The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Initial Pesticide Trainings in Hingham, Fort Benton, Chester and Great Falls

The MSU Golden Triangle Extension Agents are facilitating four private applicator initial trainings this winter. Currently 104 Chouteau County producers have not met the minimum requirements of six private applicator credits. All private applicators will need to earn a minimum of six credits before December 31, 2020 in order to re-new their private applicators license. All four trainings are open to the public. Individuals who have a current private or commercial applicator license will receive six recertification credits toward their license. Those individuals not holding a private applicator license will be licensed as private applicators at the program.

January 22: Hingham, Montana at the Hiway Bar.

February 24: Fort Benton at the Ag Center located at 1205 20th Street.

February 25: Chester at St. Mary’s Catholic Youth Center located at 11 W. Quincy Ave.

March 11: Great Falls at the Montana ExpoPark’s Paddock Club located at 400 3rd Street NW.

Registration for all trainings will begin at 8:30 a.m. Class will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Trainings will conclude with the Montana Private Applicator Certification exam between 5:00 and 5:30 p.m. Individuals must be licensed as a private applicator before purchasing and using a pesticide designated by the Department of Agriculture as a restricted-use pesticide. For applicators to acquire their initial applicator license, they must either attend a private pesticide applicator initial training or pass a 50 question open book Montana Private Applicator Certification Exam at their local Extension office.

Speakers at the classes will include MSU Golden Triangle Extension agents, Montana Department of Agriculture Reps, County Weed Department Reps, and MSU Extension Specialists.

All participants in receiving pesticide certification will be charged a $12.00 fee, which will be sent to the Department of Ag. Participants who are already certified and are participating to earn credits may attend the training free of charge in Fort Benton. Lunch will be provided free of charge in Fort Benton. Registration is not required in Fort Benton. Registration, lunch and fees vary per location. For more information, contact Hill County Extension (Tom Allen) at 265-5481, Chouteau County Extension (Tyler Lane) at 622-3751, Liberty County Extension (Jesse Fulbright) at 759-5625 or Cascade County Extension (Rose Malisani) at 454-6980.

Montana State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Montana Counties Cooperating. MSU Extension is an equal opportunity/affirmative action provider of educational outreach.