MA Pesticide Applicator case studies
MA Pesticide Applicator · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Massachusetts Pesticide Applicator certification is the state credential that allows you to buy, mix, and apply restricted-use pesticides, or to apply any pesticide commercially, on property you do not own. MDAR's Pesticide Program administers it, and the license type you choose - commercial, private, or a specific category such as turf, ornamentals, structural, right-of-way, or mosquito control - determines which sections you sit. The MA Pesticide Applicator case studies are 5 cases and about 2,998 words.
1Greenhouse Poinsettia: Whitefly Resistance and Biocontrol
A 12,000 ft² greenhouse holds 4,000 poinsettia plants scheduled to ship in six weeks. Yellow sticky cards at the end of each bench catch about 40 adult whiteflies per card per week, and nymphs are visible on the undersides of upper leaves.
597 words, about 3 min2Tank Mix Precipitate in a 300-Gallon Sprayer
A 300-gallon pull-behind sprayer is being loaded for a 40-acre corn field. The water source tests pH 8.2 and hardness 280 ppm.
608 words, about 3 min3Mixing Incident: Cholinergic Symptoms or Heat Stress?
on a July day, an applicator has been mixing malathion in a 50-gallon tank in a metal shed for two hours. The temperature is 92°F, the shed door is open but there is no fan, and the applicator's respirator is sitting on a shelf because the cartridge was "getting clogged." His right glove has a split finger.
570 words, about 3 min4Calibrating a Boom Sprayer Next to a Sensitive Crop
A 20-foot boom sprayer has 20 nozzles spaced 12 inches apart, a 200-gallon tank, and is pulled at 4 mph. The label target is 15 GPA of a contact herbicide.
640 words, about 3 min5School Field Application and Incomplete Records
On a Friday at 2:00 p.m., a certified applicator employed by a licensed lawn-care company sprays a middle school athletic field with a general-use herbicide for broadleaf weeds. Students are in class, and the field is 80 feet from the playground.
583 words, about 3 min