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NY Pesticide Applicator study materials
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NY Pesticide Applicator practice questions

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Question 1Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

Which federal statute requires that pesticides be registered with the U.S. EPA before they can be sold or distributed?

  1. ESA
  2. RCRA
  3. CWA
  4. FIFRA Correct answer.

Explanation

FIFRA is the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. It requires EPA registration of pesticides and establishes label and use requirements. The other statutes address water pollution, endangered species, and waste disposal.

Question 2Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

In New York, which agency administers the pesticide certification and registration program?

  1. NYSDOH
  2. NYSDEC Correct answer.
  3. NYSDAM
  4. USEPA

Explanation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation administers the state pesticide law, including applicator certification and product registration. The Department of Health and Department of Agriculture and Markets have other roles. EPA administers the federal program.

Question 3Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

Using a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling is:

  1. permitted if the rate is reduced
  2. allowed if the applicator is certified
  3. acceptable if the application is recorded
  4. a violation of federal law Correct answer.

Explanation

FIFRA makes it unlawful to use a registered pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. Certification does not authorize departures from the label, and recordkeeping does not make an illegal use lawful.

Question 4Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

Restricted-use pesticides may be purchased and applied only by:

  1. gardeners supervised by a licensed dealer
  2. persons with a general safety certificate
  3. certified applicators or supervised agents Correct answer.
  4. holders of a current business license

Explanation

Restricted-use pesticides carry higher risk and are limited to certified applicators or persons working under their direct supervision. A general safety certificate, dealer supervision, or business license does not meet the requirement.

Question 5Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

On a pesticide label, which signal word indicates the highest acute toxicity category?

  1. WARNING
  2. CAUTION
  3. DANGER Correct answer.
  4. NOTICE

Explanation

DANGER is used for the most toxic category, often with the word POISON and a skull and crossbones. WARNING indicates moderate toxicity and CAUTION indicates lower toxicity. NOTICE is not an EPA signal word.

Question 6Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

Before eating, drinking, or smoking during a pesticide handling task, an applicator should:

  1. wipe hands on clean grass
  2. wash with soap and water Correct answer.
  3. rinse mouth with water
  4. remove gloves only

Explanation

Pesticide residues can be swallowed when eating, drinking, or smoking. Hands and face should be washed thoroughly with soap and water, and contaminated gloves or clothing should not be worn.

Question 7Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

Under federal FIFRA rules, certified applicators must keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications for at least:

  1. 10 years
  2. 2 years Correct answer.
  3. 5 years
  4. 6 months

Explanation

Federal regulations require certified applicators to maintain records of restricted-use pesticide applications for at least two years. Some states may require longer retention for certain records.

Question 8Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

A New York pesticide applicator certification remains valid for:

  1. three years Correct answer.
  2. one year
  3. four years
  4. two years

Explanation

New York applicator certifications are valid for a three-year period. Applicators recertify by examination or by earning continuing education credits during that cycle.

Question 9Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

The first priority when a pesticide spill occurs is to:

  1. collect the spilled material in a drum
  2. notify the manufacturer
  3. protect people and warn others Correct answer.
  4. cover the spill with soil

Explanation

Life safety comes first: keep people away from the spill, warn others, and prevent exposure. Containment and cleanup follow only after people are protected.

Question 10Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

To reduce pesticide drift, an applicator should:

  1. spray during a temperature inversion
  2. use finer nozzles
  3. use low wind and coarse droplets Correct answer.
  4. increase spray pressure

Explanation

Drift is reduced by spraying under suitable wind conditions and using larger droplets. High pressure, fine nozzles, and temperature inversions all increase the chance of off-target movement.

Question 11Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

Which combination most increases the risk of a pesticide leaching into groundwater?

  1. steep slope and low rainfall
  2. clay soil and high organic matter
  3. dry soil and cool temperature
  4. sandy soil and soluble product Correct answer.

Explanation

Sandy soils allow water to move downward quickly, and highly soluble pesticides are more likely to move with that water. Organic matter and clay tend to bind pesticides and reduce leaching.

