Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to pest control that incorporates numerous coordinated strategy techniques including cultural practices, planting resistant varieties of particular crops, utilizing natural enemies to control the pest, or by using selective pesticide applications. 

For several years citizens of Whitley County with interest in Pesticides, both privately or commercially was unable to fulfill the training requirements here in our county. Citizens of Whitley County were having to drive over an hour each way to attend a training course in a different county. As the Horticulture Agent in Whitley County, I wanted to make a diligent effort to make the process of an individual obtaining a Private Pesticide Applicator License or a Commercial Applicator License more efficient. 

The Horticulture Agent recently passed the exam to obtain the Category 10 Applicator License (Research and Demonstration). By an agent having the correct licensure, the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service now has the ability to host all of the Pesticide Trainings that were previously held in other areas of the state. We are now promoting educational opportunities and marketing the available materials to folks and encouraging everybody in our community to obtain the correct licensure for whichever endeavor they plan to work towards. Overall, the Safe Use of Pesticides is the most important thing we can teach our clientele. The Safe Use of Pesticides involve self-protection and knowledge of the correct techniques for mixing, application, cleaning of the equipment, storage and disposal. We will continue to work towards mentoring our clientele to obtain the correct trainings and licensures and continues to educate folks by increasing the awareness of safe pesticide use in Whitley County.