OK Pesticide Applicator key terms

Any substance or mixture intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate a pest, or to regulate plant growth, defoliate plants, or desiccate plant tissue. The term includes insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The federal law that governs pesticide registration, labeling, distribution, sale, and use in the United States, with states enforcing many provisions.

A pesticide that may cause unreasonable adverse effects on people or the environment even when used as directed. Federal rules limit its sale and use to certified applicators or people under their direct supervision.

The written, printed, or graphic material attached to or included with a pesticide container. It contains directions for use, safety precautions, and legal restrictions that the user must follow.

All written or graphic material that accompanies a pesticide product or explains its use, including the container label plus brochures, leaflets, and other supplemental information. Labeling is enforceable under FIFRA.

A person who has passed the required competency examinations and is licensed by the state to buy, apply, or supervise the use of restricted-use pesticides in specified categories.

A certified applicator who uses or supervises restricted-use pesticides on land owned or rented by themselves or their employer for agricultural production, not as a commercial application service.

A certified applicator who applies pesticides for hire or compensation on property belonging to another, or who applies pesticides as part of a commercial business in regulated settings.

An Oklahoma-licensed employee who applies pesticides under the direct supervision of a certified applicator, usually while working for a commercial or noncommercial pesticide business.

Oversight in which a certified applicator is responsible for the pesticide application and is physically present or readily available as required by the label and state rules.

A state-issued registration under FIFRA Section 24(c) that allows an additional use of a federally registered pesticide to address a pest problem unique to that state. The product must carry SLN labeling.

An EPA authorization that allows a limited, temporary use of an unregistered pesticide or unregistered use when an emergency pest situation exists and no registered alternative is available.

A coordinated decision-making approach that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical controls to keep pest populations below damaging levels while reducing health and environmental risks.

The pest population level at which the cost of control equals the value of crop damage that would be prevented. Control is usually justified when the population reaches or exceeds this level.

The inherited ability of a pest population to survive and reproduce after exposure to a pesticide dose that would normally control that species. Resistance develops through selection and can make products ineffective.

The word DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION on a pesticide label. It indicates the product's relative acute toxicity and hazard, with DANGER representing the greatest concern.

Median lethal dose. The amount of a toxic substance per unit of body weight expected to kill 50 percent of test animals in a stated time; a standard measure of acute toxicity.

Clothing and equipment such as gloves, coveralls, boots, eyewear, and respirators that the label requires or recommends to reduce a handler's exposure to pesticides.

The minimum time after a pesticide application during which workers may not enter the treated area without the PPE required by the label. The REI protects against exposure.

The minimum number of days allowed between the last pesticide application and harvest of the crop, as stated on the label. It helps ensure pesticide residues do not exceed legal tolerances.

Movement of pesticide away from the target site through the air, either as spray droplets or as vapor. Drift can injure people, crops, livestock, and sensitive plants, and can pollute water.

The process of measuring and adjusting application equipment so it delivers the intended amount of pesticide uniformly over the target area. Calibration helps prevent underdosing, overdosing, and off-target movement.

A substance added to a pesticide spray mixture to improve its performance or handling, such as a surfactant, sticker, extender, or drift-control agent. Adjuvants are not usually pesticides themselves.

A permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Federal rules require coverage for certain pesticide applications to waters of the United States, including some aquatic weed and mosquito treatments.

Land such as roadsides, utility corridors, railways, and fence lines where vegetation is managed to keep travel, access, or utility service safe. Herbicide use there must follow label buffer and application restrictions.

A pesticide used to prevent or control termites. Termiticides may be applied as soil treatments, wood treatments, or baits, and labels specify permitted sites, rates, and application methods.

A pesticide that kills rodents, usually formulated as a bait. Labels include restrictions to reduce exposure of children, pets, livestock, and wildlife, and some products are restricted-use.

A rodenticide that interferes with blood clotting and usually kills after repeated feeding. Vitamin K1 is the antidote, and bait must be placed to limit access by nontarget animals.

Poisoning of a predator, scavenger, or other animal that eats an animal which has consumed a pesticide. It is a key concern with rodenticides and other vertebrate toxicants.

Application of a pesticide to seed before planting to control seed-borne, soil-borne, or early-season pests. Treated seed must be handled and labeled according to pesticide and seed regulations.

An antimicrobial pesticide that destroys or irreversibly inactivates most pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate surfaces. It may not kill bacterial spores, so it differs from a sterilant.

An antimicrobial pesticide that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores. Sterilants are used where complete microbial control is required.

A community of microorganisms attached to a surface and embedded in a self-produced slime layer. Biofilms in cooling towers and water systems protect germs from treatment and require specific cleaning.

A bacterium that can grow in warm water systems such as cooling towers and cause Legionnaires' disease. Control depends on water treatment, cleaning, and maintaining proper system temperatures.

A pesticide applied to wood or wood products to protect them from decay fungi, insects, or marine borers. It may be applied by pressure treatment or surface methods under label directions.

A written plan for a fumigation that describes the target pest, site, sealing, dosage, monitoring, safety precautions, and emergency procedures. Many fumigant labels require one before work begins.

A pesticide applied to water to kill mosquito larvae before they become adults. Products include bacterial controls and insect growth regulators, and applications must target breeding sites.

The required time after a pesticide is given to a food-producing animal before its meat, milk, eggs, or other products may be sold. It protects consumers from illegal residues.

A legal restriction on the movement of plants, animals, or commodities to prevent the spread of a regulated pest. Regulatory pesticide treatments may be required to satisfy quarantine rules.

A pesticide that forms a gas or vapor at the intended temperature and pressure and is used to control pests in enclosed spaces, soil, or stored commodities. Fumigants require special safety precautions.