OR 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. It gives EPA authority to register pesticides and regulates their distribution, sale, and use; states may adopt stricter rules.

Restricted-use pesticide (RUP)

A pesticide that may be applied only by a certified applicator or by a person under a certified applicator's direct supervision, because of its potential for harm.

Section 24(c) registration

A special local needs registration issued by a state for a pesticide use not covered by the federal label. It is valid only within the issuing state.

Section 18 exemption

An emergency exemption allowing temporary use of an unregistered pesticide for a specific pest and site during a declared emergency. Use outside its terms is illegal.

Worker Protection Standard

EPA rule protecting agricultural workers and handlers. It requires pesticide safety training, central posting of application information, and reentry restrictions after pesticide applications.

Oregon applicator licensing

The Oregon Department of Agriculture licenses pesticide applicators, administers exams, and enforces pesticide law. Commercial applicators and RUP users must be licensed.

Label as law

The pesticide label is a legally binding document. Applying a product in a manner inconsistent with its label directions is a violation of federal and state law.

RUP recordkeeping

Certified applicators must keep records of restricted-use pesticide applications for at least two years; records include product, rate, site, date, and applicator.

Signal words

Label terms indicating acute toxicity: DANGER for Category I (with skull and crossbones if orally lethal), WARNING for Category II, and CAUTION for Categories III and IV.

LD50

The dose of a pesticide that kills 50 percent of test animals, usually expressed in milligrams per kilogram of body weight. A lower LD50 means higher toxicity.

SLUDGE syndrome

Signs of cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticide poisoning: salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, gastrointestinal distress, and emesis. Organophosphates and carbamates cause it.

Atropine

The antidote for organophosphate and carbamate poisoning. It blocks the effects of excess acetylcholine; pralidoxime (2-PAM) is also used for organophosphates.

Respirator fit test

A test confirming a respirator seals to the wearer's face. Required before use, along with a medical evaluation and a written cartridge change schedule.

Reentry interval (REI)

The minimum time after a pesticide application before workers may enter the treated area without protective equipment. It is stated on the label.

Chemical-resistant gloves

Gloves labeled as chemical-resistant for pesticide use. They must be selected for the specific product; leather and cloth gloves absorb pesticides and are not acceptable.

Poison control number

1-800-222-1222. Call for pesticide exposure emergencies; also follow the label's first aid directions and seek medical attention for symptoms.

Economic threshold

The pest population density at which control action should be taken to prevent the pest from reaching the economic injury level and causing economic loss.

Integrated pest management

A strategy combining cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical controls. Pesticides are used only when monitoring shows pest levels exceed the economic threshold.

Complete metamorphosis

Insect development through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Larvae (caterpillars, grubs) do most feeding and are common insecticide targets.

Incomplete metamorphosis

Insect development through three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Nymphs resemble small adults and feed on the same hosts, so control targets both stages.

Mode-of-action rotation

Alternating pesticide groups with different modes of action, classified by IRAC, FRAC, and HRAC, to slow the development of pesticide resistance in pest populations.

Biological control

Using natural enemies such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens to suppress pests. Broad-spectrum insecticides can kill these beneficials and cause pest resurgence.

Grass vs. sedge

Grasses have hollow, round stems and two-ranked leaves with sheaths; sedges have solid, triangular stems. This distinction guides herbicide selection for weed control.

Bacterial plant disease

Bacterial infections often cause water-soaked lesions, wilting, and ooze. They spread with splashing water and contaminated tools; bactericides are limited compared with fungicides.

Scouting

Regular field inspection using sweep nets, beat sheets, pheromone traps, and visual counts to estimate pest and beneficial insect populations and decide whether treatment is needed.

Calibration formula

For broadcast sprayers: gallons per acre = (gallons per minute × 5940) divided by (miles per hour × nozzle spacing in inches). Use it to set correct output.

Triple rinse

Empty the container, fill one-quarter full with water, rinse, and add rinse water to the spray tank; repeat twice, then puncture or recycle per label.

Spray drift reduction

Use low pressure, larger nozzles, lower boom height, drift-reduction adjuvants, and apply only when wind is within label limits to keep spray on target.

Mixing order

Fill the tank half full, add adjuvants, then wettable powders, flowables, and emulsifiable concentrates, and top off with water while agitating.

Nozzle wear

Worn nozzles deliver uneven, higher output and distorted patterns. Check output against a new nozzle and replace nozzles as a set when flow varies.

Pesticide storage

Keep pesticides in original labeled containers, locked away from children, food, feed, and livestock. Never store them in unlabeled or food containers.

Application rate

The amount of product applied per unit area, such as per acre or per 1,000 square feet. Calibrate equipment to deliver the label rate with the correct carrier volume.