Licensed applicator notation

[SodKing]

Hello Sean,

How about a designation within the profile to denote whether a person is licensed to apply pesticides or not?...I know it would help in the pesticide forum...

[i_plant_art]

sounds like a good idea but i am sure that many people out there like myself who are not licensed would put that they are licensed so they can look like a big shot on here. as an ego thing but i do agree it would be a good idea to have.

[jimslawns]

why not make it a requirment to provide a copy of License to a moderator who can get you "designation".

[SodKing]

why not make it a requirment to provide a copy of License to a moderator who can get you "designation".

I aggree. I would be more than happy to provide such information. Its not an ego thing as another has eluded. I am a landscape designer, though not a certified landscape designer so I would not look for that designation. But the professionals who "just put scotts down" because the client asked is doing a great deal of damage to the great deal of time and effort we put into getting licensed.

[Brandyanna]

Hello Sean,

How about a designation within the profile to denote whether a person is licensed to apply pesticides or not?...I know it would help in the pesticide forum...



What would this help with? Are you suggesting because you don't have a license you should not be allowed to access information or make inquires?


Some states allow pesticide applications without licenses under defined criteria and it is legal in most states for anybody (including LCO's) to make pesticide applications with non-restricted pesticides at there own home so why would would we want to limit who can access information or share knowledge.

FYI there is another web forum who has a licensed applicator only forum, if you feel you are unable to read and ignore posts that might irritate you I am sure they will welcome you there. What we DON'T need is elitism!.

[SodKing]

Lets not throw a hissy fit here.

It is not elitism and I usually give advise to whomever asks, and I am not saying that we should limit who has access to the pesticide forums, those are all your words. I am saying that when receiving information from people wouldn't it be nice to know those suggestions are coming from a licensed applicator? It would also help us licensed folk to more quickly answer posters questions.

There are no self serving interests here, and no ego...

[DLS1]

Lets not throw a hissy fit here.

It is not elitism and I usually give advise to whomever asks, and I am not saying that we should limit who has access to the pesticide forums, those are all your words. I am saying that when receiving information from people wouldn't it be nice to know those suggestions are coming from a licensed applicator? It would also help us licensed folk to more quickly answer posters questions.

There are no self serving interests here, and no ego...

Good point. Some people on here just give answers just to give an answer even though they don't know what they are talking about in the pesticide area.

We can just copy our pesticide license into an email and send it to the moderators. The licenses are public record so they can go online to the state pesticide sites to verify the copied license is not a fake.

Not that anyone on this distinguished site would send a fake for the fun of it. :D

[The Dude]

But dont you think the mods here have enough to do? To add verifying licenses on top of their normal duties would be entirely too much.

As far as misinformation goes, that happens everywhere in every forum and with just about every topic.

If you want to be reconized as licensed, put your applicator number on you sig line.

If you want to be recognized with a goofy title or color on your name, you should go to the other forum and play there.

[Groundcover Solutions]

I am not in the pesticide business but I agree that this is a good idea for not only pesticides but other aspects of the green industry that require or promote licensing or higher education. It just helps in showing that someone might be a little more knowledge able and can provide a good answer to a question. Such as when you are in a court case you call upon an expert in a field to testify you do not call up a person who has only been working for a month or so and is not certified or licensed. Not that others that are not certified and licensed can not provide extremely good responses to questions and be extremely helpful. It just gives something more to stand on I would take such a person a little more seriously because they are certified and know what they are talking about (most of the time they know!!)

[DLS1]

But dont you think the mods here have enough to do? To add verifying licenses on top of their normal duties would be entirely too much.

As far as misinformation goes, that happens everywhere in every forum and with just about every topic.

If you want to be reconized as licensed, put your applicator number on you sig line.

If you want to be recognized with a goofy title or color on your name, you should go to the other forum and play there.

Why so negative? You sound like your glass is half empty.
How would you know what is entirely to much for the moderators?

[Sean Adams]

OK...good points from both sides of this suggestion. Here are my feelings...

I don't think Sod King was insinuating we separate people on the site. I think he was implying that sometimes it may make a member feel a little bit more confident taking information and advice from someone who has gone through the rigors of being tested and certified.

The Dude commented that the mods are busy enough and verifying information would be an extra added task....this is probably true, but if the members show they want this overwhelmingly I can make my wife sit up day and night verifying all information :rolleyes:

Brandyanna asked or stated that this may cause or prohibit some unlicensed members from seeing information and partaking in discussions. This would definitely not happen.

I will say this...if people are going to want this, it has to be proven they are certified without a doubt - no exceptions. And maybe this does not have to be just for pesticide certification either. But when I say certification has to be proven without a doubt, no exceptions I mean this. There are other sites that show symbols, avatars, etc....claiming people are certified applicators when I know for certain 100% that several are not certified, some have not even taken the test, and a few if I recall are not even old enough to be certified.

