Commercial pesticide applicators are required to obtain continuing education credits to maintain their license. A Lyon County Ag Advancement Council member felt that there were not enough opportunities for license holders to obtain credits. A training was presented in Lyon County on February 1, 2019.

Speakers included a Bayer representative on pollinator protection, and university of Kentucky extension specialists addressing water quality protection from fertilizers, right-of-way weed control, grain crop disease management. Eighteen commercial pesticide license holders attended, with some traveling from as far away as Bowling Green and Owensboro. They represented feed mills, right-of-way weed control, municipal workers, landscape companies and golf course workers.

Participants indicated that additional opportunities to receive credits for commercial pesticide licenses was needed and appreciated. Evaluations were positive, with generally good acceptance of the three presentations by webinar from Lexington-based specialists. Although in person presentations are preferred, the applicators understood the savings in time and money that webinars provide. All participants indicated that they would like for this program continue to be offered, although separate programs for agriculture and those associated with turf/landscape would be preferred. Seven continuing education credits were awarded by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.