Question 12Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

The proper way to prepare an empty pesticide container for disposal is to:

  1. burn it in a field
  2. crush it without rinsing
  3. fill it with water and store it
  4. triple-rinse and puncture it Correct answer.

Explanation

Empty containers should be triple-rinsed so that rinse water can be added to the spray tank, then punctured or crushed to prevent reuse. Burning and storing rinse water are not proper disposal methods.

Question 13Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

When transporting pesticides in a vehicle, the applicator should:

  1. keep them secured and away from food Correct answer.
  2. carry them in the passenger seat
  3. place them next to drinking water
  4. remove labels to avoid confusion

Explanation

Pesticides should be secured in labeled containers and kept away from food, feed, and drinking water. Labels must remain on the containers to identify hazards and directions.

Question 14Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

A pesticide storage area should be:

  1. unlocked so workers can access it
  2. locked, ventilated, and posted Correct answer.
  3. heated with an open flame
  4. near feed and seed for convenience

Explanation

A proper storage area is locked to prevent unauthorized access, ventilated to reduce fumes, and posted with warning signs. It should be separate from food, feed, and ignition sources.

Question 15Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

Under the Worker Protection Standard, the restricted-entry interval (REI) is:

  1. the time required to ventilate a greenhouse
  2. the waiting period before harvest
  3. when entry is prohibited after application Correct answer.
  4. the time allowed for mixing before entry

Explanation

The REI is the period after a pesticide application during which workers may not enter the treated area without required protections. The preharvest interval is a separate label restriction.

Question 16Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

A Section 18 exemption allows:

  1. a state to register a pesticide for a local pest problem
  2. a dealer to sell unregistered pesticides
  3. an applicator to ignore label directions
  4. emergency use of an unregistered product Correct answer.

Explanation

A Section 18 exemption permits emergency use of an unregistered pesticide for a specified period when no registered alternative is available. Section 24(c) is the special local need mechanism.

Question 17Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

A Section 24(c) special local need registration is issued by:

  1. EPA alone for nationwide use
  2. the county health department
  3. the state with EPA approval Correct answer.
  4. the manufacturer without review

Explanation

A Section 24(c) registration addresses a specific local pest problem and is issued by the state with EPA approval. It is not a nationwide registration or a manufacturer action.

Question 18Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

In New York, a business that sells restricted-use pesticides to certified applicators must:

  1. use the pesticides itself
  2. post a copy of FIFRA
  3. be owned by a certified applicator
  4. register with NYSDEC as a dealer Correct answer.

Explanation

New York requires pesticide dealers and businesses that sell restricted-use pesticides to register with NYSDEC. Ownership by a certified applicator is not the registration requirement.

Question 19Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

For certain lawn applications in New York, commercial applicators must:

  1. notify only the property owner
  2. post signs only after application
  3. notify neighbors and post signs Correct answer.
  4. obtain a permit from the town

Explanation

New York's neighbor notification requirements for certain lawn applications involve advance notice to neighboring properties and posting of treated areas. Requirements vary by location and application type.

Question 20Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

Before applying a pesticide outdoors, an applicator should check the label and any county bulletins to:

  1. determine the mixing order
  2. find the cheapest product
  3. calculate the spray volume
  4. find endangered species restrictions Correct answer.

Explanation

Labels and county bulletins can identify geographic or use restrictions intended to protect endangered species. These restrictions must be followed along with other label directions.

Question 21Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

If a pesticide gets on your skin, you should immediately:

  1. wash with soap and water Correct answer.
  2. wait for symptoms to appear
  3. cover the area with a bandage
  4. apply oil to the area

Explanation

Skin exposure should be addressed promptly by washing with soap and water. Oils, bandages, or waiting for symptoms can allow further absorption and delay first aid.

