March of 2022 marked the three-year anniversary of special training for pesticide applicators using products containing the active ingredient paraquat dichloride. Because applicators must renew training every three years, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) want to remind people to renew their training.
All products containing paraquat are labeled as restricted-use pesticides. This means only certified applicators (private or commercial) are allowed to mix, load, use or apply the products. Besides becoming certified, paraquat product labels require extra training for applicators to make sure they use this highly toxic herbicide safely to protect themselves and others. Applicators who have never taken the paraquat-specific training need to do so before using it. Those who have done the training need to renew every three years. After going through the online training, applicators will receive a certificate they must keep as proof of completion.
Paraquat products are used as a weed and grass herbicide in a variety of row, fruit, and vegetable crops. Paraquat is the active ingredient in products under many brand names, including Gramoxone, Firestorm, Helmquat, Parazone, and others.
You can also find more information on the EPA paraquat training website here.
