The Weed Control skills program has been developed to enable the pest control operator to become proficient in weed control procedures. This skills programme has been designed to be used in commercial, industrial and road shoulders, railway lines, substation environments and “Working for Water” programs. (The Weed Control Program is based on Agriseta Unit Standards 116301, 9058, 8168, 1233756.)

Click here to see a sample of the e-learning material
Click here to register for e-learning. We will respond with the relevant registration documents

Duration

Cost
Maximum of one year to complete
Thereafter student must re-register		 PR5800

Training Information

The Weed Control skills program deals with the following elements:

  1. Inspection Procedures
  2. Identification of Weeds and Declared invaders
  3. Selection of Herbicides / Weed Killers
  4. Selection and Calibration of Equipment
  5. Safety precautions
  6. Application techniques
  7. Monitoring procedures
  8. Clean up procedures

The student will register for the course and receive a password to access the on line training course where the manual format training material is set out in training segments per subject theme. This manual is complimented with a whole host of training videos especially produced to show all the practical elements needed to come to grips with the subject material. For every training segment the learner will complete the required workbook and this will be submitted automatically on line as well. On completion the learner will complete a practical assessment either on line via a Skype platform or in person at our training academy.

Students will receive one year to complete the course after which all access privileges will lapse.

After the student has been assessed and on being found competent a six month mentoring program must be completed. On completion of the weed control programs skills program and after being certified competent the learner will qualify to be issued with P-registration number from the department of Agriculture: Act 36 of 1947.

Course Content

SECTION 1: LEARNER NOTES
  1. General information
  2. Topic descriptions
    1. Introduction to weed control
    2. Legislation
    3. The biology of weeds
    4. Herbicides
    5. General weed control information
    6. Control of woody plants
    7. Management of aquatic weeds
    8. Weed management in turfgrass
    9. Equipment and calibration
    10. Safety and environmental aspects
    11. Weed photo gallery
SECTION 2: LEARNING MAP
  1. Introduction
  2. The RSA classification code
    1. Pesticide labels
  3. Pesticide Classification, Properties and Products
    1. Classification according to Target Pest
    2. Classification, Properties and Products
  4. INTRODUCTION TO WEED CONTROL
    1. General
    2. Weeds and invader plants
    3. Definition of a weed
    4. The difference between alien invasive plants and environmental weeds
    5. What Does Weed Control entail?
    6. The place of weeds and problem plants in nature
SECTION 3: LEGISLATION
  1. Relevant Legislation
    1. The Fertilisers, Farm feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock remedies ACT, 1947 (ACT No. 36 of 1947)
    2. Legislation on Declared Weeds and Invaders
    3. The Conservation of Agricultural Resources ACT, 1983 (ACT No. 43 of 1983) (CARA)
    4. The National Water ACT, 1998 (ACT No.36 of 1998) (NWA)
    5. The Environmental Conservation ACT, 1989 (ACT 73 of 1989) (ECA)
SECTION 4: INTRODUCTION TO THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT NO. 85 OF 1993
  1. Introduction
  2. Exploring key concepts
  3. Regulatory and enforcement policies
  4. Understanding the responsibilities of all involved
    1. The Business Owner or Chief Executive Officer as the Employer
    2. Line Management (Supervisors) as representatives of the Employer
    3. Duties or responsibilities of employees
    4. Work Safely
    5. General Chemical Safety Guidelines
    6. Flammables
    7. Spill Response
    8. Safe storage practices
    9. Hazardous waste – Think Twice Before You Dump It
    10. Mind your back
  5. Conclusion
SECTION 5: THE BIOLOGY OF WEEDS

