Agriculture/Livestock

 

 

Private Pesticide Applicator Training (PPAT)

Jim Jarman, Agronomy Specialist

 

Since 1978, training and certification has been required to purchase, apply and supervise the application of Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP). This training educates farmers and producers of agricultural products in the safe and proper use of RUP and allows them to be licensed or renew/recertify their current applicators license.

 

Private applicators must recertify every 5 years. Some of the subjects covered are proper pesticide handling, personal protective equipment, pesticide regulations, storage considerations, worker protection, endangered species and environmental protection, pesticide laws and application record keeping.

 

Approved certification methods are an instructor conducted presentation or self-learning using videotape or CD-ROM.  Videotape trainings may be scheduled at the applicators convenience at Extension Centers.

 

Private applicator certification classes using approved PowerPoint presentations were held during February in Cole County with 24 in attendance.

 

All private applicators are required to evaluate the training.  Evaluations indicated they had become aware to very aware and familiar to very familiar (4 or 5 on a 5-point scale) with laws and regulations, pesticide labeling, ground water protection, pest identification, personal protective equipment, calibration, environmental concerns and pesticide handling. Comments included:

 

With certification applicators are able to purchase a wider variety of pesticides to make their production more efficient and productive.   

 

Jim Jarman, Agronomy Specialist also supervises the self-paced certification program conducted at local Extension offices. 

 

Missouri Show-Me Quality Assurance

Livestock Quality Assurance

Instruction for Youth

Dee Cooper, Livestock Specialist

                                                                                                                                                        

Fifty-eight Cole County youth were among the three- hundred and thirty youth who attended Missouri Show-Me-Quality Assurance (MSMQA) sessions held in Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, and Osage Counties.

 

The class covered information about daily care, management and handling of animals, farm and animal identification, feed labels, withdrawal times and biosecurity.  Several worksheets and activities were mixed in with the presentation to keep the kids interested and give them hands-on experience.

 

One of the favorite activities was a demonstration about residue and withdrawal times. Four participants each drank water, tea, skim milk or chocolate milk out of a clear plastic cup. When the cup was emptied everyone was able to see the difference in residues left behind by these different liquids, illustrating the importance of withdrawal times in animals.

  

Comparison of the pre-evaluation and post-evaluation averages indicated an increase in subject matter knowledge. On the average, post-evaluation results were 19% higher than pre-evaluation scores. The pre-evaluation average was 63%, while the post-evaluation average was 82%.

 

Most youth are very interested in learning the information covered in the MSMQA program. Older kids volunteer to help by going over worksheets and helping distribute and collect worksheets and activity materials. One parent commented, “This is a great program for the kids and a lot of adults would benefit from it too!”