Your Name

A + G or J

Your Company’s Name

MN PIE – City

Your Legal Signature

Today’s date

012345

All

Kay Sargent, Agricultural Consultant

Applicator Licensing, Certification and Recordkeeping

Categories: A – Core G – Forestry and J – Rights-of-Way

Add-ons: P – Pocket Gopher & F – Aquatic

MN PIE Workshops · April 5, 6 & 7

MN Department of AgricultureMN Department of Agriculture 33

Federal & MDA Roles

• Federally FIFRA establishes the pesticide distribution requirements

– Pesticide Registration – Pesticide Label

• MDA is authorized by state law to regulate pesticide use in Minnesota

– State Pesticide Registration– Applicator Certification and Licensing– Compliance

Aquatic Compliance

• MDA regulates pesticide use– Pesticide Applicators License

• DNR regulates water management– Aquatic Plant/Nuisance Management Permits

• PCA regulates Clean Water Act & NPDES

Majority of MDA misuse violations are label violations.

• All labels read: ‘It is a violation of Federal law to use this product in a manner inconsistent with it’s labeling.’

• Review labels often

Additional Common Issues

• Application records• Personal protective equipment• Application site • Rate of application• Environmental conditions

Reporting Violations & Complaints to MDA

• Call MDA at 651-201-6333

• Use MDA’s online ‘Pesticide Misuse Complaint Form’

• Information needed– Your name, address, phone

– Specific info on the incident

• Confidential investigation

• Upon completion, results may become public.

Applicator Responsibilities• Carry and display License• Responsible for application outcome• May not use, store or handle pesticides

– Inconsistent with label directions– Beyond target area– If in doing so it

• endangers humans • damages ag products or • causes adverse effects to the environment

Licensing and Certification

• Licensing Steps

• Recordkeeping

Commercial License

• All commercial applicators need to be licensed.

• Required for any pesticide application made “for hire”

• Employer must meet financial responsibility requirements

Non-Commercial License

• Required for a Restricted Use Pesticide application made as part of job duties on employer’s property

Licensing Steps

1. License Application and FeeComplete application

form online or hard copy

Pay application fee

2. Certification3. License Renewal4. Recertification

Licensing Steps1. License Application

and Fee

2. CertificationVerify identity

Must pass closed

book exams

Core + Use Category

3. License Renewal

4. Recertification

Licensing Steps

1. License Application and Fee

2. Certification

3. License RenewalSent in December

Late fee after March 1

Can renew online (if no changes or no retesting) or by mail

4. Recertification

Licensing Steps

1. License Application and Fee

2. Certification3. License Renewal4. Recertification

Attend a recertification workshop in order to renew your license next year

If you don’t attend: Retest! $75/test!

Check Your Licenses

APPLICATOR, ALFOREVER GREEN1971 VIKING AVE ENOWTHEN MN 55330

LICENSE # 20123456

AG

12/31/201112/31/2011

03/29/2011 - 12/31/2011

Applicator Changes• Licenses do not transfer to new

employers• Cannot change address or employer

information online• Notify MDA to get a change form• Complete form and pay fees to MDA• MDA will issue the new license

Changes – Contact MDA

License & Certification Summary

• Renew your license annually.

• Attend Recertification Workshops as required.

Example:

2011 - Renew & Attend Workshop (or retest)

2013 - Renew

2014 - Renew & Attend Workshop (or retest)

and so on….

Keep your license with you when applying

Pesticide Application Records

MN Pesticide Control Law A commercial or

noncommercial applicator, or authorized agent, must maintain a record of pesticides used on each site.

Minn. Stat.18B.37

MDA Pesticide Records

• May be a part of –Invoices, Work Order–DNR, other organizations’ records–Paper or Electronic

• Needs to be Accurate and Honest

Considerations

License Type & Category Determines record content and format

Pesticide Application Records must be Kept for 5 years Given to MDA upon request

License Type & Records

• Commercial Applicators are required to keep records of ALL applications – Restricted Use (RUPs) and General Use

License Type & Records

Commercial Applicators

• Must provide customer a complete record – 18B.37(2)(d)

License Type & Records• Noncommercial Applicators are required

keep records of all RUP applications

Category Specific Records• Category F: Aquatic– Lake name/other

description– Average depth– Units treated

• Surface area or volume

– Optional• DNR Permits• Target Pests

Category Specific Records

• Category J: Rights- of-Way

– Starting Location– Ending Location– Update weather

information every 2 hours

Category Specific Records

• Category P: Pocket Gopher

– Start Point– End Point– Description of the

application site

MDA Record Requirements• Company name and

address• Location• Customer name and

address (Commercial)

MDA Record Requirements

• Pesticide– Brand name

– EPA Reg. No.

• Applicator – Printed name

– License number

–Signature

MDA Record Requirements

• Units treated• Pesticide

– Dose • Rate per Acre • Rate per Acre-Foot

MDA Record Requirements

• Application start & stop time

• Weather information – prevailing conditions• Temperature• Wind Speed • Wind Direction

Application Record• Complete as soon as

possible• One page

– May attach map

• Applicator or designated agent must keep copy of record for 5 years

Common Mistakes

Omit required info Incorrect info given

Example EPA Reg. No.

Multiple days work on a single record Pre-printed/written:

– Time, Weather, Signature

MDA Sample Records Sample records

available on web – www.mda.state.mn.us

Samples illustrate requirements – compare to your records

Sharing Records

MDA inspectors, medical staff can request records

Who decides what records are shared with the public?

Recordkeeping Summary

• Commercial Applicators– Keep records of all pesticide applications– Give a copy of record to customer

• Noncommercial Applicators– Keep records of Restricted Use Pesticide

applications

• Use the category specific records.

Your Name

A + G or J

Your Company’s Name

MN PIE – City

Your Legal Signature

Today’s date

012345

All