Who qualifies as a private applicator?

A private applicator is defined as an individual who applies pesticides for agricultural purposes or to manage pests on their own property. This typically includes farmers, growers, and foresters who use restricted-use pesticides specifically on land they own or manage.

Private applicators often produce agricultural commodities and are not using pesticides for commercial purposes or applying them on someone else's property. The distinction of being a private applicator is important for regulatory purposes, as these individuals are held to different standards compared to commercial applicators, who apply pesticides for a fee or work on behalf of others.

Other options present scenarios that do not adhere to the definition of a private applicator, such as individuals using pesticides without a license, which indicates a lack of training or certification; commercial applicators, who apply pesticides as a job and do not limit their work to their own premises; and government employees applying pesticides in public parks, which involves a different regulatory framework and typically falls under public agency guidelines rather than private applicator regulations. Therefore, the correct qualification for a private applicator specifically encompasses the scenario described in the answer choice.