The Wyoming Department of Agriculture website contains information you will need to learn about completing your applicator exam.

Please visit Wyoming Department of Agriculture – Pesticide Applicator Training.

Get information on pesticide application educational programs available through University of Wyoming Extension including licensing, training materials, and registering for certification and training programs.

This question hinges on knowing the calibration rate—how many gallons per acre (GPA) your sprayer dispenses. Factors like pressure, speed, sprayer type, and your application technique all influence this rate. Even with a handheld gallon-sized sprayer, proper calibration is essential to ensure accurate herbicide application, preventing both over and under-application.

To calibrate your sprayer, see How do I calibrate my equipment.

If your sprayer is already calibrated, find an example calculation to determine the amount of herbicide to put in your sprayer:

The label of Product A recommends that you apply one quart (32 oz) of herbicide per acre. Your 2-gallon hand sprayer has a calibration rate of 40 gallons per acre.

• (32 oz herbicide / 1 acre) * (1 acre / 40 gal) = 0.8 oz herbicide per gallon of wateR
• (0.8 oz herbicide / 1 gal water) * 2 gal / tank = 1.6 ounces herbicide / tank

You would need 1.6 ounces in this 2-gallon sprayer.

Remember, applying more than the recommended rate may have negative impacts and is in violation of the label.

When applying pesticides, it is important to administer the proper amount of product and pressure to minimize waste and maximize efficiency. Calibrate your sprayer at the beginning of each season. Watch a video or use an online calibration tool.

Calibration Resources:

Video

Online Tool

• Rinse and flush equipment after each use.
• Dispose of rinse water away from water supplies.
• Rinse equipment a second time adding household ammonia – 2oz/gallon of water.
• Circulate through the equipment and let stand for several hours.
• Flush the solution out of the handgun or boom.
• Rinse the system and circulate twice more with water.

All containers must be triple-rinsed and recycled.

The triple rinse procedure is as follows:

• Empty the remaining contents into your application equipment and allow to drain for 10 seconds.
• Fill the container one-quarter full with water and shake with lid tightly secured for 10 seconds.
• Empty and drain into equipment.
• Repeat two additional times.
• Make sure to puncture the container so that cannot be mistakenly used for anything else

Always follow the directions on the label or consult your local Weed & Pest District.

All of the Weed and Pest Districts make a concerted effort to use the best management practices available and the safest products for staff, residents, and the environment. For details on specific products, please consult your local Weed & Pest District. To learn more about pesticide safety in general, visit the National Pesticide Information Center.