The Montana State University Pesticide Education Program is offering a pest management tour for pesticide applicators at six locations across northwestern Montana from Oct. 2 to Oct. 4.

Speakers will present on a variety of topics, including managing rodents, invasive grass management, why pesticides may not work properly, crop insect pest management, effectively utilizing biocontrol agents, understanding the Worker Protection Standard and pollinator protection. Presentations vary by location. Representatives speaking on the tour include Cecil Tharp, MSU pesticide education specialist; Jane Mangold, MSU invasive plant specialist; Kevin Wanner, MSU crop insect pest specialist; Melissa Maggio, Montana biocontrol program coordinator; Stephen Vantassel, Montana Department of Agriculture vertebrate pest specialist; and Kima Traynham, MDA District 7 agent.

Private applicators can attend morning or afternoon sessions for three credits or both sessions for six credits. Commercial applicator credits can be viewed on the last page of the 2018 Pest Management Tour agenda at pesticides.montana.edu by selecting “Pest Management Tour.”

Those in the state’s Private Applicator Training District 1 need to earn six private applicator credits before Jan. 1, 2019 to avoid losing their private applicator certification, according to Tharp. Applicators can check their credits at mtplants.mt.gov by selecting “pesticide programs” and “pesticide license search” prior to entering their license number. Applicators can also contact their county MSU Extension office for license information.

The tour stops are:

Oct. 2, Kalispell. Foys Community Center, 100 Foys Canyon Rd. Pre-register by contacting Pat McGlynn with Flathead County Extension at 406-758-5553 or pmcglynn@flathead.mt.gov. Cost is $25. Lunch is provided.

Oct. 2, Ronan. Community Center. Pre-register by contacting Jack Stivers with Lake County Extension at 406-676-4271 or jstivers@montana.edu. Cost is $3. Lunch is not provided.

Oct. 3, Plains. Grange Hall. Pre-register by contacting Juli Thurston with Sanders County Extension at 406-827-6934 or juli.thurston@montana.edu. Cost is $10. Lunch is not provided.

Oct. 3, Superior. Mineral County Extension Office, 301 2nd Ave. E. Pre-register by contacting Dave Brink with Mineral County Extension at 406-822-3545 or dbrink@montana.edu. Cost is $10. Lunch is not provided.

Oct. 4, Missoula. Ruby’s Inn and Conference Center, 4825 N. Reserve St. Pre-register by contacting Steffany Rogge with Missoula County Extension at 406-258-4211 or steffany@missoulaeduplace.org. Cost is $10. Lunch is provided.

Oct. 4, Hamilton. Art building, Ravalli County Fairgrounds, 100 Old Corvallis Rd. Pre-register by contacting Patrick Mangan with Ravalli County Extension at 406-375-611 or patrick.mangan@montana.edu. Free. Lunch is not provided.

Pre-registration should be completed by Sept. 28. Registration for all stops on the tour may also be completed online at www.pesticides.montana.edu/event.html.

A detailed program agenda is available online at www.pesticides.montana.edu. Information is also available from local Extension agents. For any other questions, contact Tharp at 406-994-5067 or ctharp@montana.edu.

The MSU Extension Pesticide Education Program is an educational program promoting the proper use of pesticides to protect public health and the environment.