By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Humboldt, IA – The deadline for pesticide applicators to meet re-certification requirement has been waived following declaration by the governor.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program Manager Kristine Schaefer reports that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship was has waived the deadline for re-certification of pesticide applicators following a proclamation by Gov. Kim Reynolds on March 22. The waiver allows Iowa pesticide applicators who were certified as of Dec. 31 of 2019 to retain their statue through 2020.
Shaefer writes that applicators still need to meet the proper standards by Dec. 31. All in-person certifications must be completed by the end of the year. All pesticide applicator certifications will remain on a three-year certification.
The Commercial Continuing Instruction Course (C-CIC) schedule for commercial applicators needing to be re-certified remains unchanged according to Shaefer. The spring schedule was completed as scheduled and the fall programs will restart in October.
Private Pesticide applicators who plan to re-certify by attending Private applicators Continuing Instruction Course (P-CIC) programs and were unable to participate in the 2019-2020 programs will now have until Sept. 30, 2020 to attend. More information the 2019-2020 P-CIC programs will be released when it is made available.
Iowa pesticide applicators need not wait until the end of the year to apply for their re-certification. They are encouraged to submit a request once they have completed all testing and training requirements.
ISU Extension and Outreach will work with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to help provide testing site once testing activities resume.
The full report by Shaefer is available at: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/iowa-pesticide-applicators-have-more-time-complete-recertification