sealPurdue News
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May 21, 2002

Pesticide applicators have flexibility to take program online

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Private pesticide applicators can now go online to continue their education for the Private Applicator Recertification program.

Purdue Pesticide Programs, part of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, is offering an online course titled, "Aquatic Plant Management." There are nine modules to the course including the role of aquatic plants, zones in a body of water, what affects plant growth, maintaining a balanced aquatic plant community, methods to control aquatic plants and identification of aquatic plants. At the end of each module there is a self-evaluation quiz.

"Farmers can have the flexibility to take this online program when it is convenient for them," said Fred Whitford, coordinator of Purdue Pesticide Programs. "The course helps farmers gain an appreciation for working around ponds and aquatic environments since the ecosystem is more complex than what they work with in and around their fields."

The online program can be used as one of the three programs applicators must complete every five years in order to renew their permit. The program takes about two hours to complete; however, the applicator is given 90 days to finish the program once registered.

Once the program is completed, the applicator's records will automatically be updated at the Office of the Indiana State Chemist.

The cost of the program is $10. To register, call 1-888-EXT-INFO and ask for the Media Distribution Center. Registration can be done over the phone by credit card payment. After registration is completed, the applicator will be e-mailed a login and password to start the program.

For more information or to register, visit the Purdue Private Pesticide Application Recertification Program web site or contact Cheri Janssen, Purdue Pesticide program specialist, at (765) 496-7499, cjanssen@purdue.edu.

Writer: Jennifer Doup, (765) 494-6682, doupj@purdue.edu

Sources: Fred Whitford, (765) 494-1284, fwhitford@purdue.edu

Cheri Janssen, (765) 496-7499, cjanssen@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, bforbes@aes.purdue.edu; https://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/AgComm/public/agnews/

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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