List of pests on stored commodities

  1. Classification of Weeds
    1. Weed Categories
    2. Distribution of weeds
  2. Invasive Status
    1. Environmental weeds
    2. List of Prohibited and Regulated Plants per Category
    3. Guide to the Identification of the Species
SECTION 6: HERBICIDES
  1. Introduction
  2. Classification of Herbicides
    1. Non-selective versus selective
    2. Mobility within the plant: Systemic herbicides
    3. Time of application
    4. Long versus short residual
    5. Mode of Action
    6. Herbicide Combinations
    7. Formulations
  3. Herbicides used in industrial Weed Control
    1. Organic-arsenic Compounds
    2. Phenoxy Compounds
    3. Phosphonic Acids
    4. Pyridene Carbolic Acid Compounds
    5. Pyriloxy Compounds
    6. Triazines
    7. Uracils
    8. Urea Compounds
  4. Herbicide Resistance
    1. What is Herbicide Resistance?
    2. Selection pressure
    3. Resistance mechanisms
    4. Factors influencing the development of resistance
    5. Herbicide rate and the development of resistance: does rate really matter?
SECTION 7: GENERAL WEED CONTROL INFORMATION
  1. Introduction
    1. What is Control?
  2. Problem plants
    1. Bush encroachers
    2. Pioneer plants
    3. Invasive alien plants
    4. Declared Invader plants
    5. Problems caused by invasive alien terrestrial plants
    6. Problems caused by invasive alien aquatic weeds
  3. What you need to know about weed control
    1. Control of Weeds and invasive plants
    2. Who will administrate this legislation, and how will it be enforced?
    3. Why control weeds?
    4. Weed control methods
    5. The biological basis of weed control
    6. Selectivity of Herbicides
  4. Methods of Control
    1. Mechanical control
    2. Chemical control
    3. Biological weed control
    4. Soil-applied Herbicides
    5. Foliar-applied Herbicides
SECTION 8: CONTROL OF WOODY PLANTS
  1. Mechanical Control
    1. Situations
    2. Techniques used in mechanical control
    3. Advantages of mechanical control
    4. Disadvantages of mechanical control
  2. Cultural Control
    1. Situations
  3. Chemical Control
    1. Situations
    2. Advantages of chemical control
    3. Disadvantages of chemical control
  4. Biological Control
    1. How biological control works
    2. Situations
    3. Advantages of biological control
    4. Disadvantages of biological control
  5. Integrated Control
    1. Impacts
    2. Scope
  6. Utilisation
    1. Scope
    2. Advantages of utilisation
    3. Disadvantages of utilisation
  7. Use of Fire
    1. Introduction
    2. Foliar Application
    3. Stem and Stump Application
    4. Soil-applied Herbicides
SECTION 9: MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC WEEDS
  1. Introduction
  2. Negative impacts
    1. Mechanical control
    2. Chemical control
    3. Biological Control
    4. Introduction
    5. Economic, ecological and social impacts
    6. Approaches to management
    7. Physical and mechanical control
    8. Chemical control
    9. Biological control
    10. Challenges to effective control of water hyacinth in South Africa
    11. Potential for successful control through an IPM approach
  3. Control of Water Lettuce in South Africa
    1. Introduction
    2. Description
    3. Distribution
    4. Origin of water lettuce
    5. Biology
    6. Reproduction
    7. Control of water lettuce
  4. Control of Kariba weed (Salvinia molesta)
    1. Description of Kariba weed
    2. Key points
    3. How it spreads
    4. Where it grows
    5. Controlling salvinia
    6. Herbicide application
    7. Other management strategies
  5. Control of Parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
    1. Description and Variation
    2. Economic Importance
    3. Habitat
    4. History
    5. Growth and Development
    6. Reproduction
    7. Response to Herbicides
    8. Response to Mechanical Methodss
    9. Biocontrol Potentials
  6. Control of Red water fern – Azolla filiculoides Lam.
    1. Introduction
    2. Biology
    3. Negative impacts
    4. Control Methods
SECTION 10: WEED MANAGEMENT IN TURFGRASS
  1. Introduction
  2. Weed Identification
  3. Weed invasion
  4. Weed Management before Planting
    1. Prepare Your Site
    2. Select an appropriate turfgrass species
  5. Weed Management in newly planted lawns
  6. Weed management in established Lawns
    1. Cultural/mechanical Practices
    2. Chemical Weed Control
  7. Renovating Lawns
SECTION 11: EQUIPMENT AND CALIBRATION
  1. General
    1. Important Factors
    2. Principles of Calibration
    3. Equipment and Calibration for industrial weed control
SECTION 12: SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
  1. Introduction
    1. Environmental Safety
    2. Environmental Impact
SECTION 13: WEEDS PHOTO GALLERY: INDEX
SECTION 14: SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES
  1. SAFETY IN RELATION TO PEST CONTROL ACTIVITIES
    1. Safe Handling of Pesticides
    2. Toxicity of Pesticides
  2. Handling pesticides
    1. Signals, warnings and safe handling directions
  3. Dangers involved in the misuse of pesticides
    1. Dangers involved in the misuse of pesticides
    2. Poisoning hazard
  4. PERSONAL protective equipment and clothing
    1. Protective equipment
    2. Personal protective clothing (SABS 072: 1993)
    3. Keys and tips to safe handling
  5. HANDLING OF SPILLAGES
    1. What to do When a Spill Occurs?
    2. Clean-up Procedures
    3. Decontamination Procedure
    4. Disposal
    5. Personal Hygiene
  6. TRIPLE RINSING
    1. Why triple rinse?
    2. How to “triple rinse” empty containers
  7. PESTICIDE POISONING FIRST-AID PROCEDURES
    1. In the event of accidental poisoning
    2. General principles of first aid
    3. Step-by-step CPR instructions 213
    4. Be prepared – take precautions
  8. Pollution and the Environmental Impact
    1. Pollution
    2. The Environment
  9. Introduction to Pesticide Storage
    1. Important Safety Factors
    2. Household Items
    3. Security Measures
    4. The pesticide Storing facility