Private pesticide certification workshops

By News Team
ads@fillmorecountyjournal.com

Fri, Jan 6th, 2012
Posted in Agriculture

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Six Private Pesticide Applicator Certification Workshops have been scheduled for Fillmore, Houston, and Winona Counties. If you are one of the 207 in Fillmore County, one of the 70 in Houston County, or one of the 101 in Winona County due for recertification, you should have received a reminder postcard from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in mid-December. That card had some incorrect information. A corrected copy with 2012 information should have been sent in early January to remind you to re-certify.

You need to renew your Private Pesticide Applicator Certification if you apply pesticides to land or sites you own, rent, or lease for the production of agriculture commodities. This applies if you plan to use restricted use pesticides, reside in the state of Minnesota, and your certification expires in 2012.

You have three options to renew your Private Pesticide certification. Attend a Recertification Workshop instead of retesting. Complete the test as home study course; books and tests are scheduled to arrive at the County Extension Offices the week of January 9. Or, complete the test on-line at: www.pat.umn.edu. Recertification must be completed by March 1, 2012.

If you are not currently certified (i.e. certified through March 1 2012) you cannot become certified by attending a Recertification Workshop. In that case, to become certified take the 2012 test on-line, or take the 2012 mail-in test available from your local County Extension Office. If you chose to attend the 3.5 hour Recertification Workshop to renew the private applicator certification in lieu of taking a test, the MN Dept. of Ag requires applicators to attend the entire 3.5 hour workshop to receive recertification credit. Applicators that arrive more than 15 minutes late to a workshop will not be allowed to receive recertification credit.

The cost to recertify, by attending a workshop or testing is $50 for three years. Checks only (no cash, please). Made, payable to the U of MN. Registration for workshops will be taken at the door, no pre-registration is required.

When attending a recertification workshop, you must bring an official photo identification card, (driver's license, passport or some type of official document). Bringing your Private Pesticide Applicator Certification ID card, too, assists in the registration process. Persons who don't have their Applicator Card may obtain their applicator number on-line at the MDA website (www.mda.state.mn.us) or by contacting MDA at 651-201-6633.

For those choosing to take the test there is a new 2012 Manual - the NEW 19th Edition of the Private Pesticide Applicator Training manual. All 18th Ed books can be recycled. They will no longer be valid to use with exams. The new manual will retail at $10.00 per copy.

A complimentary PDF version of the new 19th ED manual will be posted on-line and available with the online exam beginning January 3, 2012. The link to the Private Certification page where individuals can access the on-line exam and other program resources: http://www.extension.umn.edu/pesticides/private.html

If you are wondering if a workshop is still being held due to weather you can check the Farm Information Line 1-800-232-9077. Call the Fillmore County Extension Office 507-765-3896; the Houston County Extension Office 507-725-5807; the Winona County Extension Office 507-457-6440, or listen to KFIL radio.

For complete listing of other locations throughout Minnesota and information about testing manuals and exams, please refer to the website http://www.extension.umn.edu/pesticides or call the Farm Information Line at 800-232-9077.

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