SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/663418
Q&A with Dr. Grady Miller Questions? Send them to Grady Miller at North Carolina State University, Box 7620, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620, or email grady_miller@ncsu.edu Or, send your question to Pamela Sherratt at 202 Kottman Hall, 2001 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210 or sherratt.1@osu.edu Professor, North Carolina State University 50 SportsTurf | May 2016 www.sportsturfonline.com Q : I work for a high school system and my understanding is that someone here has a license for pesticide use so I do not necessarily need one. Is that true? Should I get one? — North Carolina A : Before answering, I should mention to all the readers that you should investigate the rules/laws in your own state. Do not assume that the comments I make in this article would apply the same way in your state. I have worked in three states and found that the laws that govern pesticide use to be a bit different in each. Generally the rules are easy fi nd online but one can also ask their local county agent for information. Ignorance of the law is not a viable excuse (in any state) if one is ever found to be breaking the law! To answer this question, let me fi rst tell a personal story related to this subject. Actually, let me call it what it is — a confession. I admit that I went for a period of time "un-licensed." When I moved from Florida to North Carolina I did not take the time to get a NC license for a number of years. My (licensed) research technician generally sprayed my research trials and the few times that I sprayed, I fi gured that I was working under either his license or the license of the on-site superintendent. I was technically in compliance with NC rules, but my conscience told me that I should still get my own license. Over time I just put off taking the exam, even though it was often in the back of my mind. I even felt guilty lecturing to my students that they need to get their license before they graduate. Yet, I had not taken the time to do so myself. I was not setting a good example. During the year I also taught dozens of CEU (continuing education credits) classes to licensed turfgrass managers every year. I had to validate the appropriateness of the program content and submitting the attendance rosters to the Department of Agriculture. More guilt! So one year getting my license was my New Year's resolution and that is what got me over the edge. North Carolina requires an applicator pass at least two exams, a "core" and at least one specialty exam appropriate for the person's use of pesticides. There are a total of 14 different specialty exams in North Carolina. For me, I needed specialty exams for "ornamentals and turf" and "demonstration and research." I also had to pick the appropriate License Category. Since I work for a state government, my category is Public Operator. Since I routinely interact with the NC Department of Agriculture, there was added pressure for me to do well on the exam. In fact they kidded with me that I better do well when I was standing in front of them paying my exam fee. I am glad that I had studied since I then knew they would be looking back at my scores. My test preparation not only gave me peace of mind, but I actually learned a lot of useful information. I can now better answer questions during my extension talks as well as when my students ask about storage, use, transportation, and disposal of pesticides. The various study booklets are also good references for later. Sorry to personalize your question, but your situation is pretty similar to mine. Yes, in North Carolina you can legally be covered by someone that is willing to directly supervise your application of pesticides. That assumes that his license type is appropriate, up-to-date, and that he is willing to accept responsibilities for your use of pesticides. If this licensed person, your employer, and you are comfortable with this arrangement, then you are fi ne by the law (in North Carolina). Despite your compliance, I would still strongly encourage you to get your own license. Not only will you likely gain knowledge during the review to take the exam, but the need to get continuing education to maintain your license is very valuable to you professionally. Those courses and seminars will introduce you to new products and new ways to manage pests that may be cheaper and more environmentally friendly than older products and techniques. You will also have a chance to interact and learn from other turf managers that likely have similar challenges. That knowledge gained can make your job easier and perhaps safer for those that come in contact with your turfgrass surfaces. Plus it may reduce that guilt that I know you must be feeling. License to kill Ignorance of the law is not a viable excuse (in any state) if one is ever found to be breaking the law!