District 1 Winter Newsletter

Dear District 1 Private Applicators,

Happy New Year!

The five year recertification cycle has just closed in Private Applicator District 1 (Northwestern Montana). If you obtained six private applicator recertification credits and sent in your renewal application and fee you are all set! Keep an eye out in your mailbox for your new license. If you met the recertification requirements, but have not sent in your renewal application to the Montana Department of Agriculture you will want to do this as soon as possible to keep your private applicator license active.

Some may not have met the recertification requirements, but don’t worry there are a few options to get your license active again.  You may attend a 7-hour Initial Private Applicator Training in the spring or take a closed book exam at your county Extension office. For more information on PAT and credit requirements, or further assistance with license renewal, please visit our Private Applicator Training Program webpage or contact your County Extension office. 

Paraquat Mitigation Measures

The EPA has approved several paraquat mitigation measures due to increased human health concerns. The measures include: mandatory paraquat  training for applicators, changes to the label emphasizing safety, moving to closed-system packaging, and restricting use to only certified applicators. New product label requirements will be required when purchasing products with the new product label.  Containers with the new label language requiring use by only certified applicators and paraquat trainings are expected to be distributed some time during the 2019 field season while close container systems will be phased in likely after September 2020. It is important for applicators to read and follow the product label. For more information please read our article titled Paraquat Mitigation Measures Approved by EPA.

Initial Private Applicator Locations and Dates for District 1

  • April 9: Kalispell
  • April 10: Plains
  • April 11: Missoula

Upcoming Events in Private Applicator District 1 (Northwest Montana)

The following list of private applicator events are hosted by various organizations in your district. Please use the provided contact information for each event to register and obtain more information. This list is not comprehensive and only represents a few currently approved courses. Courses are added as they are sent to the MDA for approval. Use the MDA Course Locator to search for more events.

  • 4/9/2019, Kalispell, Initial Private Applicator Training, [email protected] (6 credits)
  • 4/10/2019, Plains, Initial Private Applicator Training, [email protected] (6 credits)
  • 4/11/2019, Missoula, Initiral Private Applicator Training, [email protected] (6 credits)

Recent Publications and News Updates

News: Regional Initial Private Applicator Trainings offered across Montana in 2019

News: Paraquat Mitigation Measures Approved by EPA

Meet Your Extension Specialist: Tim Seipel, Extension Cropland Weed Specialist

As the Cropland Weed Extension Specialist, Tim collaborates with agricultural stakeholders to develop and deliver research-based information on weed ecology and management.

Phone: (406) 994-4783

E-mail: [email protected]

For more information on Tim read the “Meet Your Specialist” article in the 2018 Fall IPM Bulletin.

 

Private applicator District 1 recertification dates