Barnes County private pesticide applicator training, Feb. 23
The NDSU Barnes County Extension Office will be holding private pesticide applicator trainings on Thursday, February 23, for general pesticide training and then again on Wednesday, March 15 for fumigation training. Registration for the general classes will be held at 8:30 a.m. with training from 9 a.m.-noon. First time certifier testing will be offered after the February 23 training; however, it will not be available after the March 15 training. Registration for the fumigation class will start at 12:45 p.m. with training being held from 1-4 p.m. Deadlines to register for the trainings are February 21 for the first training and March 13 for the second. Each training is capped at around 40 people so make sure preregistration.
The Times-Record spoke with Alicia Harstad, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for the NDSU Barnes County Extension and she gave some insight into the trainings and the certification. “A private pesticide applicator must be 18 years old in order to hold a certification, otherwise, there really isn’t any other requirements. A person can attend this training to re-certify their current private pesticide applicator certification or if they are becoming certified for the first time, attending the training means they are only required to pass a 30-question exam rather than a 60-question exam. Those that are recertifying do not need to take an exam if they attend the training. Private Pesticide Applicator Certification is required for anyone who plans to buy or apply a restricted use pesticide for their own use. During the training we provide pesticide applicator updates, review rules and regulations for pesticide applicators and provide pesticide safety information to help keep pesticide applicators up to date. It is a good informational training for anyone who plans to apply, mix, load, or transport pesticides,” said Harstad.
Trainings will be held at the Valley City Eagles Club located at 345 12th Ave NE in Valley City. There is a $30 fee for the private general certification and an additional $30 charge for the fumigation. If your certification is expiring in 2023, you will receive a letter notification from the NDSU extension office. Registration is required to participate in the training. To register you can go online to http://tinyurl.com/ barnes-private or contact the extension office at 701-845-8528 or Alicia. harstad@ndsu.edu. If an applicator isn’t able to attend a Barnes County private pesticide training, they are welcome to re-certify through any private pesticide applicator training held in the state. They should contact the local extension office for registration information. Another option is to retake the 60-question exam at any time prior to buying or applying a restricted use pesticide which can be done at the extension office as well.