ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 28, 2009

PESTICIDE APPLICATORS SHOULD CHECK THEIR CERTIFICATION

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has reminded pesticide applicators to make sure they are properly certified, especially if they are applying pesticides for hire.

“If you are paid to mix, load or apply restricted-use pesticides for someone else, except your employer, you must be commercially certified or be working under the direct supervision of a commercially certified applicator,” Goehring said. “The only exception is for a private applicator who applies chemicals for another agricultural producer in exchange for personal services.”

Commercial applicators must pass a detailed examination, provide proof of financial responsibility and keep detailed records of all pesticide applications for three years. Commercial applicators must be recertified every three years.

Pesticides, such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides, include any products designed to kill, control or repel animal or plant pests. Restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) pose a relatively high degree of hazard to humans and/or the environment, and may be bought and used only by certified pesticide applicators or persons under their direct supervision.

“Anyone with questions about certification should contact the pesticide program at the North Dakota Department of Agriculture at 1-800-242-7535,” Goehring said.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.