Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Fred Hall, 940-716-8610, fmhall@ag.tamu.edu
WICHITA FALLS – Two days of training and testing for Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator licenses, whether commercial, non-commercial or private, will be offered Nov. 27-28, said Fred Hall, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Wichita County.
The commercial and non-commercial applicator training will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 27 in the county’s AgriLife Extension office, 600 Scott in Wichita Falls. The office is located on the second floor of the County Courthouse Annex.
The training will focus on four tests offered by the Texas Department of Agriculture: laws and regulations and the general test, plus either the ornamental and turf test or the right-of-way pest control test, Hall said. The program includes the study guides for each test, lunch and the training for $125.
Persons seeking a private pesticide applicator’s license can attend a training beginning at 8 a.m. Nov. 28, with testing immediately following, he said. Cost for the training and study materials is $50.
The deadline to enroll for both training sessions, which are offered by the Wichita County Extension Horticulture Committee, is noon Nov. 21. To register or for more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office for Wichita County at 940-716-8610.
Wayne Becker, AgriLife Extension agent from Cooke County, will teach the ornamental and turf category, while Hall will cover the right-of-way information. Each instructor will have handouts that will help highlight the important elements of the material.
Testing for all classes of Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator licenses – private, commercial and non-commercial – will begin at 9 a.m. Nov. 28, also at the AgriLife Extension office, Hall said. Testing preregistration is required through the Texas Department of Agriculture at 214-631-0265.
Hall said applicants for commercial and non-commercial licenses must successfully complete three exams – general, laws and regulations, and subject area. There is no charge for taking the general and laws and regulations exams, however subject area exams cost $24 each, and the fee must be paid by check or money order.
Subject area testing will include: field crop pest control, weed and brush control in pasture and rangeland, ornamental and turf pest control, right-of-way pest control, aerial, vector (mosquito), and aquatic plant and animal pest control, he said. Study materials can be purchased through any AgriLife Extension office.
The next date for pesticide applicator testing in Wichita Falls will be Jan. 23, Hall said. General pesticide applicator testing in Wichita Falls will be held throughout 2013 on the fourth Wednesday of every other month.
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