Question 22Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

To slow the development of pesticide resistance, an applicator should:

  1. use the same product repeatedly
  2. increase the application rate every year
  3. rotate modes of action Correct answer.
  4. apply only when resistance appears

Explanation

Resistance management relies on using different modes of action, along with other practices such as rotating crops and using nonchemical controls. Repeating one product or raising rates can accelerate resistance.

Question 23Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

A worker in full PPE becomes dizzy, confused, and has pinpoint pupils. These signs most suggest:

  1. dehydration from low humidity
  2. organophosphate poisoning Correct answer.
  3. a harmless reaction to sunlight
  4. heat exhaustion only

Explanation

Pinpoint pupils with dizziness and confusion are classic signs of organophosphate or carbamate poisoning, which affects nerve signaling. Heat exhaustion can cause weakness and sweating but does not cause pinpoint pupils.

Question 24Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

In New York, a pesticide spill that threatens groundwater or surface water must be reported to:

  1. the nearest school
  2. the local newspaper
  3. the NYSDEC Spill Hotline Correct answer.
  4. the pesticide manufacturer only

Explanation

Spills that threaten waters or public health must be reported promptly to the NYSDEC Spill Hotline. Reporting to a newspaper, school, or manufacturer alone does not satisfy the state requirement.

Question 25Core (pesticide laws and regulations, safety, environment)

If EPA has registered a pesticide but NYSDEC has not registered it, the pesticide may be:

  1. used only in emergency situations
  2. sold with a federal label only
  3. not sold or used in New York Correct answer.
  4. sold only to certified applicators

Explanation

New York requires state registration in addition to federal EPA registration before a pesticide may be sold or used in the state. Federal registration alone does not authorize New York sales or use.

Question 26Agricultural (plant and animal)

The restricted-entry interval (REI) printed on a pesticide label specifies the minimum time that must pass before which of the following is allowed?

  1. No pesticide residue remains detectable on the crop
  2. Workers may enter the area without the label's early-entry PPE Correct answer.
  3. The crop may be harvested and sold at market
  4. The pesticide may be applied to the same field a second time

Explanation

The REI is a worker-protection interval: it is the period after an application during which entry is restricted unless the person wears the PPE the label specifies for early entry. It is not tied to harvest timing, retreatment intervals, or residue tolerances, which are governed by separate label statements.

Question 27Agricultural (plant and animal)

Which signal word on a pesticide label indicates the highest degree of acute toxicity to humans?

  1. CAUTION
  2. DANGER-POISON Correct answer.
  3. WARNING
  4. SLIGHTLY TOXIC

Explanation

Signal words rank acute hazard: DANGER-POISON (with the skull-and-crossbones) is the most toxic category, followed by DANGER, WARNING, and then CAUTION for the least toxic products. The word appears on the front panel along with the precautionary statements.

Question 28Agricultural (plant and animal)

Which spray nozzle type produces the finest droplets and therefore the greatest drift potential?

  1. Air-induction flat fan
  2. Even flat fan
  3. Flooding nozzle
  4. Hollow cone Correct answer.

Explanation

Hollow cone nozzles shear the spray into very small droplets, which gives excellent coverage of leaf undersides but the highest proportion of driftable fines. Air-induction and flooding nozzles are designed to produce much coarser droplets.

Question 29Agricultural (plant and animal)

A sprayer is calibrated to apply 20 gallons per acre at 4 mph. If the operator speeds up to 8 mph without changing nozzles or pressure, the application rate becomes approximately:

  1. Unchanged at 20 gallons per acre
  2. 10 gallons per acre Correct answer.
  3. 30 gallons per acre
  4. 40 gallons per acre

Explanation

At a fixed nozzle flow, doubling ground speed halves the volume applied per acre because the same output is spread over twice the area in the same time. To hold 20 gallons per acre at the higher speed, nozzle output would have to be doubled.

Question 30Agricultural (plant and animal)

A bee-toxic insecticide must be applied to a crop that is in full bloom. Which application timing best reduces honey bee kill?

