NH Pesticide Applicator flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

FIFRA

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; the federal law governing pesticide registration, labeling, distribution, and use in the United States.

EPA registration number

An identifier assigned by EPA to a registered pesticide product; it appears on the label and shows the product has met federal registration requirements.

Restricted-use pesticide

A pesticide that EPA determines may cause unreasonable adverse effects without additional restrictions; it may be used only by certified applicators or under their direct supervision.

New Hampshire pesticide authority

The New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food administers pesticide certification, licensing, and enforcement under state pesticide law RSA 430.

Section 18 exemption

An emergency exemption allowing a state or federal agency to authorize a specific unregistered pesticide use for a limited period when an urgent pest problem exists.

Two-year RUP records

Certified applicators must keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications for two years and make them available to federal or state officials on request.

Signal word DANGER

The label signal word for the most acutely toxic pesticide products; DANGER with a skull and crossbones means the product can be fatal at low exposure.

Chemical-resistant gloves

Gloves made of materials such as nitrile, butyl, or neoprene that resist pesticide penetration; the label specifies the required material and replacement conditions for each product.

Restricted-entry interval

The period after a pesticide application during which entry into the treated area is prohibited unless the label allows early entry with required PPE.

Dermal exposure route

Pesticide absorption through skin, the most common route of pesticide exposure for applicators; it is reduced by coveralls, gloves, and prompt washing with soap and water.

Heat stress symptoms

Symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, weakness, and nausea caused by heat; they can resemble pesticide poisoning and require stopping work, cooling, and medical evaluation.

Eye splash first aid

For pesticide in the eyes, flush with clean water for at least 15 minutes while holding eyelids open, then follow label first-aid directions and seek medical attention.

Pesticide half-life

The time required for half of a pesticide's initial amount to degrade in soil, water, or another medium; longer half-lives generally mean greater persistence and environmental risk.

Soil adsorption

Binding of pesticide molecules to soil particles and organic matter; strongly adsorbed pesticides move less in water but may persist in soil and affect later crops.

Leaching risk factors

High water solubility, low soil adsorption, long persistence, sandy soils, heavy rainfall, and shallow groundwater increase the chance that a pesticide will leach to groundwater.

Bioaccumulation

The buildup of a pesticide or its breakdown products in an organism over time; it is greatest for persistent, fat-soluble chemicals and can increase concentrations up the food chain.

Drift reduction factors

Lower boom height, coarser droplets, lower pressure, slower speed, drift-reducing nozzles, and stable wind conditions reduce pesticide movement away from the target area.

Integrated pest management

A pest-control approach that combines prevention, monitoring, action thresholds, biological and cultural controls, and least-risk pesticides, with evaluation of results after treatment.

Action threshold

The pest population or damage level at which control measures are justified; thresholds are set to prevent unacceptable economic, health, or aesthetic harm.

Pesticide resistance

The inherited ability of a pest population to survive a pesticide dose that once controlled it; it develops faster with repeated use of the same mode of action.

Mode of action rotation

Alternating pesticides with different modes of action, often shown by group numbers, to reduce selection pressure and slow the development of pesticide resistance in pest populations.

Biological control

Using natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens to suppress pests; success depends on identifying the pest and protecting beneficial organisms from broad-spectrum pesticides.

Label directions section

The part of a pesticide label that gives approved sites, pests, application rates, timing, methods, and restrictions; using the product contrary to these directions violates FIFRA.

Emulsifiable concentrate

A liquid formulation containing pesticide, solvent, and emulsifier that mixes with water to form an emulsion; it often has high solvent odor and can injure sensitive plants.

Wettable powder

A dry formulation of pesticide particles plus inert ingredients that is mixed with water and sprayed as a suspension; it requires agitation because particles settle out.

Compatibility jar test

A small-scale test that mixes proposed tank-mix products in the same proportions and water as the spray tank to detect clumping, separation, or other incompatibility before mixing a full load.

Tank acres formula

Tank acres equal tank capacity in gallons divided by spray rate in gallons per acre; this tells how many acres one tank will cover at that rate.

Sprayer calibration

Measuring nozzle output, travel speed, and effective swath width to determine the actual spray rate in gallons per acre and ensure the sprayer applies the intended pesticide dose.

GPA formula 5940

For broadcast spraying, gallons per acre equals gallons per minute times 5,940 divided by the product of miles per hour and nozzle spacing in inches.

Nozzle wear check

Compare nozzle outputs with a calibrated container; replace nozzles whose flow differs substantially from the average or manufacturer's rating because worn tips distort pattern and rate.

Spray drift

Off-target movement of pesticide droplets during application; it is influenced by droplet size, wind, boom height, pressure, nozzle type, and temperature inversions.

Temperature inversion

A stable air layer with warmer air above cooler air near the ground; it can keep fine spray droplets suspended and move them long distances, so spraying during an inversion risks severe drift.