Pesticide Safety and Education

"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
  • 30 Common Agricultural Weeds in Idaho (pdf)
  • Oregon Agricultural Herbicide Study Manual (free pdf)
• 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

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/

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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