  1. Midday, when temperatures and bee activity peak
  2. Early afternoon, when the blooms are fully open
  3. Late evening, after foragers have returned to the hive Correct answer.
  4. Mid-morning, after the dew has dried from the flowers

Explanation

Residues are most dangerous while flowers are open and bees are actively foraging. Applying in the late evening, after foragers return, allows the material to weather overnight before bees resume flight the next day.

Question 31Agricultural (plant and animal)

What is the main purpose of triple-rinsing an emptied pesticide container?

  1. To make the empty container safe to burn in a field or brush pile
  2. To restore the container so it can be refilled with other pesticides
  3. To remove residue so the container can be recycled or disposed of Correct answer.
  4. To chemically neutralize the active ingredient before pouring it down a drain

Explanation

Triple rinsing removes the small amount of product left in an emptied container so that the container can be handled, recycled, or disposed of under the label and state rules. The rinse water is added to the spray tank, not discarded.

Question 32Agricultural (plant and animal)

In an integrated pest management program, what should be done first before deciding whether to treat a field?

  1. Increase the spray volume to maximize coverage of the entire field
  2. Identify the pest and monitor its population against an action threshold Correct answer.
  3. Purchase the newest registered product available for that crop and pest
  4. Apply a preventive tank mix that covers all the likely pests on the crop

Explanation

IPM is built on correct pest identification and scouting, with treatment triggered only when counts reach a defined action threshold. Calendar or preventive spraying without monitoring is not an IPM approach.

Question 33Agricultural (plant and animal)

How should pesticides be stored on a farm?

  1. In the feed room so they are handy when livestock need treatment
  2. In any shed on the farm, as long as the shed door is kept locked
  3. In unmarked jugs near the mixing pad for quick access during the season
  4. In a locked, ventilated area away from food, feed, and children Correct answer.

Explanation

Pesticides belong in a locked, ventilated, signposted storage area that keeps them away from food, feed, seed, and people who should not access them. Products must stay in their original labeled containers.

Question 34Agricultural (plant and animal)

A grower has used the same Group 1 herbicide on the same field for six years, and control of a grass weed has declined sharply. Which response is most appropriate?

  1. Rotate to a different mode-of-action group and add non-chemical controls Correct answer.
  2. Apply the same herbicide more frequently at reduced rates throughout the season
  3. Increase the application rate of the same herbicide to the maximum the label allows
  4. Add a nonionic surfactant at the highest rate permitted on the label

Explanation

Repeated use of a single mode of action selects for resistant individuals, so the fix is to diversify with a different site-of-action group and to add cultural or mechanical tactics. Escalating rate or frequency of the same group only strengthens selection pressure.

Question 35Agricultural (plant and animal)

Which weather condition most strongly favors spray drift even when the wind is nearly calm?

  1. A temperature inversion with cool air under warm air Correct answer.
  2. A steady wind of 8 mph across the field
  3. Air temperature above 85 degrees Fahrenheit with gusty winds
  4. Relative humidity above 80 percent

Explanation

In an inversion, cool air near the surface is trapped beneath warmer air, so fine droplets do not disperse upward and can move long distances at low heights. Inversions are the classic cause of off-target movement on otherwise calm evenings and mornings.

Question 36Agricultural (plant and animal)

Which combination of pesticide properties makes a product most likely to reach groundwater?

  1. High volatility and short persistence in soil
  2. Strong binding to soil particles and low water solubility
  3. Rapid breakdown by sunlight on the soil surface
  4. High solubility, weak soil binding, and long persistence Correct answer.

Explanation

A compound that dissolves readily, is not held by soil particles, and resists degradation can move with rain or irrigation water down through the profile. Persistence provides the time needed for that movement to occur.

Question 37Agricultural (plant and animal)

What is the primary function of a surfactant in a spray mixture?

