Pesticide applicator alert

By Harold Watters, Ohio State University Extension

The state legislature and the Ohio Department of Agriculture have been busy since last winter; new updates have been made to your pesticide license. So any applicator who holds an Ohio Private Applicator License has just received an updated license – every private applicator in Ohio.

Why the new license? They actually have simplified the process, by reducing the categories from 13 to 7. And that means fewer tests, fewer categories to get recertified in, simpler. It is hard to believe, but this is one government function I am happy about. Everything is still covered it’s just been combined with similar categories.

For most of us across Ohio we have categories 1, 2 and CORE. Those cover Field Crops (1), Forage Crops and Livestock (2) – of course everyone has CORE that is the regulation, environment and safety area.

Category 1 now includes seed treatment, stored grain and noncrop in addition to weeds, insects and disease control for corn (all corn including sweet), soybeans and wheat.

Category 2 includes forages as before but now includes Livestock Buildings and Livestock, as well as  non-crop and seed treatment in those forage/livestock settings.

What is the same? You still must recertify or re-test every three years. Ohio State University Extension offices will continue doing the training for recertification. And you still need a minimum of three hours of recertification time, that’s one hour in CORE education and one-half hour each in every other category you have. While you did get a new license this fall, you may still need to renew this winter. Check the date at the bottom of your card – there it identifies your Recertification Cycle and indicates when your license expires. Just above that area are your Categories. My license has 1, 2, CORE and 6.

What is category 6? In the past many of the categories also had a fumigation definition along with other pesticide uses. Now any fumigation will be included here in 6. And because many areas had fumigation as part of the category, you become grandfathered into the new Category 6. If you are like most of us you will keep this category by recertifying in this area too. This will allow the purchase of fumigation products in the area you need them, whether greenhouse, soils for tobacco or stored grain. Because of the potential safety and environment issues, you will undergo additional training over what you may have had in the past.

See the Ohio State University Pesticide Education website: http://pested. osu.edu/ for more information on the other new categories as well as dates for recertification in your area. Watch also later this fall for a letter from the Ohio Department of Agriculture letting you know the location of those nearby recertification sites, or just check with your local Extension office.