NM Pesticide Applicator flashcards

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

FIFRA

Federal law governing registration, labeling, sale, distribution, and use of pesticides in the United States; label directions are enforceable.

Restricted-use pesticide

A pesticide that may be applied only by or under direct supervision of a certified applicator because of acute hazard or environmental risk.

New Mexico Department of Agriculture

State agency that administers New Mexico's pesticide applicator certification and pesticide regulatory program under the state pesticide control law.

Use inconsistent with label

Applying a pesticide in a manner not permitted by its EPA-approved label, which is a violation of federal and state law.

Integrated pest management

Coordinated use of monitoring, thresholds, sanitation, biological and chemical controls to suppress pests with least economic and environmental harm.

Economic threshold

Pest population level at which control action is justified because expected crop loss exceeds the cost of treatment.

Economic injury level

Lowest pest population that causes crop loss equal to the cost of control; thresholds are set below this level.

Mode of action rotation

Alternating or mixing pesticides with different target-site modes of action to slow development of pest resistance.

Signal word

Label word indicating relative acute toxicity: DANGER-POISON, DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION, from most to least hazardous.

Preharvest interval

Minimum number of days between pesticide application and harvest of the treated crop, as stated on the label.

Restricted-entry interval

Time after application during which entry into a treated area is prohibited without label-required protective equipment.

Emulsifiable concentrate

Liquid formulation containing active ingredient, solvent, and emulsifier that mixes with water to form an emulsion; often high phytotoxicity risk.

LD50

Dose of a pesticide that kills 50 percent of test animals; a lower value indicates greater acute toxicity.

Dermal exposure

Pesticide contact with skin, the most common route of applicator exposure; wash promptly with soap and water.

Chemical-resistant gloves

PPE item made of material that resists pesticide penetration; label specifies type and may prohibit certain materials.

Cholinesterase inhibitor

Organophosphate or carbamate pesticide that disrupts nerve signaling by inhibiting cholinesterase; symptoms include sweating, nausea, and blurred vision.

Spray drift

Off-target movement of pesticide droplets or particles through the air during or shortly after application.

Vapor drift

Movement of pesticide vapor after application, often from volatile formulations under high temperatures, that can move long distances.

Temperature inversion

Weather condition with warm air above cool air that traps pesticides near the ground and can cause long-distance drift.

Buffer zone

Untreated area between an application site and a sensitive area, required by some labels to reduce off-target pesticide movement.

GPA formula

Gallons per acre equals (nozzle gallons per minute × 5940) divided by (miles per hour × swath width in inches).

Nozzle wear limit

Replace spray nozzles when their output exceeds the rated flow by about 10 percent, because worn tips distort spray pattern.

1/128 acre method

Calibration method where spray collected from 1/128 acre in ounces equals gallons per acre applied.

Flow versus pressure

Nozzle flow through the same tip changes with the square root of pressure, so quadrupling pressure doubles flow.

Drift-reduction nozzle

Nozzle designed to produce larger, coarser droplets that are less likely to move off target in wind.

Boom height

Distance from spray boom to target; too high increases drift and overlap, too low causes streaking.

Application timing

Choosing when to spray based on wind, temperature, humidity, pest stage, and label restrictions to reduce drift and improve efficacy.

Sensitive area

Location such as a school, hospital, home, water body, or habitat that may be harmed by pesticide drift or runoff.

RUP application record

Record for restricted-use pesticide use including date, location, crop, pest, product, EPA registration number, rate, and applicator; retain two years.

Triple rinse

Container cleaning procedure: fill with diluent, shake, drain into spray tank, and repeat three times before disposal.

Pesticide storage

Keeping pesticides in original labeled containers, locked, ventilated, and away from food, feed, water, and children.

Spill containment

Controlling a pesticide spill with absorbent material and barriers to keep the chemical from reaching soil, drains, or water.