IDA - General Standards

Question 1

What is good advice to follow in the purchase of a pesticide product that’s applied near aquatic areas so that runoff does not occur?

Answer 1

Check the pesticide label for a surface water advisory statement

Question 2

What is important for all applications of pesticides but especially for contact pesticides?

Answer 2

The application must be uniform and and provide good coverage

Question 3

How does the height of the spray boom affect the application path?

Answer 3

When the boom is raised, overlap increases

Question 4

How many pounds of a.i. are in two gallons of Paradise5LF

Answer 4

10 pounds

LF means it’s a WET formulation, thus 5 pounds per gallon. 2 gallons with 5 pounds each equals 10 pounds.

Question 5

How many ounces of a.i. are in 6 pounds of Venice50D

Answer 5

48 ounces 
(D means it's a dry formula, so 50% of each pound is a.i. Thus, 50% of 6 pounds is 3 pounds of a.i. HOWEVER, the question asked for ounces. There are 16 ounces in each pound so 3 x 16 = 48.)

Question 6

What amount of a 20% a.i. formulation of FLOOM is needed to get 6 ounces of a.i.?

Answer 6

30 ounces of FLOOM

Since 20% is a.i., we need 30 ounces of FLOOM to get 6 ounces of a.i. The math is 6 / 0.2 = 30

Question 7

The half-life of a pesticide refers to which of the following?

Answer 7

Its persistence in the soil

Question 8

What soils are more efficient at absorbing pesticides?

Answer 8

Soils that have a high percentage of organic matter and clay

Question 9

What is NOT correct about a surface water advisory statement on a pesticide?

Answer 9

It will tell you how to dilute the pesticide for less risk of contamination

Question 10

If you’re spraying an insecticide on a field within 3 miles of a known beehive, what should you do to reduce the potential for bee kill?

Answer 10

Notify the beekeeper at least 48 hours before applying the insecticide so the beekeeper has time to relocate or protect the hives

Question 11

What regulation protects wildlife, plan species, and their habitats from extinction due to exposure to pesticides?

Answer 11

The Endangered Species Act

Question 12

Why is it so important to read the pesticide label before you buy and apply the pesticide?

Answer 12

To determine if it’s right for your crop and target pests

Question 13

What factors are considered by the USEPA in assigning a use classification for general use or restricted use for every pesticide?

Answer 13

Toxicity of the pesticide, how it will be used, and its environmental impact

Question 14

What information is required by law to be on the pesticide label, in case of an emergency?

Answer 14

The manufacturing company’s name and address

Question 15

How should you interpret the Restricted Entry Interval (REI) on a label?

Answer 15

It’s the waiting period following a pesticide application during which you cannot enter a field without protective clothing

Question 16

What type of herbicide is ideal for controlling certain weeds without harming other desirable plants?

Answer 16

A “selective” herbicide

Question 17

What insecticide will enter the plant and control plant-feeding insects?

Answer 17

A systemic insecticide

Question 18

How can one delay the development of pest populations that are resistant to pesticides?

Answer 18

By using appropriate IPM methods which include using pesticides when necessary, and using cultural, mechanical, and biological control methods when possible.

Question 19

Which of the following is true about a pesticide label that has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency?

Answer 19

The label is a legal document and if its instructions are not followed, the operator could be subject to civil or criminal penalties.

Question 20

To reduce the chance of pesticide poisonings, how should pesticides be stored?

Answer 20

• In the original container with label
• Never store near food
• Keep out of reach of children

Question 21

What action would you take to assist a person whose clothing and skin were splashed with a herbicide while mixing and loading a spray tank?

Answer 21

Remove the contaminated clothing and wash the affected area with soap and water

Question 22

When should a respirator be worn to protect against inhaling toxic pesticides?

Answer 22

When the pesticide label indicates a respirator is needed

Question 23

Which of the following activities, associated with pesticide use, is considered to be most hazardous?

Answer 23

Mixing and loading concentrated pesticides

Question 24

In the event a spray nozzle becomes clogged in the field, what’s the best and safest way to removed the obstruction?

