Private Pesticide Recertification In Rochester Tuesday

Many consumers do not know that farmers that apply restricted-use pesticides need a license from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. That license is valid for three years. Then farmers must recertify by attending a training session or take an online test. The University of Minnesota Extension Service provides the educational training sessions that are held from late January through February.

Lisa Behnken, crops specialists at the Rochester Regional Extension office told me that they will be holding a private pesticide applicator recertification workshop Tuesday, December 20, at the Heintz Center in Rochester starting at 12:30PM. Lisa said they had received a number of requests from farmers that were going to be gone later in January and February. They requested a training session to get recertified before they left Minnesota.

Lisa said they have never had a recertification program this early. However, they would be happy to offer it as farmers requested it. My private pesticide applicator license expires this year too, so I need to get to one of the sessions before March 1. A number of years ago Extension educators began working in a lot of agronomic information along with what was required by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. It is a very informative program that farmers look forward to. By the way, you do not need to register ahead of time. You can just show up to any of the sessions.