Changes to restricted-use pesticide licenses take effect Jan. 1
By Allison Jenkins
New provisions in Missouri law will affect dealers, applicators, employees and farmers
Anyone who applies, handles or sells restricted-use pesticides (RUP) in Missouri will be operating under new rules beginning Jan. 1, 2025.
Changes to the Missouri Pesticide Use Act, mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency, will now require all RUP applications to be performed by certified applicators who must be at least 18 years old. In addition, specialized certifications will be needed for application methods such as soil fumigation and aerial spraying.
The new rules extend beyond those who actually apply RUPs. All individuals involved in mixing or cleaning equipment associated with restricted-use pesticides, including employees and family members, will need to be licensed. Certified commercial applicators will no longer be able to supervise the use of RUPs unless employees have a non-certified RUP license, which will directly impact MFA operations, said Doug Spaunhorst, MFA Incorporated director of agronomy.
“Basically, what it changes is that people who deal with restricted-use pesticides in any way, whether they’re washing out containers or handling a hose that gets connected to a spray ring, must have a non-certified RUP license going forward,” Spaunhorst explained. “The previous rules allowed employees to operate under the RUP license-holder’s certification, but that will not be the case under the new rules unless employees have their own non-certified RUP license.”
Existing RUP-licensed applicators will have a “delayed” certification requirement for new categories such as soil fumigation and aerial application until their current certifications expire, allowing them to continue operating under previous regulations. Pesticide dealers will still be able to sell RUPs to certified applicators with delayed licenses until they expire, but individuals will no longer be able to hold more than one dealer license.
The rules apply to farmers as well. Like MFA personnel, farmers who hold private commercial applicator licenses can no longer supervise employees who mix or apply RUPs. These employees will have to undergo training and receive their own non-certified RUP licenses.
According to information shared by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the new regulations are meant to ensure that individuals applying RUPs are adequately trained and equipped to handle these products safely and responsibly.
Atrazine is one of the most common examples of chemistry that falls under the RUP category. Many common pyrethroid insecticides are also considered restricted-use products. Any tank mix of chemicals that includes RUPs are subject to these new rules, even fungicide-insecticide combinations.
“There aren’t many corn acres that don’t get atrazine applications in some form,” Spaunhorst said. “That really adds up.”
Spaunhorst is collaborating with the Missouri Department of Agriculture to finalize curriculum that will allow MFA employees to receive their non-certified RUP licenses through internal training. He said the goal is to have this protocol in place for MFA’s annual applicator conference in February.
“Obviously, that event won’t be able to hit everybody in the company who is going to be handling restricted-use pesticides, but we’ll be able to get a large group certified by providing MDA-approved training,” Spaunhorst said. “We’re also working on ways to allow others who don’t attend this event to get certified as well.”
For farmers and other applicators who handle restricted-use pesticides, the University of Missouri Extension will be conducting training sessions statewide after Jan. 1, 2025. Classes are expected to last around four hours or less and cost $75 per person. Both in-person training and online courses will be available. Licenses can also be obtained by passing the required exam, which can be taken at any Pearson Vue testing center in Missouri. Find locations online at pearsonvue.com.
Attendees of these training sessions who are 18 years and older can receive full licenses. Those aged 16 and 17 and an immediate family member of a certified private applicator are eligible to receive provisional licenses, which allow them to apply but not purchase RUPs.
More information can be found on MDA’s website at agriculture.mo.gov/plants/pesticides or from MU Extension at extension.missouri.edu/programs/pesticide-applicator-training.