Pesticide, fertilizer applicator recertification training offered

In the winter months farmers are busy purchasing inputs for the upcoming crop, selling grain, and attending meetings to improve their business operations and to fulfill education requirements for regulatory programs. Two of these regulatory programs are the Private Pesticide Applicator License and the Fertilizer Applicator Certificate programs. The Ohio State University Extension — Hancock County Office will be offering recertification training for these programs on Thursday, Jan. 22 in the conference room of the Hancock County Agriculture Service Center, 7868 County Road 140, Findlay. Fertilizer training will be 8–9 a.m. followed by pesticide training, 9 a.m.–noon. Pesticide recertification is available for Core and all other categories except 7, Specialty Uses. The same program will be offered again on Feb. 19 at the same location in the evening. For this program, fertilizer training will be 5–6 p.m., followed by pesticide training 6–9 p.m. Pre-registration is required for both programs no later than noon the day before the meeting by calling the Hancock County Extension Office at 419-422-3851 or email lentz.38@osu.edu. Other dates will be available in other nearby counties, and can be found at https://pested.osu.edu/privaterecertification. Private pesticide applicator training has an educational fee of $35 and fertilizer training a fee of $10 to cover program and educational costs. Fees may be paid at the door or at the Hancock County Extension Office by cash or check — no credit cards accepted. Checks should be remitted to the Ohio State University Extension. In addition, The Ohio Department of Agriculture will require a $30 license renewal fee; farmers whose license expires this year should have already received a statement in the mail to be sent along with renewal payment to ODA. The private applicator pesticide license came about after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was established in 1970. Soon after, EPA required states to develop, implement, and enforce regulations for private and commercial pesticide applicators. ODA's plan was approved by EPA and began in 1971. Any Ohio farmer applying a restricted use pesticide (RUP) must have a private applicator pesticide license to purchase a RUP, which the retailer will require them to present before selling the product. A chemical has been designated as an RUP because of its potential to harm the environment or injure the applicator. Product labels for these chemicals provide proper use instructions to reduce these potential risks. Ohio's RUP list follows those identified by EPA, which can be found at https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2025-03/rups-rpt.pdf. Most insecticides for all crops, and corn herbicides containing atrazine are the most common RUP products used by farmers use in our area. To obtain a license a farmer must pass examinations to ensure competency in general pesticide safety and application knowledge. They also must pass additional tests in certain categories such as grain crops, livestock and forages, fruit and vegetables, and/or fumigation. After obtaining the initial license, it can be renewed every three years by completing three hours of continuing education — at least one hour must be in general pesticide safety, use, and regulations, also known as the core requirements. The other two hours can be in the other categories of their license. The Ohio State University Extension is responsible for the training. Besides teaching the basics, continuing education requirements, Extension Educators emphasize effective management strategies that enhance crop productivity; encourage responsible use of pesticide products; and promote safe practices for applicators, the public, and the environment. If a farmer fails to complete the continuing education hours by the expiration of their license, they will have to take and pass the state examination again to get a new license. Thus, each year, a group of farmers must have completed their training before their license expires on March 31. The fertilizer applicator certification requirement became Ohio law in 2014 to address harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie. Farmers that apply their own fertilizer to more than 50 acres of cropland would have to obtain an Agriculture Fertilizer Applicator Certificate to apply nitrogen and phosphorus to fields. The certificate was not required to apply lime or starter fertilizer from a planter. Lime contains calcium and magnesium, which are not water quality concerns. Starter fertilizers applied with seed planters use small amounts of nutrients to avoid seed injury and are generally incorporated; thus, are not a water quality concern. To obtain a fertilizer applicator certificate, a farmer must complete a three-hour training course or pass a written examination. During the training, farmers receive information on algae blooms in Lake Erie, importance of soil testing for nutrient management, and management practices to reduce nutrient loss from farm fields, particularly phosphorus. Like the pesticide applicator license, the fertilizer applicator certificate must be renewed every three years by completing continuing education, which is only one hour for fertilizer applicator recertification. Many farmers have both a Private Pesticide Applicator License and a Fertilizer Applicator Certification. For these farmers, ODA has synchronized the renewal year for their pesticide license and fertilizer certificate. For those needing a Fertilizer Applicator Certificate, a 3-hour fertilizer applicator training program will be offered in person March 2, 6-9 p.m., at the Putnam County Educational Service Center, 124 Putnam Parkway, Ottawa, OH 45875. Register by calling the Putnam County Extension Office at 419-523- 6294. Farmers participate in many winter meetings. By participating in the Private Pesticide Applicator and Fertilizer Applicator programs, farmers do their part in being good land stewards by learning sustainable practices that protect the land and improve the water quality. Ed Lentz is agriculture and natural resources educator with Ohio State University Extension Office — Hancock County.