What I am saying is...if we did make this a feature, it would have to be because people want it. Second, if it causes problems we would have to remove it. Third, if it can be for pesticide, we can also open it up to design, irrigation, etc...BUT - a simple email....."Hey Sean, it's me...yeah I'm certified. Hook me up!"....not gonna cut it (no pun intended).

Should we let this roll on or make an official poll to see what people think via a vote?

[Groundcover Solutions]

I say we give it a try it sounds like a very good idea.

[jimslawns]

For verification puposes, If this becomes an option, what about a scan emailed to the moderator, with legal name, dated, on a state form?

[DLS1]

OK...
Should we let this roll on or make an official poll to see what people think via a vote?

I say lets do it. It will not hurt anyone if a pesticide certification icon is next to their name. If it hurts someones feelings then they are awful insecure about themselves. :D

[1MajorTom]

One thing though, how will this work when a members license is ready to expire, will they have to resubmit their information again proving that they updated their license.... will a database need to be set up to track when members licenses are due to expire???

[jimslawns]

I would think once people have a license they are less likley to let it lapse. A license is good for 3yrs around here, so perhaps an honor system should be considered; or possilby enter the exp date under the designation, when you get the new license (3yrs or so) it is updated. It is all public record so as long as we don't post names and License #'s it would be hard to find. Just a month and year experation. Make it the License holders responsiblity to update with the moderators. In my opinon it is kinda like the post count tagline, and kind of gives you an idea of someones experience (or lack there of) ;)

[Chris Wagner]

I think it's a great idea!

I say go for it!!

[lbmd1]

I think it's ridiculous. When I saw this going on at the other site, it made me laugh, like it was a secret club with secret handshakes and such. Like Sean said, if we do it for one category, what about the others like mentioned: designers, irrigation, etc.. I posess a CDL license, does that make me any more authoratative than anyone else in the truck\trailer forum? Absolutely not! What about the Truegreen\Chemlawn kids that I see each summer in shorts, t-shirts, and sneakers applying chemicals to over 25 lawns a day dressed like that. Do they posess more knowledge than others? Absolutely not! I've been on lawnsite since it was the Hall of Forums. Most people who are smart enough and have been here long enough realize who's blowing smoke and who's not. I know who's licensed in the pesticide forum without having there app # posted here. Ya know, in the end, it's not rocket science. I mean yes the requirements are tough, but alot of Joe homeowners have nice lawns just by following the Scotts 5 step program. And most licensed guys are putting down pretty much the same stuff, albeit a little more powerful. We're not talking restricted licensed chemicals, we're talking pre-em, 2-4-d, and grub control. All of which I use on my own lawn as needed without a license. So does my imput mean any less than a licensed individual even though the results are the same? Just my 2 cents.

Mike

[SodKing]

I posess a CDL license, does that make me any more authoratative than anyone else in the truck\trailer forum?

Yes it does! I don't have a CDL and don't frankly know much about it. Your experience gained by getting that license would help me greatly, your knowledge in that field is far above mine. So in this respect I would value your input more highly than someone else who is not.

I am a member in many lawn forums, this is where I hang out 99.9% of the time. There are many qualified people and there are many not so qualified. But I value all of the information I read. When I ask a question about a pesticide who am I more likely to listen to...Ric or an unlicensed individual who just tells me to spray it, it should work...

[DLS1]

... We're not talking restricted licensed chemicals, we're talking pre-em, 2-4-d, and grub control.


Okay you must not have a pesticide license. There are plenty of restricted pesticides for licensed applicators that homeowners are not suppose use.

[Charles]

Should we let this roll on or make an official poll to see what people think via a vote?

Looks like from these varying and sometime emotional opinions, an Official Poll would be a good idea imo

[SodKing]

Okay you must not have a pesticide license. There are plenty of restricted pesticides for licensed applicators that homeowners are not suppose use.


I aggree many items with 2,4-D are restricted in Mass and Dylox grub control is prohibited/limited in Maine.

[SodKing]

..................................

[olderthandirt]

Certification is not hard to get, you only need to pass a a couple tests. Experience in using the pesticides is what counts ! So how would you gain the knowledge of which member is a fert specialist from showing a lisc.# ? I've been certified for awhile now :D but never applied pesticides unless it was absolutely necessary for me to do so, preferring to sub that part out. So there are many more members that are more knowledgeable than me on the subject. If your certified I believe you will be able to tell FAST who knows there "stuff" and who does not, at least I can. But I do like the idea of requiring to show all lisc. & certs. in all phases of expertise. But that would be somewhat pointless as if you know what you are doing why would you be asking questions from another member who either has the same credentials or one that has fewer. And if you don't know what your doing and need to ask questions about a particular aspect of a job then maybe your in over your head. What makes you believe that the info you get on a forum will be correct and truthful?
But thats just my .02 cents worth

[lawnandplow42]

Hello Sean,

How about a designation within the profile to denote whether a person is licensed to apply pesticides or not?...I know it would help in the pesticide forum...

ya because when ever you ask a question, all you hear is "are you liscensed?" lol

[DLS1]

.... I've been certified for awhile now :D but never applied pesticides unless it was absolutely necessary for me to do so, preferring to sub that part out....

