Private Pesticide Recertification Workshops

Remember, if you are going to be applying Restricted Use Pesticides you need a Private Pesticide Applicator License. Last week, I got a post card from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture telling me my license expires in March. There are a number of Private Pesticide Applicator Recertification Workshops coming up with two on Thursday, January 23, starting at 8:30 am in the 4-H Building on the Rice County Fairgrounds in Faribault and at 6:00 pm in Owatonna at the Steele County Community Center on the Steele County Fairgrounds. Another on Thursday, January 30th starting at 8:30 am in Blooming Prairie at the City Center Library, on Tuesday, February 11th at 6:00 pm in Northfield at the Senior Center and on Monday, February 17th in Albert Lea at Riverland College in Room 124. If you are there at the start of the certification and stay to the end you do not have to take the test, your certification will be renewed for another three years. The University of Minnesota Extension Service handles the certification and they also do a nice job of working in agronomic topics into the program. If your certification has already expired or you cannot attend a workshop you have the option of taking the test on line or mail-in exam. Private Pesticide Applicator Safety Education Manuals are available at local Extension offices for $10 or you can download an electronic copy of the manual.