• By Larry Steckel •
The Environmental Protection Agency will begin requiring anybody who purchases, mixes or applies a paraquat-containing herbicide to take the “How to Safely Use and Handle Paraquat-Containing Products” online training module.
It is expected the training will have to be completed before the new paraquat labels come out in mid-November and certainly before the 2020 burndown season.
The training module is now available and can be taken anytime. The training will be good for three years.
The training was developed by paraquat manufacturers as part of EPA’s 2016 risk mitigation requirements and is approved by the EPA. There is no charge for this training.
Successful completion of the course satisfies the paraquat training requirement mandated by the EPA for all certified applicators who intend to apply paraquat.
“In accordance with EPA’s 2016 Paraquat Dichloride Human Health Mitigation Decision, applicators are required to take an EPA-approved paraquat training program every 3 years in order to mix, load, apply, or handle paraquat.”
I took the training and spent about 45 minutes going through it and the quiz at the end. As a first time user, I did have to set up an account with eXtension, comprising state Extension services. It took about 10 minutes for me to set up an account.
Once you have finished reviewing the material, you will need to take the final assessment. You must correctly answer all questions in order to pass the quiz and receive your certificate. You can take the test as many times as you need to in order to pass.
Be sure to print and retain your certificate when you are finished.
This training is being administered by the national eXtension and not directly from University of Tennessee Extension. It has only been available since mid-March, and already 540 folks from throughout the country have taken it and received a certificate.
The link for the training is: https://campus.extension.org/course/view.php?id=1660
Dr. Larry Steckel is a University of Tennessee Extension weed specialist. He may be reached at lsteckel@tennessee.edu.