide being used by the
individual?: The licensed applicator (may be private, commercial, or noncommercial).
11. What practical knowledge and skills should a private applicator have?: The
applicator should know how to: 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?: 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: 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?: Both federal and state law prohibits uses pesticides inconsistent with label directions. It is NEVER legal to use
more than the labeled rate of a pesticide. It is NEVER legal to allow the pesticide to drift off the target site.
14. What role do Texas counties have in regulating pesticides?: Sale and use of certain
herbicides are regulated in some countries where a permit must be obtained to use such products during certain times
of the year.
15. What is a spray permit?: A spray permit is a document issued by the TDA that must be issued before
application that authorizes a person to apply regulated herbicides in a regulated county.
16. When does a spray permit expire?: All permits expire when the acreage for which the permit was
granted has been sprayed, OR days after issuance, whichever occurs first.
17. List some applications that would require a spray permit and some that
would not require a spray permit and some that are prohibited from having
a spray permit.: Spraying with standard ground application equipment would require a permit. Applications
of regulated herbicides to lawns and by brush, mop, wick, basal treatment, or injection methods are exempt from
obtaining a permit. The use of any turbine or blower-type ground application equipment to apply regulated herbicides
is prohibited.
18. What Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are required to renew the private
applicator's license?: Private applicators are required to recertify every five years by obtaining fifteen contin-
uing education units (CEUs) including at least two credits in laws and regulations and two credits in integrated pest
management.
, Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator's study guide
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_hprjtt
19. What late fees are added to the renewal fee if a private applicator does not
renew the license by February 28th?: The renewal fee is $100 due by february 28. After Feb 28 to
May 31 there is a $30 late fee. After a license is lost, the applicator must wait one year before they can train and retest.
TDA will NOT issue a new license until one full year elapses.
20. If an applicator fails to inform TDA of a change in mailing address, what can
happen to the license?: Failure to provide such information may be grounds for denial, suspension or
revocation of the license.
21. When can a person request prior notification?: Prior notification can be requested when
pesticides are being applied with air-blast, mist blowing or aerial equipment by people on adjoining property living
within 1/4 mile or by persons in charge of day-care centers, hospitals, or nursing homes, and schools within 1/4 mile
of the application.
22. Name an accepted method of giving prior notification of a scheduled appli-
cation to a neighbor who has requested prior notification.: The notification may be made
by raising an EPA WPS flag/sign in or about the field to which pesticides are scheduled to be applied.
23. How long are licensed pesticide applicators required to keep records? What
type of pesticides are required to be included in these records?: A person license or
certified as a private applicator must maintain records of each application of a restricted-use pesticide, state-limited0use
pesticide, or regulated herbicide. Records of pesticide use must be maintained for a period of two years.
24. Explain what is needed when the regulations require that the total volume
of spray mix, dust, granules, or other materials applied per unit be recorded.
Give an example of what is meant here.: Record the rate/area. Examples: 1 gallon per 1000 square
feet or 30 gallons per acre this would include water, pesticide, surfactant and any other additive put into the tank.
25. List locations that are covered by Worker Protection Standard WPS and
others that are exempt.: WPS applies to most agricultural production such as field crops (cotton, corn,
sorghum, etc. also turfgrass production for sod, and greenhouse plant production). Pastures and rangeland are exempt
from WPS.
26. Compare the terms "Agricultural Employer" and "Handler Employer" as used
in the WPS.: When reading the WPS Laws and Regs the term "Agricultural Employer" is used when they discuss
the employer of "workers" and the term "Handler Employer" is used when they discuss employees of the "handlers".
These two people may well be the same person so don't let the terminology confuse you.
27. What is an agricultural employer?: The person ultimately responsible for insuring worker compli-
ance with WPS restricted entry intervals before entering treated fields.
