New Commercial Applicators

A valid commercial pesticide applicator license demonstrates to the state that the holder has the knowledge to handle and apply pesticides accurately and responsibly.  To attain a license, applicants must pass a rigorous exam.  

With an influx of new employees in the green industry, in particular, lawn and landscape services and golf courses, businesses are struggling to get employees who are certified to handle and apply pesticides.  The challenge for employers is new employees with no experience struggle to pass the exam to become commercially certified.  

The Turfgrass Department at the University of Kentucky worked to solve the problem.  The 45^th Annual Turf and Landscape Short Course is the premier conference for the Turfgrass and Landscape companies in Kentucky.  

The first day of the conference was devoted to people who do not have a pesticide license.  Six hours of instruction were presented that covered the material needed for attendees to understand and pass the commercial pesticide applicator exam.  Specialists and agents were used to present the material.  The Powell County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources presented on Understanding Weed Life Cycles and Their Control.  

The Tuesday of the conference had 160 attendees, with 142 becoming licensed to apply pesticides in a commercial environment.  The program was a success not only for the employers and the new applicators but also for the safety of the citizens and resources of the Commonwealth.