  1. To slow evaporation so droplets stay wet on the leaf longer
  2. To increase the toxicity of the active ingredient to the pest
  3. To lower surface tension so the spray spreads over the leaf Correct answer.
  4. To raise the pH of the spray solution and prevent breakdown

Explanation

Surfactants reduce the surface tension of water, letting droplets wet and spread across the waxy leaf surface instead of beading and rolling off. They do not change the inherent toxicity of the active ingredient.

Question 38Agricultural (plant and animal)

A label requires a tight-fitting respirator with particulate prefilters. Which practice is required each time the respirator is worn?

  1. Shaving only once a week while the respirator is in use
  2. Sharing the respirator among trained workers after wiping it down
  3. A user seal check after putting the respirator on Correct answer.
  4. Storing the respirator in the mixing area so it is always handy

Explanation

A fit check or user seal check is performed each time a tight-fitting respirator is donned to confirm a seal against the face. Facial hair that crosses the sealing surface must be avoided, and respirators must be cleaned and stored away from contamination.

Question 39Agricultural (plant and animal)

A dairy producer wants to treat lactating cows for lice, but the label states 'Do not use on lactating dairy cattle.' What does this statement mean?

  1. It may be used at half the labeled rate to avoid violative residues
  2. It may be used if milk from treated cows is fed to calves instead
  3. It may be used if the milk is withheld for 24 hours after treatment
  4. It must not be applied to cows that are producing milk Correct answer.

Explanation

A prohibition against use on lactating dairy cattle is absolute: no rate reduction or milk withholding interval makes the use legal. Using the product on milking animals would leave illegal residues in the milk supply.

Question 40Agricultural (plant and animal)

Which statement about pesticide-treated seed is correct?

  1. Leftover treated seed may be used for food after it is rinsed thoroughly in water
  2. It must never be used for food or feed, and surplus is disposed of per the label Correct answer.
  3. Treated seed may be fed to livestock as long as it is ground into meal first
  4. Dyed seed is safe to feed because the dye neutralizes the pesticide coating

Explanation

Treated seed carries a pesticide on or in the seed and is legally excluded from food, feed, and oil channels regardless of what is done to it afterward. Surplus seed must be handled according to the label and container directions.

Question 41Agricultural (plant and animal)

Before a soil fumigant is injected and the field is sealed with a tarp, what must the applicator confirm?

  1. That the field will be planted the same day the tarp is removed
  2. That wind speed is above 10 mph so the gas is dispersed away from the field
  3. That the soil is dry and cloddy so the fumigant escapes quickly into the air
  4. That the label-required buffer zone is established and posted Correct answer.

Explanation

Fumigant labels require buffer zones around the treated area, posting, and often neighbor notification before the application begins. Sealing the soil surface with a tarp and applying to moist, well-prepared soil are the practices that keep the gas where it is needed.

Question 42Agricultural (plant and animal)

Why is it important to rotate fungicides that belong to different FRAC groups?

  1. To slow selection of fungal strains resistant to a single mode of action Correct answer.
  2. To make the fungicide rainfast within minutes of application
  3. To increase the total amount of active ingredient applied each season
  4. To widen the spectrum so nearby crops are not injured

Explanation

Fungal populations can shift toward resistance when repeatedly exposed to one site of action. Alternating or mixing FRAC groups with different target sites reduces that selection pressure and preserves product performance.

Question 43Agricultural (plant and animal)

A boom sprayer has nozzles spaced 30 inches apart. Each nozzle delivers 0.3 gallon per minute and the sprayer travels 4 mph. What is the approximate application rate?

  1. 22.5 gallons per acre
  2. 14.9 gallons per acre Correct answer.
  3. 7.4 gallons per acre
  4. 59.4 gallons per acre

Explanation

Using the standard formula, gallons per acre equals (gallons per minute per nozzle times 5940) divided by (mph times nozzle spacing in inches). Here (0.3 x 5940) divided by (4 x 30) equals 14.85, or about 14.9 gallons per acre.

Question 44Agricultural (plant and animal)

Several formulations are to be tank-mixed. Which material should be added to the spray tank last?

