The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is designated as the state’s lead agency in the regulation of pesticide use and application. TDA is responsible for licensing and training pesticide applicators, overseeing worker protection, registering pesticides for sale in the state and working to minimize unnecessary impacts to agriculture while enhancing protection of endangered and threatened species. A private pesticide applicator is someone who uses or supervises the use of restricted-use or state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides to produce an agricultural commodity on personally owned property; Rented property; Property owned by his or her employer; Property under his or her general control; or The property of another person if applied without compensation, other than the trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities. An agricultural commodity is a plant or animal grown for sale, lease, barter, feed or human consumption and animals raised for farm or ranch work. No license is required to apply general-use pesticides to produce agricultural commodities. The first step for becoming a Pesticide Private Applicator is to Attend a Private Pesticide Applicator training session. Contact your Extension office for training opportunities. You can also take the training online. (more at https://www.texasagriculture.gov). To satify training requirements, the Hopkins County Extension Office has scheduled the Pesticide Applicators Trainings for February 21, May 22, August 14 and November 13, 2024. Contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
