By Brent Pringnitz, ISU Agri-business Education Program and Kristine Schaefer, Department of Entomology
Over 3,000 Iowa National Guard troops are scheduled to be deployed later this year, the largest single deployment from the state since World War II. This will likely include individuals who hold either a private or commercial pesticide applicator certification.
Any service member called for active duty should keep a copy of their DD 214 form and contact The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) Pesticide Bureau when they return from service to determine certification status. IDALS will adjust the certification records as needed and will send a letter to the applicator, and in the case of commercial applicators to the company they are employed with, letting them know what continuing instructional courses they need to maintain certification.
IDALS does not need to be contacted prior to deployment. IDALS and ISU's Pest Management and the Environment program maintain records of recertification and attendance at yearly continuing instructional courses for private and commercial pesticide applicators. Questions regarding applicator certification status should be directed to Tammy Green at the Pesticide Bureau, IDALS, by calling (515) 281-5601 or tammy.green@iowaagriculture.gov.
Brent Pringnitz is the coordinator of the Iowa State University Extension Agribusiness Education Program. He can be reached at 515/294-9487 or by email at bpring@iastate.edu. Kristine Schaefer is a program specialist serving on the Pesticide Management and the Environment team. Schaefer can be reached by email at schaefer@iastate.edu or by phone at (515) 294-4286.
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on June 8, 2010. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.