University of Nevada, Reno Extension, in partnership with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, is offering a workshop March 24 to train people throughout the state how to properly use pesticides in aquatic and rangeland sites to avoid damage to water quality and nontarget plants and wildlife.

The workshop is meant for certified applicators and those wanting to become certified, including people who regularly handle pesticides as part of their jobs, such as farmers, ranchers, park employees and groundskeepers. Participants that are certified or licensed will receive continuing education units.

“This training is geared toward those individuals who do chemical weed control on or near surface water bodies and rangelands,” Extension Urban Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Safety Program Coordinator Melody Hefner said. “Attending the course will help those wanting to pass the Nevada Certified Pesticide Applicators exam for Category 2, Pest Control on Forest or Rangelands and Category 5, Aquatic Pest Control. It will not cover all the information required for individuals to pass the General Exam.”  

The training will be held live at the Extension office at 4955 Energy Way in Reno. It will also be available via interactive video at Extension offices in Battle Mountain, Caliente, Carson City, Elko, Ely, Eureka, Fallon, Gardnerville, Hawthorne, Las Vegas, Logandale, Lovelock, Pahrump, Tonopah, Winnemucca and Yerington. The training runs from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The cost for the workshop is $30 and includes materials and refreshments at all locations. (Lunch is not provided.)

Extension, in partnership with the Nevada Department of Agriculture, has offered pesticide application workshops for over 20 years, training thousands of Nevadans in safe pesticide use.

Limited seating is available for the workshop. Preregister by March 18 online, or by calling Hefner at 775-336-0247 or emailing her at hefnerm@unce.unr.edu. Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should call at least three days prior to the scheduled event.

Hard copies of the study manual for the general exam are available for purchase through Extension’s Grow Your Own Nevada! website. Hard copies are available for $15 at the Extension office at 4955 Energy Way in Reno and at most other Extension offices throughout the state, or for $20 by mail. The manual may be downloaded online for free.