By Mark Shour
An updated version of the Iowa Commercial Pesticide Applicator Manual for Ornamental and Turfgrass Pest Management Category 3 OT is available from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
The manual is intended to be used by people preparing to take pesticide certification exams (3T, 3OT, or 3O). It also serves as a reference guide for professionals within the pest management field.
“In addition to its use as a study guide, it can be carried in the vehicle of a certified pesticide applicator or kept in their office and they can refer to the manual to answer questions about specific pests or the timing of treatments,” said Mark Shour, entomology program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.
Detailed discussions on chemical control considerations, cultural control measures, plant diseases, insect pests, vertebrate pests and weed management issues that affect both ornamental plants and turfgrass are included. Tables highlight specific pests and include information on common hosts, symptoms and favorable conditions for pests to become problematic.
The publication also contains an extensive glossary of terms, references for further reading, and more than 450 full color photographs of many ornamental and turfgrass pests.
“Other state manuals are short, sweet and to the point,” said Shour. “This Iowa manual goes beyond the norm. It is a great professional development resource for both beginning and experienced pest managers.”
Practicing pest managers provided substantial input on the manual’s content and developed each chapter’s learning objectives. These industry specialists also wrote questions for the exam database.
This update to the Ornamental and Turfgrass Pest Management Manual is different from the previous version not only in its detail, but also what is not included. The section from the previous version on Greenhouse Pest Management is being developed into a stand-alone publication. It is scheduled to be available in spring 2018.