Partial Credit for Private Appiicators? 



Q By Margaret J. Pratt, Extension Educator, Agriculture, Hiiisborougti County 



r^— =-L embers of the New 



R M I Hampshire Department of 



■Iff I I Agriculture, Division of 



I ■ I I Pesticide Control, and 

 IimbbbJ UNH Cooperative Exten- 



sion met recently to discuss the possi- 

 bility of instituting a partial credit 

 system for recertification of Private 

 Pesticide Applicators. Presently New 

 Hampshire has this type of system in 

 place for Commercial Applicators, and 

 it seems to be working well. Currently, 

 Private Applicators recertify by 

 attending a single meeting held only 

 once every five years by Cooperative 

 Extension. The last recertification 

 meeting for Plant Growers was held in 

 the fall of 1988. This one meeting 

 meets all the requirements necessary for 

 recertification. Instituting a partial 

 credit system would mean that individu- 

 als would be able to accumulate credits 

 over five year periods by attending a 

 series of meetings. 



There are both advantages and disad- 

 vantages associated with a partial credit 

 system for Private Applicators. Some 

 of the advantages and disadvantages are 

 outlined below. 



One advantage is that Private Appli- 

 cators would be able to choose between 

 a variety of meetings where credit could 

 be obtained, rather than attend one 

 meeting every five years. This would 

 allow growers the fiexibility of attend- 

 ing meetings at their convenience. 

 Meetings would most likely be spon- 

 sored by Cooperative Extension, or 

 industry and professional organizations 

 such as trade and producer groups. By 

 attending several meetings over a five 



year period, more information would be 

 available to applicators to keep them 

 abreast of trends and changes in the 

 laws. Recertification meetings covering 

 current issues would almost certainly 

 offer better quality information and 

 education. Also, meetings that are 

 presently held and attended by many 

 growers (such as twilight meetings) 

 could be considered for recertification 

 credit provided they meet the require- 

 ments of the Division. Keep in mind 

 that an application for recertification 

 credit would have to be submitted 45 

 days before the scheduled meeting. 



The following factors might be con- 

 sidered disadvantages under a partial 

 credit system. Because a Private Appli- 

 cator would have to accumulate credits 

 from several meetings he or she will 

 have to travel more often. In addition, 

 some meetings offering credit might be 

 held out of state. Private Applicators 

 would also have to take responsibility 

 for finding out about meetings which 

 offer recertification credits. Notice of 

 such meetings is published in the 

 Weekly Marketing Bulletin; however, 

 reminders are generally not sent out. 

 Professional organizations would need 

 to keep members posted by publishing 

 notices in their newsletters. 



Applicators would be issued a Certifi- 

 cate of Attendance for each recertifica- 

 tion meeting attended. They would be 

 responsible for obtaining the required 

 number of credits and for holding onto 

 Certificates of Attendance until the fifth 

 year of the recertification cycle. If an 

 applicator loses his or her Certificates of 

 Attendance, or does not accumulate 



enough credits, he or she would have to 

 take the examination to recertify. A 

 partial credit system would place more 

 responsibility on applicators to seek out 

 meetings and to maintain records of at- 

 tendance. The Pesticide Conuol 

 Division would not do this. 



Partial recertification is under discus- 

 sion as a result of questions and 

 comments from growers. Many of the 

 states surrounding New Hampshire 

 operate under a partial credit system. 

 As a result, at regional meetings 

 growers from other states frequently are 

 eligible for pesticide credits while New 

 Hampshire growers are not. Some 

 growers have indicated thai they would 

 prefer to operate under a partial credit 

 system. 



To assist the committee in their delib- 

 erations. Cooperative Extension and the 

 Pesticide Control Board would like to 

 get input from Private Applicators about 

 their feelings concerning a partial credit 

 system. If you have problems with the 

 idea, they would like to know what 

 those problems are. If you favor such a 

 system, they would like to know that as 

 well. It would be appreciated if you 

 would direct your comments to cither 

 Murray McKay at 271-3550 or Dr. 

 Stanley Swier at 862-1 159. You may 

 call or submit written comments. 

 Written comments should be sent to the 

 Division of Pesticide Control, Caller 

 Box 2042, Concord, NH 03302-2042. 

 The decision on this issue will be made 

 on feedback from the industry, so each 

 comment counts. 



WAa/6sa/& J/io 



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