It’s that time of year and new certifications for fertilizer use are in place! Please keep in mind that Fertilizer Certification is needed by September 30, 2017 for anyone who applies fertilizer to more than 50 acres of agricultural production grown primarily for sale.
There is no distinction between commercial and private fertilizer applicators.
Pesticide licensed applicators, you have time to complete the fertilizer training. You can complete the training, and then it will match up with your pesticide license at renewal.
A combined pesticide recertification/ fertilizer certification class for those with a pesticide license will be on Feb. 3 at 2642 State Route 232 in Bethel, at 9 a.m. with categories 1, 2, 3 and 6 plus Core. The pesticide recertification course is $35. Fertilizer certification will be offered beginning at 12:30 p.m. at no additional expense. Registration is required; please register at pested.osu.edu. Contact Gigi at 513-732-7070 or Tyler at 513-827-2193 for more information.
A second combined pesticide recertification/ fertilizer certification for those with a pesticide license will be held on March 17 at the Clermont County Fairgrounds’ 4-H Hall. Fertilizer certification, for those currently possessing a pesticide license, will begin at 4 p.m.; pesticide recertification will begin at 6:30 p.m. with all categories offered plus Core. A light meal will be served. The pesticide recertification course is $35 with fertilizer certification at no additional expense. Registration is required; please register at pested.osu.edu. Call Gigi at 513-732-7070 for more information.
Fertilizer certification is different for those who DO NOT currently have a pesticide license. The training is a 3 hour session. The OSU Extension Miami Valley Educational Extension Research Area has scheduled the sessions in Clermont and Clinton Counties. Clermont, co-sponsored by Singleton Farms and Pioneer Seed, will host on Feb. 3 at 2642 State Route 232 in Bethel at 12:30 p.m. Registration is required; please register at nutritioneducation.osu.edu.
Clinton will host its session March 4 in sponsorship with the Southwest Ohio Corn Growers Association. Time and location are to be determined for Clinton County program. Contact Tony Nye at 937-382-0901 for more details.
Additionally, OSU Extension Clermont County will be the host location for anyone wanting to receive his/her commercial or private pesticide applicators license. Tests will be given on the third Thursday of each month, except January which is Jan. 22. The training will be held at the OSUE office, located at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. Those seeking private applicator status can receive training materials from the OSU Extension Office prior to the test or may download training materials at pested.osu.edu. Training materials for commercial applicators will be sent from Ohio Department of Agriculture after registering for the test. Private and commercial applicators, please register for testing at pested.osu.edu.
For further information about certification and testing, contact OSU Extension Clermont County’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Gigi Neal, at 513-732-7070 or neal.331@osu.edu.