During fall 2006, Iowa State University's Extension Pest Management and the Environment (PME) program in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) will provide 10 continuing instructional courses (CIC) at sites across Iowa for certified commercial applicators.

A "commercial applicator" is a person, corporation, or employee of a person or corporation who enters into a contract or an agreement for the sake of monetary payment and agrees to perform a service by applying a pesticide but does not include a farmer trading work with another, a person employed by a farmer not solely as a pesticide applicator who applies pesticide as an incidental part of the person's general duties, or a person who applies pesticide as an incidental part of a custom farming operation. Iowa Code, Chpt. 206.2.

"Commercial applicators should have received a large postcard in the mail recently with our CIC course dates and contact information on how to register for the courses," said Carol Pilcher, interim coordinator of the PME program. "Applicators may obtain a registration form on the website or by visiting their local county extension office."

Fall 2006 CIC Course Dates

Roadside, Forest, and Aquatic Pest Management¹

October 4, 9 a.m., Categories 2, 5, 6, 10

Greenhouse and Ornamental Applicators³

October 23, 1 p.m., Marion; October 26, 1 p.m., Council Bluffs; and November 3, 1 p.m., Ames Categories 3G, 3O, 10

Mosquito/Public Health Pest Management²

October 26, 9 a.m., Categories 7D, 8, 10

Grain Fumigation (commercial and private fumigators)²

November 8, 9 a.m., Categories 7C, 10

Ornamental and Turfgrass Applicators¹

November 15, 1:30 p.m., Categories 2, 3O, 3T, 3OT, 10

Pest Control Operators¹

November 29, 9 a.m., Categories 7A, 7B, 8, 10

Commercial Ag Weed, Insect, and Plant Disease Management¹

December 5, 9 a.m., Categories 1A, 1B, 1C, 10

Aerial Applicators*²

Categories 11, 10

Wood Preservatives*²

Categories 7E, 10

Animal Pest Control*²

Categories 1E, 10

*Employers will be contacted when program is available.

¹Satellite/Webcast to county sites

²Prerecorded videotape

³Live course

Self-propelled sprayer (Keven Arrowsmith)