Do We Really Need Another Pesticide License (or two)? Margaret Tucker WA State Dept. of Agriculture

Limited & Rancher Private Applicators What Will Be Covered  Why were licenses adopted?  How do licenses differ from the traditional Private Applicator license? What Will Be Covered  Why were licenses adopted?  How do licenses differ from the traditional Private Applicator license?

Private Applicator  Applies or supervises the use of a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) on own or employer’s land for the purpose of producing an ag commodity  Federal & state requirement  Applies or supervises the use of a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) on own or employer’s land for the purpose of producing an ag commodity  Federal & state requirement

Why Were Licenses Adopted?  Issues with Private Applicator license:  Exam too complex and broad for limited noxious weed control  Weed control mandated by noxious weed laws  Key herbicides restricted use  Tordon – federal RUP  2,4-D – often state RUP  Issues with Private Applicator license:  Exam too complex and broad for limited noxious weed control  Weed control mandated by noxious weed laws  Key herbicides restricted use  Tordon – federal RUP  2,4-D – often state RUP

More Issues with Private Applicator license  Many felt that:  Annual renewal and fee ($25) excessive  Recertification requirements too high for limited pesticide use  Many felt that:  Annual renewal and fee ($25) excessive  Recertification requirements too high for limited pesticide use

RecertificationRecertification  Two Methods: (1) credit accumulation  20 credits/5 years  no greater than 8/year (2) retesting every 5 years  Two Methods: (1) credit accumulation  20 credits/5 years  no greater than 8/year (2) retesting every 5 years

Guiding Principles  Meet federal certification requirements  Focus exam, licensing and recertification requirements to target audience  Landowners on non-production ag land  Ranchers  NOT production ag  Meet federal certification requirements  Focus exam, licensing and recertification requirements to target audience  Landowners on non-production ag land  Ranchers  NOT production ag

Historical Prospective  WSDA worked with legislators, county extension and weed board staff to develop pilot project  5-year pilot 2000 – 2004 in four northeastern WA counties  Cooperative effort to implement and determine effectiveness  WSDA worked with legislators, county extension and weed board staff to develop pilot project  5-year pilot 2000 – 2004 in four northeastern WA counties  Cooperative effort to implement and determine effectiveness

Keys to Effectiveness  Do revised requirements encourage participation in licensing program?  Do licenses encourage sponsorship of add’l weed control courses?  Do licenses facilitate the control of noxious & other problem weeds?  Do revised requirements encourage participation in licensing program?  Do licenses encourage sponsorship of add’l weed control courses?  Do licenses facilitate the control of noxious & other problem weeds?

Was the Pilot Effective? YES!  Adopted into law this year  Licenses available throughout eastern WA beginning Jan. ‘05 YES!  Adopted into law this year  Licenses available throughout eastern WA beginning Jan. ‘05

Limited Private Applicator Limited Private Applicator  May only use RU herbicides on non- production ag land*  5 year/$25 license  8 weed control related credits *Includes pastures, rangeland, fence rows, areas around farm buildings, mixed rangeland-timber  May only use RU herbicides on non- production ag land*  5 year/$25 license  8 weed control related credits *Includes pastures, rangeland, fence rows, areas around farm buildings, mixed rangeland-timber

Rancher Private Applicator  May only use Restricted Use herbicides & rodenticides on:  Non-production ag land  Production ag land where grain and hay grown for primarily personal use  5 year/$75 license  12 credits  May only use Restricted Use herbicides & rodenticides on:  Non-production ag land  Production ag land where grain and hay grown for primarily personal use  5 year/$75 license  12 credits

Exam Requirement  Private Applicator – laws, safety, weed, insect & disease control  Limited PA –laws, safety, & weed control related material  Rancher PA – Limited PA + vertebrate pest control Exam Requirement  Private Applicator – laws, safety, weed, insect & disease control  Limited PA –laws, safety, & weed control related material  Rancher PA – Limited PA + vertebrate pest control

??Questions?? Please Contact Me At: Margaret Tucker (360) Thank You! ??Questions?? Please Contact Me At: Margaret Tucker (360) Thank You!