  1. A surfactant Correct answer.
  2. Dry flowable granules
  3. Emulsifiable concentrate
  4. Wettable powder

Explanation

The usual order is to add dry products such as wettable powders and dry flowables first, then liquid flowables, then emulsifiable concentrates, with surfactants and oils added last. Adding adjuvants last lets the earlier products disperse fully first.

Question 45Agricultural (plant and animal)

A field is under a 48-hour restricted-entry interval when an irrigation line breaks and must be repaired. Under the Worker Protection Standard, entry during the REI is allowed only when:

  1. At least 24 hours of the restricted-entry interval have already passed
  2. The worker is an immediate family member of the farm owner
  3. The label-required PPE is worn and an early-entry exception applies Correct answer.
  4. The field has been irrigated at least once since the application

Explanation

The Worker Protection Standard allows limited early entry for short-term tasks only when the worker wears the PPE the label specifies for early entry and the task fits an exception such as a repair or emergency. Hand-labor tasks are allowed only under more specific conditions.

Question 46Agricultural (plant and animal)

A pasture was sprayed with a Group 4 synthetic auxin herbicide two weeks ago, and a newly seeded legume is showing twisted, cupping, and strapping leaves. What is the most likely cause?

  1. Herbicide residue in the soil or sprayer is injuring the seedlings Correct answer.
  2. A nitrogen deficiency that commonly affects newly seeded legumes
  3. Frost injury to the seedlings during a cold night right after emergence
  4. Feeding damage from a soil-dwelling insect pest in the seedbed

Explanation

Synthetic auxins produce characteristic epinasty, twisting, and cupping on sensitive broadleaves, and legumes are especially sensitive. Residues persisting in soil, or contamination left in the sprayer from the earlier treatment, are the usual explanations.

Question 47Agricultural (plant and animal)

A grower must treat 12 acres with a product applied at 1.5 quarts per acre. The product is sold in 2.5-gallon jugs. How many jugs must be purchased?

  1. 4 jugs
  2. 2 jugs Correct answer.
  3. 1 jug
  4. 3 jugs

Explanation

Twelve acres at 1.5 quarts per acre requires 18 quarts, which is 4.5 gallons. Dividing 4.5 gallons by 2.5 gallons per jug gives 1.8 jugs, so two jugs must be purchased.

Question 48Agricultural (plant and animal)

A pesticide label carries an endangered species statement with county-based use restrictions. What is the applicator's obligation?

  1. The applicator must check the county list and follow label restrictions Correct answer.
  2. Endangered species restrictions apply only to applications made on federal land
  3. The applicator may proceed if the product is not classified as restricted use
  4. The statement is advisory only and carries no legal weight for the applicator

Explanation

Label directions, including endangered species restrictions, are enforceable regardless of whether the product is a general-use or restricted-use pesticide. The applicator must determine whether the application site falls in a listed county or specific habitat and then follow the label limitations.

Question 49Agricultural (plant and animal)

A grower tank-mixes two insecticides that carry the same IRAC group number to 'double the power' against a pest. Why is this poor resistance management?

  1. Both act at the same target site, so selection pressure is not diversified Correct answer.
  2. Tank mixing two insecticide products in one application is illegal under FIFRA
  3. Same-group products may be used only in alternate years under label directions
  4. The mixture lengthens the restricted-entry interval for the treated field

Explanation

IRAC group numbers identify a common site of action, so two products from the same group do not provide independent modes of action. Using them together exposes the population to the same selection pressure while adding cost and residue load.

Question 50Agricultural (plant and animal)

Which statement about restricted-use pesticides is correct?

  1. Only by, or under the direct supervision of, a certified applicator Correct answer.
  2. They may be sold only in containers holding one gallon or less
  3. They may be used only on agricultural crops grown for sale
  4. They may be purchased and used by any adult who owns the farm

Explanation

Restricted-use pesticides may be applied only by a certified applicator or by a person working under the direct supervision of one. The classification is based on hazard to people or the environment, not on the crop or the package size.