MN Pesticide Applicators Cat J

Compare when you would use a backpack sprayer vs. a boom sprayer

A backpack sprayer would be used when working in smaller areas or treating difficult to enter areas. Spot Treatment. A boom sprayer is needed when treating large areas with 100 percent coverage

Explain when a preemergent herbicide should be used

A pre-emergent should be used to treat plant as they germinate. they create a chemical barrier over the soil surface. They control weeds as they germinate in or grow up in the chemical barrier.

Explain how the treatment area size and shape will influence your choice of application equipment

Application equipment and methods are available that are suitable for treating any size site.

List two benefits of identifying non-target species

Avoid spraying an possible endangered species or endemic species or beneficial ID potential hazards to the sprayer

List two ways you can reduce negative impacts on pollinators

Avoid spraying blooming plants, apply herbicide when bees are not present, leave buffer zones, Spot treat instead of broadcast spraying

List two ways you can minimize harm from a pesticide application to non-target plants and animals

Avoid using a surfactant if it adjust the products toxicity level. For example some surfactants can damage a fishes protective slime layer of fish, making them more vulnerable to chemical and diseases.

Describe how the biennial plant life cycle affects an herbicide treatment plan

Biennial plants are plants that generally need two growing seasons to complete their life cycle. First season is when the seed germinates and produce only vegetative growth (Rosette). Second season the plant will produce flowers and fruits (bolting) then die.

list four common herbicide application methods

Broadcast Ground Broadcast Aerial Spot spray/direct spray Rope-wick Wiper Basal-bark treatment Cut stump Hack and squirt Girdling

On a drawing, ID different plant types, such as terrestrial, submergent, floating-leaved and emergent

Emergent plants/vegetation are plants that are rooted in the sediment with most of its parts into above the waterline Floating plants are plants rooted in the lake bottom, but leaves and flowers float on the surface. Submergent vegetation are plants that have stems or leaves growing entirely below the surface of the water as water levels fluctuate Terrestrial plants are living or growing on dry land

List four aspects of professionalism.

Ethical Standards, Knowing and following regulations for health and safety, communication. good judgment

List three laws, licenses, or permits that you should be aware of when applying pesticides at a CAT J.

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)- designed to protect citizens and the environment from pesticide misuse. Worker Protection Standard - to protect certain employees from exposure to pesticides . National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System - controls the permitting of direct discharge of pollutants into navigable waters. Noxious Weed Law- identifies plants that are considered harmful to public health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock, and other property

Distinguish between grasses and broadleaves

Grasses are herbaceous monocots, meaning they only have one leaf at germination. Generally narrow and upright with parallel veins. Broadleaves are herbaceous plants with broad, rounded, or flattened leaves with netted veins.

Distinguish between herbaceous and woody plants

Herbaceous plant is a plant with no persistent woody stems

ID two ways to protect water during pesticide applications

If applying near the ware, leave a buffer area of untreated vegetation between the sprayer area and the water. Use a pesticide labeled for both terrestrial and aquatic use, don't apply if rainfall will happen during the day/two hours after application, resist spraying over water

Identify a situation where you would use an herbicide approved for aquatic uses

If you are spraying an emergent plants the herbicide must be approved to use for aquatic sights and approved on the MNDNR list of aquatic applications.

Explain why insecticides may be more of a concern for pollinators than herbicides

Insecticides- Contact insecticides kill the insects upon direct contact, systemic insecticides are applied to the host plant or soil around the host plant and are transported to the branches and leaves through the vascular system

list two ecological impacts of invasive, non species

Invasive species/non-native species - generally have an advantage that allows them to reproduce and spread quickly, displacing native vegetation and can cause native wildlife depended on the native vegetation for food and shelter to be displaced.

Name three plant characteristics that help with identification

Leaf Arrangement (Simple, Compound, Alternate, Opposite, Whorled, Basal) Buds & Bark, Flower

Name three parts of the plant where herbicide may be applied for plant control

Leaves- visible part of the plant, the blade is the main body of the leaf, stipules are small leaf-like appendages found at the base of the petiole. The petiole transports materials to and from the leaf. (Primary application target) Epidermis- The outer protective layer or layers of cells which is covered by a waxy layer. Can affect the ability of the pesticide to penetrate the plant. Stomata- are surrounded by a pair of crescent shaped cells known as guard cells, which regulate the opening and closing of the stomata. Gas exchange and water vapor.

Describe a reason why knowing an herbicides mode of action is important

Mode of action is the way in which an herbicide works to control a plant. Describes how an herbicide inhibits the plants normal growth and development. Important to know in order to select the appropriate herbicide.

Describe the type of work that requires a natural area, forestry, and rights-of-way certification

Natural areas, managed to protect existing species, or restore native plant communities to a more natural state Right of ways, maintain facilities and structures such as power lines and outages to prevent possible problems which include power outages Forestry, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ABORICULTURE, but is limited to silviculture which the establishing and managing of forest.

Identify two advantages of IPM

Prevention, Suppression and Eradication of the target pest

Identify the areas on a label where you should check for restrictions or special instructions for aquatic uses

Product Use and Restrictions, species for treatment, and Use sites and Wetland sites in forest and non-crop Areas

Determine the appropriate products to use for the intended site of application

READ THE LABEL, look for the information that is related to what you are trying to treat.

