[Clinton, N.C.] – Chet Bass, Department Chair for Sampson Community College’s Applied Animal Science Technology program, believes in hands-on training for his students. Over the past few months alone, Animal Science students have made several field trips to local farms to participate in health and wellness checks for cattle. His hands-on training isn’t limited to just his students though.

Bass recently obtained his North Carolina public and private pesticide operator’s licenses through the program located at the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University. The arboretum is a nationally acclaimed garden with one of the largest and most diverse collections of landscape plants adapted for landscape use in the Southeast.

“Pesticide use is probably not the very first thing you think of when you hear Animal Science,” says Bass. “Really though, proper handling of pesticides is an important part of the agriculture industry and can be incorporated into all areas of agriculture.”  Bass says the license will come in handy in the future should the Animal Science program at SCC develop into other areas that would require training on its uses in the future.

For almost fifty years, the North Carolina Pesticide Law requires licensing for individuals applying pesticides. Employees of federal, state, county, or municipal governments who apply pesticides in the course of their jobs are certified and licensed in the same manner as commercial applicators.

Private pesticide licenses are typically for farmers, or their employees, who use restricted use pesticides in the production of an agricultural commodity, on land that they own or lease, and are certified upon passing the North Carolina Private Pesticide exam. Bass is now certified and licensed for both public and private use.

For more information about SCC’s Applied Animal Science program, contact Bass at  910.900.4027 or cbass@sampsoncc.edu.

 

About Sampson Community College:  Sampson Community College is a member of the North Carolina Community College System, located in Clinton, NC in Sampson County. The college offers many programs to include two-year degrees, college transfer, continuing education and workforce development options and early college education.