Answer 24

Shut off the sprayer, move to an unsprayed area, and clean the nozzle with a soft bristle brush

Question 25

What’s the best site for a safe pesticide storage area?

Answer 25

A site that is downwind and downhill from homes, play areas, and ponds

Question 26

What precautions should be taken in the maintenance of pesticide containers?

Answer 26

Containers of liquid pesticides should be stored away from sunlight and other heat sources

Question 27

Which of the following statements is true about vapor drift of pesticides?

Answer 27

Vapors can be produced up to several days after application of a pesticide and the applicator is responsible for the drift

Question 28

How do pesticides move off treated fields into ponds, lakes, or streams?

Answer 28

Pesticides are either dissolved in water or attached to sediments and move downslope into water by runoff or erosion

Question 29

What happens to pesticides that leach into groundwater?

Answer 29

The pesticides degrade very slowly because of the absence of oxygen, sunlight, and other factors and the the water is often is often impossible to purify once contaminated

Question 30

Which of the following factors has the most effect in determining whether a pesticide is likely to reach groundwater?

Answer 30

The persistence, adsorption, and solubility properties of a pesticide

Question 31

What is one way pesticides are degraded into other chemical forms?

Answer 31

By microorganisms in the soil

Question 32

If you find a leaking pesticide container on the floor of your storage shed, what action should you take?

Answer 32

Put the leaking container into a larger container or throw an absorbent material over the spill to soak up the chemical and keep it from spreading

Question 33

A new herbicide is labeled to control yellow nutsedge in bluegrass, but not in bentgrass, on golf course putting greens. Based on demonstration plots, the new herbicide will not damage bentgrass. Would it be a violation of federal law to apply this herbicide to bentgrass for one of your customers whos is experiencing severe problems with yellow nutsedge on one green?

Answer 33

Yes, it is a violation of federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. This warning statement appears on all product labels.

Question 34

Which of the following factors determine the potential hazard of a pesticide?

Answer 34

All of the above

• The residual activity of the pesticide
• The toxicity of the pesticide
• The volatility of the pesticide

Question 35

What factors have the most effect on the severity of dermal contamination of pesticides to humans?

Answer 35

All of the above

• Dermal toxicity of the pesticide
• Rate of absorption through the skin
• Size of the skin area contaminated

Question 36

Which of the following pesticides is the most toxic to humans if it is accidentally swallowed?
LD50 of 10 mg/kg of body weight or
LD50 of 1000 mg/kg of body weight

Answer 36

10 mg/kg of body weight

If pesticide A requires 10 mg to kill you and pesticide B requires 1000 mg, pesticide A is ten times as toxic. If less pesticide is needed to cause the same harm, it’s more toxic.

Question 37

What is the recommended procedure for helping someone who splashes Talstar in their eye?

Answer 37

Hold the eye open and rinse with water for 15-20 minutes

Question 38

If Talstar is being used on a golf course, how long must people stay off the course after the application?

Answer 38

Talstar may not be sprayed on a golf course

Question 39

How many gallons are broadcast per acre if the spray nozzles provide 0.5 gallons per minute, are 30 inches apart, and you travel at 10 miles per hour?

Answer 39

9.9 GPA

GPA= (GPM x 5940) / MPH x W    ---->
GPA= (0.5 x 5940) / (10 x 30) = 
GPA= 2970 / 300 = 
GPA= 9.9

Question 40

What flow rate should a spray nozzle provide if you want to apply 20 gallons per acre in a 20-inch band at a travel speed of 12 miles per hour?

Answer 40

0.8 GPM

For this one you do need to convert 20 inches to feet. 20 / 12 = 1.67

GPM = (GPA x MPH x SW) / 495  ---->
GPM = (20 x 12 x 1.67) / 495
GPM = 400.8 / 495
GPM = 0.8

Question 41

During the broadcast application of a herbicide, you discover that the gallons per minute being applied is about 20% too low per acre. How can you correct this problem?

Answer 41

Increase the travel speed by 20%