The Weed Control with Plant, Pest & Diseases 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, 116429, 123376).

Dates

Duration

Cost
5-7 December 2022 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00 R7900
16-18 January 2023 Johannesburg Days 09:00-16:00
6-8 February 2023 Johannesburg Days 09:00-16:00
6-8 March 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
12-14 April 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
08-10 May 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
05-07 June 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
21-23 June 2023 Durban 3 Days 09:00-16:00
03-05 July 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
31 July-2 August 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
11-13 September 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
09-11 October 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
06-08 November 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00
04-06 December 2023 Johannesburg 3 Days 09:00-16:00

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 Weed Control with Plant, Pest & Diseases skills program starts with a three day practical induction course in a classroom environment after which the student is 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.

The following is included in the course:

  • Refreshments
  • Full comprehensive manual
  • Practical assessment

Course Content

TOPIC 1 DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF PESTICIDES IN TERMS OF TYPE AND GROUPING
  1. Introduction
  2. The RSA Classification Code
  3. Pesticide Classification, properties and products
TOPIC 2 PLANT PESTS AND DISEASES – GENERAL
  1. Introduction
  2. Principles of Pest Control
  3. Health & Nuisance Pests
  4. Pest Identification
  5. Pest Control
  6. Pest Control Goals
  7. Threshold Levels
  8. Pest Monitoring
  9. Avoiding Harmful Effects
  10. Diseases Caused by Pest-borne Pathogens
  11. Pests and Public Health
  12. Carriers and Vectors
  13. Poison Irritation and Allergy
  14. Pests and Diseases
  15. Diseases Encountered on the Job
  16. Recommended PPE
  17. Integrated Pest Management
  18. Pest Control Failures
  19. The IPM Concept
  20. Advantages of Integrating a range of control methods
TOPIC 3 INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS IN THE STUDY OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)
  1. The Ecological Basis of Pest Management
  2. Industry Trends and Protocols that impact on IPM
  3. Using Pesticides
  4. Barriers that could impact on IPM
TOPIC 4 PUBLIC RELATIONS
  1. General Guidance
  2. Acceptance of Slow-Acting Controls
  3. Structural Modifications
  4. Surveillance
  5. Tolerance of Occasional Low-Level Sightings
  6. Sanitation
TOPIC 5 GENERAL STEPS IN IPM
  1. The Six Steps of the IPM Process
    1. Understanding and Educations the Customer
    2. Analyzing the Pest Problem
    3. Taking Short-Term Corrective Action
    4. Implementing Long-Term Preventive Action
    5. Monitoring, Documenting and Evaluating Results
    6. Getting Back to the Customer
  2. Summary
TOPIC 6 TREATMENT SELECTION
  1. IPM Control Principles
  2. Cultural Control
  3. Mechanical and Physical Control
  4. Biological Control
  5. Chemical Control
  6. Selecting Treatment Strategies
  7. Criteria for selecting treatment strategies
  8. Timing treatments
  9. Spot Treatments
  10. Summary of available treatment options
  11. How to select a Pesticide for an IPM Programme
  12. Pesticide Use Guidelines
  13. Other Miscellaneous IPM procedures
TOPIC 7 THE IDENTIFICATION OF PLANT PESTS AND DISEASES
  1. Ants
  2. Scales
  3. Mealybugs
  4. Aphids
  5. Whiteflies
  6. Leafhoppers and Stinkbugs
  7. Mites
  8. Thrips
  9. Fruit Flies and Moths
  10. Caterpillars
  11. Army Worms
  12. Flower Beetles
  13. Moles
  14. Fleas
  15. Ticks
  16. Ants
  17. Birds
  18. Snakes
TOPIC 8 CONTROL METHODS
  1. Introduction
  2. Flea Control
  3. Tick Control
  4. Control of Ants
  5. Snake Control
  6. Lawn Diseases
    1. Brown Patch
    2. Dollar Spot
    3. Fairy Ring
    4. Rust
    5. Pythium Blight
    6. Anthracnose
TOPIC 9 SAFETY ON THE JOBS