Pesticide Safety and Education
The University of Idaho Pesticide Safety Education Program provides resources for students studying for a statewide pesticide exam and for applicators recertifying their Idaho pesticide license.
Pesticide training manuals
"Private applicator" means a person who: (a) uses or supervises the use of restricted-use pesticides to produce agricultural commodities or forest crops on land owned or rented by him or his employer; or (b) applies restricted-use pesticides on the property of another without compensation other than the trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities; or (c) applies chemicals through irrigation systems on land owned or rented by him or his employer.
Required for all private applicators
- Private Applicator (RU) — Idaho Pesticide Applicator Core Manual, TXT8
Optional categories
- Aerial Application (AA) — National Aerial Applicator’s Manual (pdf) (required for aerial application methods)
- Area Fumigation (AF) — National Non-Soil Fumigation Manual (required for performing area fumigation)
- Chemigation (CH) — Chemigation Educational Materials (pdf) (required for applying fertilizers or pesticides through irrigation systems/chemigation)
- Soil Fumigation (SF) — National Soil Fumigation Manual (pdf, 15mb) (required for applying soil fumigants)
"Professional applicator" means a person who: (a) applies pesticides upon the land or property of another for compensation, or applies chemicals through irrigation systems upon the land or property of another for compensation; or (b) uses or supervises the use of restricted-use pesticides and is not a private applicator; or (c) offers or supplies technical advice or recommendations regarding the use of agricultural pesticides.
Required for all professional applicator licenses
- Core Competency (CO) — Idaho Pesticide Applicator Core Manual, TXT8 (purchase print or PDF)
Professional applicator optional categories and manuals
- Agricultural Herbicide (AH) — Agricultural Weed Management Principles (EM043) purchase from Washington State University
- Agricultural Insecticide/Fungicide (AI) — Introduction to Insect & Disease Management (EM051) purchase from Washington State University
- Aerial Application (AA)** — National Aerial Applicator’s Manual (free pdf)
- Area Fumigation (AF)** — National Non-Soil Fumigation Manual (purchase from NPSEC)
- Aquatic Pest Management (AP) — Aquatic Pest Control (EM039) purchase from Washington State University
- Sewer Line Root Control (order from ISDA)
- Commercial Apprentice (CA) — Idaho Pesticide Applicator Core Manual, TXT8 (purchase print or PDF)
- Chemigation (CH)** — Chemigation Educational Materials (free pdf)
- Commodity Pest Control (CP) — Stored Grain Pest Control (EM001) purchase from Washington State University
- Forest Environment (FE) — For information on study materials, contact Elizabeth Palmateer at ISDA (208-332-8595 or elizabeth.palmateer@isda.idaho.gov)
- General Pest Control (GP) — Study Manual for Pest Management Professionals (EM019) purchase from Washington State University
- General Vertebrate Control (GV) — Animal Damage Control
- Livestock Pest Control (LP) — Livestock Pests Study Guide free pdf from Washington State University
- Ornamental Herbicide (OH) — Turf & Ornamental Weed Management Principles (EM035) Washington State University
- Ornamental Insecticide/Fungicide (OI) — Introduction to Insect & Disease Management (EM051) purchase from Washington State University
- Potato Cellar (PC) — Study Manual for Postharvest Treatment of Potatoes (free pdf) from Washington State University
- Public Health Pest Control (PH) — Public Health Pest Control (EM034) purchase from Washington State University
- Rodent Control (RC) — Meadow Voles and Pocket Gophers: Management in Lawns, Gardens and Cropland, PNW627
- Right of Way Weed Management (RW) — Oregon Agricultural Herbicide Study Manual (free pdf)
- Supplementary material — 30 Common Agricultural Weeds in Idaho (pdf)
- Seed Treatment (ST) — National Seed Treatment Manual (purchase from NPSEC)
- Soil Fumigation (SF)** — National Soil Fumigation Manual (pdf, 15mb)
- Statewide Consultant (SW) — Agricultural Weed Management Principles (EM043) purchase from Washington State University
- 30 Common Agricultural Weeds in Idaho (pdf)
- Oregon Agricultural Herbicide Study Manual (free pdf)
- General Vertebrate Manual (Washington State University)
- Animal Damage Control Manual
- Structural Pest Control (SP) — Study Manual for Pest Management Professionals (EM019) purchase from Washington State University
- Wood Preservation (WP) — Wood Preservation and Wood Products Treatment Training (free pdf) from Oregon State University
Exam preparation modules
Access interactive lessons while studying a variety of pesticide safety topics. Find these on the Extension Foundation national course site with a free account.
Extension Foundation Account “Set up your free account with the Extension Foundation”
- Go to https://campus.extension.org/login/index.php
- Setup a verified free account with a username and password.
- Login with your personal credentials.
Idaho Pesticide Applicator Pre-License Training ($35 fee) https://campus.extension.org/course/view.php?id=1589
- Law & Regulations: This module specifically covers Idaho Pesticide Laws and Regulations. It is important to learn these before taking the exam.
- Pesticide Labels: This module reviews what is on a pesticide label and the various sections. Because reading and understanding pesticide labels is a critical task for pesticide applicators, it is very important that you understand how to read and interpret a pesticide label.
- Pesticide Safety & PPE: This module covers the potential hazards of handling and applying pesticides. It covers where to find important safety information on the pesticide label and the different types of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Pesticide Formulations: This module explains the different types of pesticide formulations and the various advantages and disadvantages for each formulation type. It also covers the different types of adjuvants, which are regulated as pesticides, in Idaho.
- Environmental Fate of Pesticides: This module describes how pesticides behave in the environment, such as soil, water, air. The module follows the chapter in the Idaho Pesticide Applicator Manual.
