CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING SECTION 



1984 was the last year for applicators, certified in 1980 or before, to 

 satisfy credit requirements for re-certification. This resulted in an increase 

 in examinations taken and in the number of applicators attending training 

 programs. 



Regulations promulgated in July 1983 required that all applicators certified 

 in Termite and Structural Pest Control attend a comprehensive training program on 

 the application of termiticides. The Bureau entered into a cooperative agreement 

 with the Cooperative Extension Service to provide the required training which was 

 provided to nearly over 400 applicators. 



The following summarizes the examinations and training activities for FY84. 



ACTIVITY 



Examinations Taken 2,232 



Training Sessions Approved 141 



Applicator Licenses Issued 2,299 



Dealer Licenses Issued 123 



Commercial Certifications Issued 2,287 



Private Certifications Issued 1,759 



NEW PROGRAM INITIATIVES 



The Bureau has secured funding to support research and implementation of 

 Integrated Pest Management Programs (IPM) in Massachusetts. The funds which 

 total $85,000 will be used to support the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 

 IPM Program and will be earmarked for programs in potatoes, sweet corn, her- 

 bicide use on railroad layouts and calibration of equipment. 



The Bureau is committed to IPM as a long term solution to problems asso- 

 ciated with agriculture in an urban environment. In particular, reduction of 

 the overall pesticide load on the environment and use of those products repre- 

 senting the least environmental risk will lead towards minimizing groundwater 

 contamination and exposure from pesticide drift. 



In cooperation with Pesticide Programs in Vermont and New Hampshire, the 

 Bureau released a Public Service Announcement on Homeowner Pesticide Use to 

 regional television stations. The major theme of the 30-second spot is to edu- 

 cate the public to READ THE LABEL on pesticide containers. In addition, the 

 Bureau produced and distributed a pamphlet on Pesticide Safety for Homeowners. 



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