4.10.401    FARM APPLICATOR CERTIFICATION

(1) A farm applicator desiring to use restricted use pesticides is required to apply for a special use permit or certificate on a form approved by the department. Each application form must be completed in its entirety prior to processing by the department.

(a) Applicants, who have completed the application form, paid the fee, passed the required examination or have attended an approved training course and have taken an ungraded quiz at the conclusion of the course, will be issued a certificate by the department to purchase and use restricted use pesticides. Passage of the required examination or attendance at a training course qualifies applicators for five consecutive years. The applicator's first requalification and recertification date will be based upon the staggered schedule established for the permit district in which the person resides.

(b) The certificate is effective for five years from the date of issuance to December 31 of the fifth year except as provided in (1)(a). Farm applicators may renew their certification to purchase and use restricted use pesticides by submitting their application and fee to the department.

(c) Training manuals and/or training materials for farm applicators are approved by the department. If the applicator elects to qualify by examination, these training manuals and/or training materials serve as the basis for the examination.

(2) The farm applicator examination or training standards, as a minimum requirement, must include those set forth in 80-8-209(3), MCA.

(3) The farm applicant passing the examination or attending an approved training course is certified to use restricted use pesticides for the purpose of producing agricultural commodities. The passing examination score is 70%.

(4) Certified farm applicators must recertify to use restricted use pesticides. Recertification may be achieved by passing an examination or by earning six credits of training approved by the department. The certification period is determined by the county and district the farm applicator resides in, and the established recertification year for each district. The districts are staggered on a five-year rotation, and the recertification period ends on December 31 of the fifth year. The districts and the counties within are listed below:

(a) DISTRICT I: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, and Sanders;

(b) DISTRICT II: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Granite, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Meagher, Park, Powell, and Silver Bow;

(c) DISTRICT III: Blaine, Cascade, Choteau, Glacier, Hill, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, and Toole;

(d) DISTRICT IV: Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Phillips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, Valley, and Wibaux; and

(e) DISTRICT V: Big Horn, Carbon, Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Mussellshell, Petroleum, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, and Yellowstone.

 

History: 80-8-105, MCA; IMP, 80-8-105, 80-8-209, MCA; NEW, Eff. 7/5/76; AMD, Eff. 7/4/77; AMD, 1978 MAR p. 152, Eff. 4/15/78; AMD, 1986 MAR p. 1007, Eff. 6/13/86; AMD, 2004 MAR p. 2546, Eff. 10/22/04; AMD, 2008 MAR p. 2557, Eff. 12/11/08; AMD, 2019 MAR p. 537, Eff. 5/11/19.