Who are private applicators typically employed by?

Private applicators are typically individuals who use restricted-use pesticides in a manner that is tailored to their own needs. They are generally employed by or work directly for the owners of farms, forests, nurseries, or greenhouses. This means that their primary role is to apply pesticides on land that they either own or manage, ensuring that they are adhering to safety regulations and effective pesticide practices specifically for their operations.

This option reflects the practical reality of private applicators, who often need to manage pest control in a focused environment where they have direct responsibility over the crops or plant life. Their training and knowledge about pesticides are meant to ensure that they can apply these substances in ways that maximize effectiveness while minimizing risks to themselves, the environment, and the public.

The other choices do not accurately capture the typical employment situation of private applicators; while agricultural corporations may employ commercial applicators, private applicators are more autonomous and operate within the confines of their own operations. Government agencies can oversee regulations but typically do not employees private applicators directly, and limiting them to "only farms" overlooks the broader range of environments where private applicators may work, including forests, nurseries, and greenhouses.