Pesticide safety and education

Latest Resources

Photo Credit: David - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Pesticide applicator course series

Learn how to use pesticides safely and effectively while protecting yourself, other applicators and the environment. By the end of this online Pesticide Applicator program, you will learn effective preparation tools for the pesticide applicator exams.

Mar 2024 | Online resource

Credit: Patricia Skinkis, © Oregon State University (Cropped from original)

2024 Pest Management Guide for Wine Grapes in Oregon

Learn the most effective techniques for controlling insects, weeds and disease on wine grapes in Oregon. Study strategies for controlling powdery mildew, botrytis bunch rot and spider mites.

Patricia A. Skinkis, Jay W. Pscheidt, Achala KC, Marcelo Moretti, Vaughn Walton, Cody Copp | Feb 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Credit: Chris Branam (Cropped from original)

Is vinegar effective for killing weeds?

Q: What do you recommend for keeping weeds at bay in planting beds? We'd like to stop using Round-Up. Our beds are too big and the weeds are too numerous to be able to keep up mechanically. Would a vinegar solution be harmful to the soil?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Featured Resources

Six Steps to Calibrate and Optimize Airblast Sprayers for Orchards and Vineyards

In six steps, learn how to calibrate, optimize, and verify coverage for an airblast sprayer to ensure that you are getting every drop to the crop.

Gwen-Alyn Hoheisel, Lav Khot, Michelle Moyer, Steve Castagnoli | Jan 2021 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Photo by Nick Andrews (Cropped from original)

Pesticides Risk Reduction with Minimum Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is in short supply in many areas. Oregon IPM Center compiled a list of pesticides that do not require more than basic, single layer PPE (long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and stout shoes, with chemically resistant gloves). Always read the label before applying any pesticide.

Jun 2020 | Online resource

Preventing Water Contamination and Pesticide Drift: A Checklist for Pesticide Applicators

When applying pesticides it is important to avoid water contamination and pesticide drift as much as possible. This checklist can help. Three separate checklists (before, during and after) make it easier to remember...

Tim Stock, Steve Castagnoli | Oct 2019 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

More IPM resources

• Solve Pest Problems: Learn research-based, safe, and effective tactics for common garden and property pests and weeds. We provide non-chemical methods alongside the most effective and least toxic chemical options available, to reduce risk to people and the environment. Solve Pest Problems is a partnership between OSU and Oregon stakeholders to provide a user-friendly online resource to help urban and rural property managers to solve pest problems.
• School IPM Program: OSU's School IPM Program works with area schools to improve pest management while reducing costs, workload, and the risks from pests and pesticides. Program activities include: IPM Planning and Coordinator Trainings, Resource Material, Low-impact pesticide options, Fact sheets about ants, mice, rodents, and other structural pests are available.
• Oregon IPM Center: Oregon's Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program aims to achieve economically sustainable pest management for Oregon's agricultural industries with reduced risks to human health and the environment. Our tools and projects help farmers adapt to an increasingly uncertain world through high impact science and education partnerships.