Pesticide recertification conferences announced

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Commercial pesticide applicators needing credits for recertification can attend Ohio State University Extension-sponsored conferences offered across the state.

Commercial pesticide applicators are those who work for a company, a government agency or do pesticide application for hire. Commercial applicators with the turf, ornamental, pest control and industrial vegetation categories on their license can attend the Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conference.

The conference takes place on the following days and locations:

• Nov. 25 -- Cleveland Independence Holiday Inn, Cleveland, Ohio.
• Dec. 17 -- Dayton Convention Center, Dayton, Ohio.
• Jan. 14, 2004 -- Perrysburg Holiday Inn French Quarters, Perrysburg, Ohio.
• Feb. 17, 2004 -- Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio.

Additional conferences for agricultural commercial applicators with agronomic pest or agricultural weed control categories on their license also will be held. The Ohio Commercial Field Crop Recertification Conference takes place on Jan. 28, 2004 at the Lima, Ohio, Holiday Inn and Feb. 4, 2004 at the OSU Fawcett Center in Columbus.

"These conferences are designed for most commercial agricultural applicators to attend one day and receive five hours of credit toward recertification," said Joanne Kick-Raack, OSU Extension state coordinator for the Pesticide Education Program.

In Ohio, licensed commercial pesticide applicators must complete five hours of training every three years to maintain their pesticide licenses. The conferences will offer other categories including forestry, mosquito control and aquatics.

Testing facilities will be available for applicators at the conference to add categories to their current licenses, or for new applicators to obtain their license. To register online or for more information about the conferences, check the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu or call (614) 292-4070.

Private pesticide applicators are farmers and others who apply pesticides on land they own or rent to produce an agricultural commodity. Recertification training for private applicators will be held at OSU Extension county offices around the state. For a listing of recertification training by county, go to the Pesticide Education Program Web site at http://pested.osu.edu and follow the link for "Private Applicator."

The conferences also are sponsored by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.