I am curious why you don't try to get customers for fert/spray since it makes a lot more money per hour than mowing and is easier on the body.

[olderthandirt]

I am curious why you don't try to get customers for fert/spray since it makes a lot more money per hour than mowing and is easier on the body.

It simple, I had given up the maintenance side of the business and concentrated on design and installation. Much more $$$ in that side of the business for me payup I kept my certs. in case I would be into a position of having to kill off weeds or grass or I ran into a customer that needed something done immediately or I needed to do a fert/spray to gain a targeted customer. I agree fert & squirt is more profitable than mowing, but not as profitable as installations.
As I try to become less involved in the business, it will be moving back into the maintenance part so I will be doing more fert/squirts for the next yr or two. And will probably be asking some questions, but I know which members who's advise I will listen to. I don't need a certified applicator avatar near there names to distinguish experience from BS.

[tjgray]

My main reservation about giving advice to in-experienced, un-licensed posters is that if they get out there and mess something up then it hurts the industry as a whole.

That and I have noticed that some of the information you read here is not always fact and if the in-experienced newbie perceives it as so then they could find themselves caught up in a huge dilemma.

I would much rather involve myself with intelligent threads that truly have the green industry's best interest in mind not giving advice to the newbie who woke up and decided they wanted to spray chemicals today and that the best place to learn how was on lawn site.

If you truly love this industry as much as we do then you will take the time needed to educate yourself and apply chemicals legally......if not then I have absolutely no respect for you and in no way want to offer you advice.

[Lawn Dog2001]

I think the certified applicator notation would be a great thing.

I am an applicator, and I do you use the pesticide forum from time to time for advice. It would be nice to know that the people that are giving advice, and sharing their opinons on various chemicals, are qualified to do so.

Plus, I would rather see LawnSite reward people, who have actually taken the time to get themselves certified within their state, with a notation.

Instead you label people as "ROYALTY" simply based on post count. Meanwhile all of you know that you can have a post count of 10,000 and that doesnt neccasarily mean you know anything at all. A lot of times it just means you answer every post, or start arguments just to watch your post count soar.

I remember a while back you started that silly little points system where members could rate eachother. I remember reading that you wanted something other than post count to let people know something about the people they were getting advice from.

I think this would be a much better way to make new members feel comfortable with the advice they are getting.

And I am not buying this, "anyone can get certifed, all they have to do is take a test". Yeah you study, take a test, take numerous amounts of recertification credits each year, go through numerous amounts of DOA record keeping, and along the way become pretty knowledgable in what you are doing.

Sorry for the minor tantrum, but this is something I think you should really consider.

[GroundKprs]

LOL, LOL, LOL. Some of the most ignorant statements about pesticides I have heard have come from "licensed" individuals. And not just here, but at all types of other assemblies.

Just because he has a badge, is that policeman a good cop? Lots of good cops will tell you that there are plenty of badges pinned to pompous egos.

Ahhh, a yard boy with a badge. Goody, goody, I can't wait.

[SodKing]

Ask Geo..he's both.

[Lawn Dog2001]

LOL, LOL, LOL. Some of the most ignorant statements about pesticides I have heard have come from "licensed" individuals. And not just here, but at all types of other assemblies.

Just because he has a badge, is that policeman a good cop? Lots of good cops will tell you that there are plenty of badges pinned to pompous egos.

Ahhh, a yard boy with a badge. Goody, goody, I can't wait.

GroundsKprs, I see what you are saying. But good cop or bad cop, a cops a cop.

There are a lot of new faces here, and sometimes you have to take what people say here with a grain of salt. Not knowing if who you are talking to has any clue what they are talking about.

At least if someone knows the person advising them is certified, they know they are getting advice from someone who has a license to apply pesticides, and not Jimbob up the street who spays vingar on his dandelions, and swears it works better than momentum. Just my 2 cents.

Plus Im sure if anyone licensed or not steers someone astray, Im sure some one like you or Ric would take him to school. You guys know your stuff. Theres no doubt about it.

[DLS1]

LOL, LOL, LOL. Some of the most ignorant statements about pesticides I have heard have come from "licensed" individuals. And not just here, but at all types of other assemblies.

Just because he has a badge, is that policeman a good cop? Lots of good cops will tell you that there are plenty of badges pinned to pompous egos.

Ahhh, a yard boy with a badge. Goody, goody, I can't wait.

So what is the point? That is life for any profession.

Why is their so many insecure people in the lawn business on this site.