Using labels, distinguish between herbicide approved for terrestrial vs. aquatic emergent plant sites of application

READ THE LABEL, see what site the herbicide is allowed to be applied. Herbicides can be used for either terrestrial, aquatic or both sites. As a Cat. J applicator you can not apply chemical directly to surface water, but you can apply DEPENDENT OF LABEL to areas that have temporary surface water like snow or ice.

List characteristics to look for when conduction a site evaluation

Scout the site to determine if your target pest(s) are present, where they are located and how extent the pest is. Size of the work, the pest, does it meet the threshold, what is the effect of the management

Name three plant factors or characteristics that affect herbicide selection and use

Selectivity (Broad or Selective), as well how you apply which refers to the targeting, application rate, or the timing of the application. Solid or liquid - necessary for water to be added to the solid formula to create the solution, just as with water (Dilution) Target/non-target species- are all the plants on the present to be treated?, are there any plants that cant be treated. Location of plants- where the plants are growing may help determine or restrict the type of herbicide that can be used. Leaf shape/ Hairy or waxy coating Growth stage

Describe three symptoms or signs of insects

Signs are the pest itself being visible on the plant, disease with visible such as mushrooms forming at the base of the plant or a powdery mildew on plant.

List three factors that influence nozzle performance

Size of opening, operating pressure, nozzle spacing, distance from target/nozzle height, and speed

Name factors that influence application rate

Speed, Nozzles, Pressure, Concentration

List three potential environmental impacts from the use of pesticide

Surface Water Groundwater Non-Target Species

Describe three symptoms or signs of disease

Symptoms- the host plant's response or alteration of appearance due to a pest. Galls, stunting, leaf spots, and tissue death .

List four weather conditions that affect the herbicide treatment schedule

Temperature- too cold or hot then the the pesticide may ne ineffective Precipitation- can cause drift to happen or help allow solid to penetrate the soil. Wind Drought Volatilization

Explain the relationship between equipment speed and application rate

The faster you walk or drive the lower the application rate, calibration should be based on the speed at which you operate the equipment. Practice is needed.

Explain the relationship between speed and pressure

The higher the pressure the more you will apply, just as with the speed the faster you go the lower the rate of application. High pressure = Higher Speed Low Pressure= Low Speed

Name three components of the disease triangle

The host + pathogen + Environment = Disease. A disease will not develop unless all three are present for a specific time. One side of the triangle can be changed or removed and it will not develop.

Identify where (on the stump) to apply herbicide for a cut-stump treatment (indicate four options with either a drawing or explanation).

To apply chemical, apply to just inside the bark around the entire circumference, it is transferred to the roots. For stumps up to 3inches Goal should be full surface coverage without dripping or run-off. over 3 inches the outer portion of the stump should be covered.

List two reasons for identifying the target pest

To determine the appropriate management strategy, the appropriate method and any non-target species to avoid or be aware of.

List one equipment/application options to help reduce drift

To reduce drift move to an applicator that reduces the chance of drift, sprayer to wick, and keep an eye on weather, wind, temperature, people, and animals.

List two reasons you would control plants

To stop an invasive/non-native species from controlling a native area, to control their impact on Right of ways.

Explain why it is important to calibrate your application equipment

Verifying and/or adjusting pesticide application equipment to accurately apply a predetermined or calculated amount of product per area unit. Don't overapplication or underapplication

Identify a situation when you would use a selective herbicide

a selective herbicide can be used to control a certain type of plant. such as an herbicide that only treats broadleaves and not grasses.

List the steps to calibrate a sprayer

Calculate the area you are spraying Check nozzles for uniform flow rate Check nozzles for uniform pattern Calculate spray rate

Describe what areas/sites an applicator with the natural area, forestry, and rights-of-way certification can treat

Certified to treat vegetation plus emergent vegetation exposed above water or found in natural areas, forest, and rights-of-way.

Identify advantages and disadvantages of using contact vs. systemic herbicide

Contact Pro: damage to the parts of the plant that are exposed to the herbicide, work quickly and used to treat annual plants. Con: plants can recover if too much of the plant is left untreated Systemic: can move or translocate, inside a plant. Enter the leaves, be watered through the roots, or injected into the plant. It takes time for damage to be visible because the herbicide must move through the plant before it responds.

Give an example of an integrated pest management (IPM) alternative to pesticide use

Cultural- altering the environment to make it more favorable for the desirable conditions Physical/mechanical- using equipment or other physical methods to directly destroy the pest or alter its environment Biological- using living organisms to prevent or limit the growth of a pest Genetic- planting resistant varieties Do nothing

List three major groups of insect pests

Defoliators- have chewing mouthparts and feed primarily on leaves and needles Bark beetles- attack conifers and certain hardwoods Sucking insects and mites- have highly modified mouthparts for piercing plant tissues and sucking out the liquid contents Wood borers- the larvae of various types of insects, primarily beetles, that feed by tunneling through wood

List three common reasons for pesticide failure

Drift out of target area Volatilization of pesticide Rain following application Applying at wrong time in plant life cycle Using the wrong equipment for the target area Applying to wrong area of plant