A private grain fumigation training and testing clinic has been scheduled for Tuesday,

March 10, at University of Illinois Extension, 4618 Broadway, Mt. Vernon. Training begins at

1 p.m. with testing immediately following. There is a $30 fee for training, and pre-registration is required.

"Illinois farmers who want to use grain fumigants on the farm need to have their private pesticide applicator license, and they need to pass the private grain fumigation exam," explains Doug Jones, U of I Extension integrated pest management specialist. "Mt. Vernon will be the only southern Illinois location for the grain fumigation training and testing."

If a substantial number of farmers are unable to attend the March 10 training/testing clinic, a second training will be offered on March 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the same location. However, the exam will not be given on site that day. Farmers can either go to the Mt. Vernon Holiday Inn to take the test on March 9, or return to the U of I Extension office at 3:30 p.m. on March 10 to take the test.

Study materials are available for purchase through your local Extension office or online at https://pubsplus.uiuc.edu/agriculturepesticide.html. The Illinois Pesticide Applicator Training Manual: Grain Facility is available in book form (SP39-8) or on CD (SP39-8-CD).

To register for this clinic, call the Jefferson County U of I Extension Office, 618-242-0780.