- Pest Management: This module covers Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and basic pest management information. The information contained in this module is important for understanding when to apply pesticides.
- Transportation, Storage & Spills: This module covers how to properly store and transport pesticides. It also discusses how to clean up accidental spills, and state of Idaho pesticide recordkeeping rules.
- Making Pesticide Applications: This module covers how to plan and set up pesticide applications including tank mixing, pesticide incompatibility, application methods, how to calibrate for an application.
Access interactive lessons while studying a variety of pesticide safety topics. Find these on the Extension Foundation national course site with a free account.
Extension Foundation Account “Set up your free account with the Extension Foundation”
- Go to https://campus.extension.org/login/index.php
- Setup a verified free account with a username and password.
- Login with your personal credentials.
Pesticide Math (free course) https://campus.extension.org/course/view.php?id=1588
Calculate Pesticides Series includes real-world pesticide calculations in the following courses:
- General Math: review basic math concepts needed for calculating pesticides.
- Using Sprayers: develop math skills for calibrating yourself to application equipment.
- Application Rates: identify the math formulas necessary to calculate pesticide application rates
Access interactive lessons while studying a variety of pesticide safety topics. Find these on the Extension Foundation national course site with a free account.
Extension Foundation Account “Set up your free account with the Extension Foundation”
- Go to https://campus.extension.org/login/index.php
- Setup a verified free account with a username and password.
- Login with your personal credentials.
Idaho Chemigation (free course) https://campus.extension.org/enrol/index.php?id=1847; course covers what you will need to know for the ISDA chemigation exam.
Access interactive lessons while studying a variety of pesticide safety topics. Find these on the Extension Foundation national course site with a free account.
Worker Protection: The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is aimed at reducing the risk of pesticide poisoning and injury among agricultural workers and pesticide handlers.”
- EPA-approved training materials for the new WPS have expanded content and are available at the Pesticide Education Resources Collaborative (PERC). https://pesticideresources.org/
- For local WPS information, visit the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. https://agri.idaho.gov/main/worker-protection-program/
Resources
- Join our mailing list and receive notification of our upcoming programming. You can opt out at any time.
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- National Pesticide Information Center has information on pesticides, toxicity and safety.
- Pesticide Application Recordkeeping (PAR): OnePlan pest management planner is a free web application to track pest management practices and record keeping.
- Using the PAR Tool, CIS 1211
- Reading and Understanding Pesticide Labels, BUL908
- Pesticide Environmental Stewardship provides convenient access to information on proper pesticide handling.
- PNW Pest Alert Network provides recommendations for insecticide applications and their timing for various pests.
- You can enroll in the Idaho Master Gardener's Pesticide Safety Education course.
- Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides has useful information to help homeowners and gardeners manage pests without the use of pesticides.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a website with pesticide information for homeowners and consumers.
- Homestead Assessment System (pdf, 21mb)
- UI Extension Publications — Pests & Pesticides
The University of Idaho Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program educates applicators on making safe and judicious pesticide applications.
Pre-License Trainings
Pre-License trainings prepare students for regulated statewide pesticide exams.
Enroll today for 2024 PreLicense Training for Professional Pesticide Applicators.
Training for these professional pesticide-license categories: Core (CO), Ornamental Herbicide (OH), Ornamental Insecticide and Fungicide (OI) and General Pest Control (GP).
- Held at 2024 Idaho Horticulture Expo (Boise Centre, 850 W Front St., Boise 83702)
- Jan. 18-19, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (one-hour break for lunch on your own).
- Enrollment is $75 per participant
Completed registrations receive a generated receipt to the email address(es) confirming your registration and contains the accessing information on supplemental educational materials.
Pesticide Recertification Webinars
Recertification webinars offer applicators certification credit hours through the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA).
Enroll today for the University of Idaho (UI) Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program for the 2023 Fall Recertification Webinar Series via Zoom Video Conferencing (no camera/no account required).
Attend for $10 per applicator/per webinar.
Completed webinars receive one-pesticide credit from ISDA*.
To enroll:
- Register with your Idaho pesticide license number and email address.
- Download or update Zoom prior to the webinar (instructions found on the receipt).
Note: Registration will close at noon (MT) on the day of webinar. Webinar times are 2-3 p.m. (MT)
- Nov. 14 — Ronda Hirnyck: Changes to pesticide regulations; What the applicator needs to know!
- Nov. 21 — Doug Finkelnburg: Avoiding herbicide residual issues in cropping systems
- Nov. 28 — Albert Adjesiwor, Ph.D.: Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp, the Troublesome Pigweeds: Identification, early detection and rapid response
- Dec. 5 — Ariel Agenbroad: Assessing beneficial insect habitat on your farm or property
- Dec. 12 — Tom Jacobsen: Minimizing pesticide resistance
- Dec. 19 — Brad Stokes: Overview of invasive organisms in Idaho and their treatment options
*For pesticide credit: Pesticide applicators must answer questions within the webinar session. This requires individual computer and internet access for each user. Answers will be collected to confirm attendance was maintained for the entire webinar. The Zoom platform does not recognize multiple users connected with the same email address. Be sure to utilize different identifying information.
Want to attend in a group setting, contact Kimberly Tate, UI Extension Pest Management Instructor at ktate@uidaho.edu before the day of the webinar.
Pesticide Labels
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) registers all pesticide for use and distribution in the state of Idaho.
ISDA registers pesticides for special circumstances including special Local Needs (SLN or Section 24(c) registrations) and Emergency exemptions from FIFRA (Section 18 registrations). Learn more about SLN registered products. For more on emergency exemptions from FIFRA (Section 18 registrations) email ISDA.
National Regulation — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates pesticides and includes information on pesticide science and policy.