Le Mars, Iowa — Farmers need to stay up-to-date on their pesticide applicator training and permits, but some have COVID concerns. Extension officials tell us there are choices.
According to Iowa State University Extension Agronomist Joel De Jong, private pesticide applicator continuing instruction courses are offered annually from December 1 – April 15. He says there are live, in-person meetings scheduled for this winter, but there are less-public options as well.
In our area, there are meetings coming up at the Le Mars Convention Center on Wednesday, the Forster Community Center in Rock Rapids on February 2nd, the Cherokee Community Center on February 9th, the Dordt Ag Stewardship Center at Sioux Center on February 17th, the Primghar Community Center on March 3rd, the Forster Community Center in Rock Rapids again on March 4th, the Aurelia Community Center also on March 4th, the Sibley Presbyterian Church on March 16th, and the Paullina Legion Hall on April 7th. Click here for the full schedule.
De Jong says pre-registration is required for ALL private pesticide meetings. Attendance at the normal meetings will be limited to ensure social distancing and to adhere to any limits on group sizes set in place by the Governor and ISU Extension and Outreach. Face masks are required. He says you should contact the county extension office where the meeting is being held to pre-register. Also, if you are not feeling well that day, please stay home, says De Jong.
He says, however, if you find the risk to be unacceptable to you, many county extension offices are providing options for small group or singular video viewing sessions at extension offices to help reduce your risk of exposure to others. Additionally, for those whose certification expired at the end of 2020, online testing is available through the IDALS Pesticide Bureau website, too.
According to De Jong, virtual trainings are now available, also. ISU Extension and Outreach will be offering a limited number of totally virtual private pesticide applicator recertification trainings via ZOOM.
(Dates and times include Feb. 11 from 9-11:30 a.m.; Feb. 18 from 9-11:30 a.m.; Mar. 1 from 1-3:30 p.m.; Mar. 16 from 7-9:30 p.m.; Apr. 6 from 7-9:30 p.m.; and Apr. 12 from 1-3:30 p.m.)
He tells us that to use this option, you will still register with a county office and send the $20 registration fee to that office before your selected session. The county office will provide a ZOOM link prior to the program for you to click to join via email. Participation will be monitored, and applicators must respond in the chat box when asked in order to receive credit for their training in this manner. Additionally, each applicator needs to be logged on individually, (one per computer only). Upon completion of the training, counties will verify you met the requirements and paid, and then they will send you your certificate of completion.
For more information, call your county extension office.
