Texas Pesticide Applicator Exam Study Guide

TDA vs SPCS Jurisdiction

• TDA regulates: Agricultural, Right-of-Way, Aquatic, Regulatory pest control
• SPCS regulates: Structural pest control in and around buildings

License Types

• Private: $100/5 years - For farmers applying restricted-use pesticides on own land
• Commercial: $200/year - Pest control companies and contractors
• Noncommercial: $140/year - Employees of single entity (schools, golf courses)
• NCPS: $60/5 years - Limited scope for private applicators

CEU Requirements

• Commercial/Noncommercial: 5 CEUs per year (1 in laws + 1 in IPM required)
• Private: 15 CEUs every 5 years

Key Texas Regulations

• Dual registration required (EPA + TDA)
• 2-year recordkeeping requirement for applications
• Spray permits required for certain regulated herbicides (like 2,4-D)
• County-level pesticide regulations may be more restrictive than state

Signal Words (Memorize This)

• DANGER = Toxicity Category I (highest toxicity) - May have skull & crossbones
• WARNING = Category II (moderate toxicity)
• CAUTION = Category III & IV (slight to low toxicity)

Key Label Components

• Brand Name: Marketing name (e.g., "Roundup")
• Active Ingredient: Chemical that kills pests
• EPA Registration Number: Proves product is federally registered
• Directions for Use: Legal instructions - must follow exactly
• REI (Re-Entry Interval): Time to wait before entering treated area
• PPE Requirements: Protective equipment you must wear
• Environmental Hazards: Risks to water, wildlife, beneficial insects

Restricted-Use Pesticides (RUP)

Can ONLY be purchased and applied by certified applicators due to:

• High toxicity to humans or wildlife
• Environmental concerns (groundwater contamination, etc.)
• Potential for misuse

Routes of Entry (Most to Least Common)

1. Dermal (skin) - 90% of exposure incidents. Always wear chemical-resistant PPE.
2. Inhalation (breathing) - Vapors, dusts, aerosols
3. Oral (swallowing) - Eating/drinking with contaminated hands
4. Ocular (eyes) - Direct splash or vapor irritation

PPE Selection

• Chemical-resistant gloves: Nitrile, neoprene, butyl rubber (NOT cotton or leather)
• Coveralls: Long-sleeved shirt and long pants minimum
• Eye protection: Goggles or face shield for mixing/loading
• Respirator: When required by label - cartridge or supplied-air types
• Boots: Chemical-resistant, unlined

Poisoning Symptoms to Know

Acute (immediate) exposure:

• Headache, dizziness, nausea
• Excessive salivation or sweating
• Muscle twitching or weakness
• Difficulty breathing
• Pinpoint pupils (organophosphates/carbamates)

Chronic (long-term) exposure:

• Nervous system damage
• Liver or kidney problems
• Reproductive effects
• Cancer (some pesticides)

Heat Stress Warning

PPE traps heat. In hot weather, take frequent breaks, drink water, and watch for signs of heat exhaustion (dizziness, nausea, rapid pulse).

Key Formulas

Drift Prevention

• Use larger droplets: Low pressure nozzles, drift-reduction tips
• Avoid wind: Don't spray if wind >10 mph or during temperature inversions
• Lower boom height: Keep nozzles closer to target
• Buffer zones: Maintain distance from sensitive areas
• Check weather: Temperature inversions (calm air, rising smoke) trap droplets

Nozzle Types

• Flat fan: Most common for broadcast herbicide applications
• Hollow cone: Fine spray for insecticides, fungicides on foliage
• Solid cone: Medium to coarse spray
• Flooding: Very coarse spray, low drift, soil-applied herbicides

Why Calibrate?

• Apply correct rate (too little = poor control, too much = illegal/damage)
• Prevent waste and save money
• Comply with the law (label is legal document)
• Protect environment from over-application

Economic Threshold vs Action Threshold

• Economic Threshold (ET): Pest population level where control costs = damage prevented
• Action Threshold: Set slightly BELOW ET to trigger control before economic damage

IPM Tactics (Use in Combination)

• Cultural: Crop rotation, sanitation, planting dates, resistant varieties
• Mechanical/Physical: Hand-pulling, tillage, traps, mulch, barriers
• Biological: Natural enemies (predators, parasites, pathogens)
• Chemical: Pesticides used as last resort or when threshold reached

Resistance Management

Prevent pests from becoming resistant to pesticides:

• Rotate pesticides with different modes of action
• Use pesticides only when needed (monitoring-based)
• Apply at full label rates (don't under-dose)
• Tank-mix products with different modes of action
• Use non-chemical controls in rotation

Monitoring & Scouting

Regular field inspection to detect pests early and track populations. Use traps, visual inspection, and record-keeping to make informed decisions.

Environmental Fate Processes

• Drift: Airborne movement during/after application
• Runoff: Pesticide carried by water across soil surface into streams
• Leaching: Downward movement through soil into groundwater
• Volatilization: Pesticide evaporating into gas after application
• Adsorption: Pesticide binding to soil particles
• Degradation: Breakdown by microbes, sunlight, or chemical reactions

Protecting Water Resources

• Never mix or load near wells or water bodies
• Use buffer zones near streams, ponds, rivers
• Prevent back-siphoning into water sources
• Don't apply before heavy rain (runoff risk)
• Use vegetative filter strips
• Properly dispose of rinsate

Protecting Non-Target Organisms

• Pollinators: Don't spray blooming plants when bees are active
• Beneficial insects: Use selective pesticides when possible
• Aquatic life: Observe buffer zones, prevent drift over water
• Wildlife: Avoid applications near nesting areas during breeding season
• Endangered species: Check label bulletins for restrictions

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

• Follow all label directions exactly
• Calibrate equipment regularly
• Maintain spray equipment (fix leaks immediately)
• Triple-rinse containers before disposal
• Store pesticides in locked, ventilated facilities
• Keep spill cleanup materials on hand
• Maintain accurate application records