Pesticide applicator license required for dicamba training
By Keri Collins Lewis
MSU Extension Service
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- An additional training and certification requirement from the Environmental Protection Agency is now in place for individuals who plan to purchase and apply auxin-based chemicals, such as dicamba, or those who work as applicators for producers who have purchased these products.
Agricultural professionals must secure a commercial or private pesticide applicator certification and take the dicamba training required for use of this special class of pesticides.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service will offer an increased number of training opportunities around the state to help Mississippians comply with this new requirement.
Darrin Dodds, Extension cotton specialist, said the purpose of the requirement is to increase the safe and effective use of these herbicides that are being used more commonly each year since their introduction.
“These herbicides have seen increased usage over the past two growing seasons, but this has not come without setbacks, including off-target movement onto susceptible plant species,” Dodds said. “The goal of these training programs is to educate those who purchase and apply these products about proper application procedures and reduce the number of off-target damage complaints. Education is critical to ensuring these products remain within the bounds of where they are applied.”
The online mandatory training modules are being revised to reflect new federal EPA guidelines. The modules will be available at http://www.auxintraining.com as soon as they are complete.
Face-to-face training workshops are being planned for additional opportunities to access the online auxin training information.
For dates and locations for the pesticide applicator training, go to http://extension.msstate.edu/calendar, or contact your local Extension office.
This is a joint effort of Extension, the Mississippi Bureau of Plant Industry, and Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
Released: Jan. 10, 2019
Dr. Darrin Dodds, 662-325-4072
Michael Ledlow, 662-325-3390
By Keri Collins Lewis
MSU Extension Service
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- An additional training and certification requirement from the Environmental Protection Agency is now in place for individuals who plan to purchase and apply auxin-based chemicals, such as dicamba, or those who work as applicators for producers who have purchased these products.
Agricultural professionals must secure a commercial or private pesticide applicator certification and take the dicamba training required for use of this special class of pesticides.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service will offer an increased number of training opportunities around the state to help Mississippians comply with this new requirement.
Darrin Dodds, Extension cotton specialist, said the purpose of the requirement is to increase the safe and effective use of these herbicides that are being used more commonly each year since their introduction.
“These herbicides have seen increased usage over the past two growing seasons, but this has not come without setbacks, including off-target movement onto susceptible plant species,” Dodds said. “The goal of these training programs is to educate those who purchase and apply these products about proper application procedures and reduce the number of off-target damage complaints. Education is critical to ensuring these products remain within the bounds of where they are applied.”
The online mandatory training modules are being revised to reflect new federal EPA guidelines. The modules will be available at http://www.auxintraining.com as soon as they are complete.
Face-to-face training workshops are being planned for additional opportunities to access the online auxin training information.
For dates and locations for the pesticide applicator training, go to http://extension.msstate.edu/calendar, or contact your local Extension office.
This is a joint effort of Extension, the Mississippi Bureau of Plant Industry, and Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
Released: Jan. 10, 2019
Dr. Darrin Dodds, 662-325-4072
Michael Ledlow, 662-325-3390