Agriculture News

December 15, 2017

State chemist office offers required training for dicamba applicators

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC) based at Purdue University is offering state-required training for commercial and private applicators working with the new dicamba herbicide products Engenia, FeXapan and XtendiMax. These and other herbicide products containing at least 6.5 percent dicamba are now classified as restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) in Indiana.

“The objective of the training is to prepare the applicator for the regulatory and practical rigors of applying these three products safely and effectively so we can maintain the availability of this weed control option in the future,” said David Scott, state pesticide administrator.

Only training programs sanctioned by the OISC and led by OISC-approved trainers will be accepted for dicamba applicators seeking the label-mandated training in 2018.

“Starting Jan. 1, all training will be run through the existing Continuing Certification Hour (CCH) program for commercial applicators and Private Applicator Recertification Program (PARP) for private applicators,” Scott said. “Every 2018 training program for private applicators will include dicamba training. Likewise, many Category 1 CCH training sessions for commercial applicators will include the required dicamba training.”

The full schedule for private applicator training is available at https://ppp.purdue.edu/private-applicators/recertification-parp/parp-events/. For the full schedule of commercial applicator training programs, go to https://www.oisc.purdue.edu/oiscweb/#!/publicrecords/pesticide/conferences and type the word “dicamba” in the conference search box.

Each hourlong training session covers all legal application requirements for dicamba herbicides. Topics for both the private and commercial training sessions include:

* Recordkeeping

* Weed management practices

* Buffer requirements

* Protection of susceptible crops

* Chemistry

* Mixing

* Handling

* Window of application

* Associated application challenges and risks

No certificate or special license designation will be issued. However, the training instructor and OISC will maintain a roster of those who complete the training and will record the applicator’s name, address and license number. Attendees must keep a record with the training date, location and the CCH or PARP conference number as part of the mandatory label-required recordkeeping procedures for dicamba products.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will decide after December 2018 whether dicamba pesticides will continue to be registered for use in the U.S. The training requirement might be revised at that time, Scott said.

“But for now, you must complete the required training before using these products in Indiana in 2018,” he added.

Cost for private applicator training is $10. The cost of commercial training varies.

For more information, go to the OISC website at https://www.oisc.purdue.edu/

Writer: Darrin Pack, 765-494-8415, dpack@purdue.edu 

Source: David Scott, 765-494-1593, scottde@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Shari Finnell, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, sfinnell@purdue.edu  
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