By Scout Nelson
The Pesticide Safety and Environmental Education program has announced a field day opportunity for pesticide applicators who need recertification. This program provides a practical alternative to classroom training by offering hands-on experience in real field conditions.
Applicators who need to renew their Commercial or Noncommercial certification in categories C and H in 2026 or Private Applicators seeking recertification in 2027 can attend this event. The program aims to make learning more engaging and effective through practical demonstrations and direct interaction with experts.
The field days will take place at two locations. The first event is scheduled for July 16, 2026, at the UMN Research and Outreach Center in Waseca, Minnesota. The second will be held on August 13, 2026, at the UMN Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton, Minnesota.
Participants will learn through demonstrations such as drift management, nozzle selection, crop injury analysis, and pest identification. The program also includes training on safe mixing, loading, and cleaning of pesticide containers. Integrated Pest Management methods will also be covered to help applicators make informed decisions.
For Commercial and Noncommercial applicators, sessions will run from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM, with an additional optional session for Category H until 4:20 PM. Private applicators are required to attend from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM, with optional afternoon sessions available.
The cost of participation varies. Commercial and Noncommercial applicators will pay $145 for categories A and C, or $190 if attending Category H sessions. Private applicators will pay $100, which includes meals and refreshments.
Advance registration is required as space is limited. Interested participants must register before July 9 for the Waseca event and August 6 for the Lamberton event. Registration can be completed through these links:
https://learning.umn.edu/portal/events/reg/participantTypeSelection.do?method=load&entityId=59516578
or
https://learning.umn.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=62403169&courseTitle=private-pesticide-applicator-recertification-field-day.
This field day program is a valuable opportunity to gain practical skills, improve safety knowledge, and complete certification requirements in an effective way.
Photo Credit: istock-fotokostic
Categories: Minnesota, Education, General