SD Pesticide Applicator study guide
SD Pesticide Applicator · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The South Dakota Pesticide Applicator certification is a state credential that authorizes a person to buy, mix, load, and apply restricted-use pesticides or to apply any pesticide in a commercial or public setting. Private applicators certify to treat their own agricultural land; commercial and public applicators certify on behalf of an employer, a business, or a government entity, and usually add a category credential for the type of work they do, such as agriculture, turf and ornamentals, rights-of-way, or structural pest control. The SD Pesticide Applicator study guide has 8 sections and about 2,925 words.
01Pesticide Laws, Regulations, and Certification Requirements
Pesticide law in the United States starts with FIFRA, the federal statute under which EPA registers pesticide products and classifies some as restricted-use (RUP). States may not be more permissive than FIFRA, but they may be stricter.
379 words, about 2 min02Pesticide Label Comprehension and Compliance
The label is the printed material on or attached to the container; labeling is broader and includes supplemental literature, brochures, and directions that accompany the product. Read the entire label, including fine print, before buying or applying.
385 words, about 2 min03Human Health, Toxicity, and Personal Protective Equipment
Toxicity is the ability of a substance to injure; hazard = toxicity × exposure . Acute toxicity is measured by LD50 (dose killing 50% of test animals, usually mg/kg) or LC50 (concentration in air or water).
338 words, about 2 min04Pest Identification, Biology, and Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management combines cultural, mechanical, biological, genetic, and chemical tactics, choosing them in that general order of preference and using pesticides only when monitoring shows the pest population justifies it. Correct identification comes first - misidentification wastes money and can make the problem worse (for example, treating a disease with an insecticide).
354 words, about 2 min05Environmental Fate and Protection of Water, Soil, and Wildlife
After application a pesticide may volatilize, be absorbed by plants, adsorb to soil, leach, run off, degrade by microbes or sunlight, or move off-site as spray drift. Two properties drive much of the fate: persistence (half-life) and mobility (adsorption and water solubility).
357 words, about 2 min06Application Equipment, Calibration, and Application Techniques
Nozzle choice sets droplet size and pattern. Flat-fan nozzles suit broadcast herbicide and preemergence work; even flat-fan gives a uniform pattern for bands; hollow-cone produces fine droplets for foliage and insecticide work; drift-reduction nozzles produce coarser droplets.
346 words, about 2 min07Pesticide Storage, Transport, Mixing, and Disposal
The storage area should be locked, dry, well ventilated, and away from food, feed, seed, and livestock. Keep pesticides in the original labeled container with the label legible; never store in beverage bottles or unlabeled containers.
389 words, about 2 min08Emergency Response, Spill Management, and Recordkeeping
Get the person away from exposure, remove contaminated clothing, and wash skin and eyes with plenty of water. Call 911 or the Poison Control Center with the label in hand.
377 words, about 2 min