CO Pesticide Applicator cheat sheet

FIFRA requires EPA registration before a pesticide may be sold or used; the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is the state lead agency for registration, licensing, and enforcement.

Using a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its label is illegal; FIFRA section 2(ee) permits use against a pest not listed only when the site is listed and the use meets label restrictions.

Only certified applicators may purchase or use restricted-use pesticides; noncertified workers must work under a certified applicator's direct supervision.

Federal records for restricted-use pesticide applications must be kept 2 years; Colorado commercial applicators must keep application records 3 years.

Certification is issued by category, and an applicator may apply pesticides only in categories in which the license is current.

CDA may inspect records, issue cease-and-desist orders, and suspend or revoke a license for pesticide law violations.

The Worker Protection Standard requires agricultural employers to provide handler training, worker notification, decontamination supplies, PPE, and restricted-entry interval protection.

FIFRA authorizes civil and criminal penalties for violations; Colorado may also assess civil penalties and suspend or revoke certifications.

Signal words rank acute toxicity: DANGER (Category I), WARNING (Category II), and CAUTION (Category III or IV); DANGER with a skull and crossbones means highly toxic.

DANGER without a skull and crossbones indicates a corrosive product that can cause severe skin burns or irreversible eye damage.

The ingredient statement lists each active ingredient by name and percentage and lists inert ingredients as a total percentage.

The EPA registration number identifies the registered product; the establishment number identifies the plant that produced it.

Directions for use are enforceable and specify sites, pests, rates, timing, PPE, restricted-entry intervals, and application methods.

A Safety Data Sheet has 16 sections; Section 4 covers first aid, Section 5 firefighting, Section 6 accidental release, and Section 8 exposure controls.

If the label and the Safety Data Sheet conflict, the label governs use, PPE, rates, and restrictions.

The restricted-entry interval is the minimum time after application before workers may enter without label-required PPE.

Select gloves from label-specified materials; nitrile, butyl, and neoprene resist many pesticides, while leather and cotton absorb liquids.

Unlined gloves with a cuff that covers the forearm reduce wrist exposure; gloves must be rinsed and removed without touching the contaminated exterior.

Tight-fitting respirators require a medical evaluation, an annual fit test, and a user seal check before each use.

Cartridge change schedules must be written and based on exposure conditions and use time, not only on odor breakthrough.

PPE on the label is the minimum; more protection is needed when handling concentrates, mixing, or applying in enclosed spaces.

Remove contaminated PPE before entering vehicles or clean areas; wash reusable PPE with detergent and water, separate from family laundry.

Heat illness and pesticide poisoning share symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and weakness; stop work and get medical help.

Flush exposed eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes, remove contact lenses if present, and seek medical attention.

IPM sequence: prevent pests, monitor and identify them, set thresholds, treat only when a threshold is reached, and evaluate results.

The economic threshold is the pest density at which treatment cost equals expected crop loss; treating below it usually wastes money.

The economic injury level is the lowest pest density that causes economic damage; the action threshold is set at or below that level.

Scouting uses random samples, consistent counts, and recorded locations; degree-day models predict insect life stages and timing.

Rotate IRAC or FRAC mode-of-action groups and use labeled rates to slow the selection of resistant pests.

Broad-spectrum insecticides can kill natural enemies and cause secondary pest outbreaks or resurgence of the target pest.

Grasses have hollow rounded stems, ligules, and auricles; sedges have triangular solid stems; broadleaf plants have netted veins.

The disease triangle requires a susceptible host, a virulent pathogen, and a favorable environment; breaking one factor limits disease.

Emulsifiable concentrates contain solvent plus emulsifier, form emulsions in water, can injure sensitive foliage, and may be flammable.

Wettable powders and water-dispersible granules form suspensions and need agitation; wettable powders are measured by weight and create dust.

Suspension concentrates or flowables are liquid suspensions that need agitation and are measured by volume.

Soluble liquids dissolve in water and generally need less agitation than suspension formulations.

Adjuvants such as surfactants, oils, and buffers modify spray properties but are not pesticides and do not control pests alone.

Jar test: add water and products in the planned order to a clear jar, shake, and observe for clumps, precipitate, separation, or heat.

Tank mixing order: water first, then dry formulations, then liquid suspensions and emulsifiable concentrates, then adjuvants.

Incompatibility signs include precipitate, flakes, oil separation, excessive foam, and heat; an incompatible mix must not be sprayed.

GPA = (GPM × 5940) ÷ (MPH × nozzle spacing in inches).

GPM = (GPA × MPH × nozzle spacing in inches) ÷ 5940.

Nozzle flow varies with the square root of pressure: new flow = old flow × √(new pressure ÷ old pressure).

Replace nozzles when flow exceeds 10 percent above the new-nozzle rating; uneven flow causes streaks and misapplication.

Backpack calibration: spray a measured 1/128 acre and collect output from one nozzle; ounces collected equal gallons per acre.

Check spray pattern with water-sensitive cards or a pattern table; overlap flat-fan nozzles and set boom height to match the nozzle angle.

Drift risk rises with small droplets, high pressure, high boom height, high wind speed, and low humidity.

Clean sprayers with the label-recommended procedure and rinse water; some herbicides require a deactivating agent.

Leaching risk increases with high water solubility, low soil adsorption, long half-life, and sandy soils.

Runoff risk increases with slope, compacted soil, lack of residue cover, and rain soon after application.

Volatilization risk increases with high vapor pressure, high temperature, and low humidity; ester formulations are more volatile than amine formulations.

A temperature inversion has cooler air near the surface and warmer air above; small droplets can move laterally and concentrate.

Soil half-life is the time for half the pesticide to degrade; a longer half-life means greater carryover and groundwater risk.

Protect pollinators by avoiding applications during bloom, applying in the evening or at night, and following label bee warnings and buffers.

Aquatic buffer zones reduce runoff and drift into water; applying a pesticide to water requires a label that lists the aquatic site.

Bioaccumulation is buildup within an organism; biomagnification is increasing concentration at higher levels of the food chain.

Transport pesticides upright and secured, separated from food, feed, and passengers, with a spill kit and label or Safety Data Sheet available.

Storage areas should be locked, ventilated, dry, and separate from food, feed, seed, and livestock; keep absorbent material on hand.

Triple rinse: fill the container one-quarter full with water, close and shake, drain into the spray tank, and repeat three times.

Pressure rinsing uses a nozzle to rinse the container interior and is an alternative to triple rinsing; rinse water goes into the tank.

Spill response: protect people, stop the source, contain the spill, absorb the material, clean up, and report if a reportable quantity is released.

Report releases of hazardous substances at or above the reportable quantity to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.

Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 provides 24-hour first-aid advice for pesticide exposure.

Never burn pesticide containers or reuse them for food or water; follow label disposal directions and local recycling programs.