Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Certification Rule

1. Agricultural Fertilizer Applicator Certification Rule

2. Commercial Fertilizer and Manure Applicator CertificationBegins in January 1, 2011Must be certified by January 1, 2012

3. FERTILZER CERTIFICATION Rule: • Persons who apply or transport commercial fertilizer material for hire. • Persons who apply or transport manure, from the following: • Indiana regulated confined feeding operations. • Operations outside Indiana that would be confined feeding operations if they were located in Indiana.

4. Applicable to: • Any person applying fertilizer material (both commercial fertilizer and manure) FOR HIREmust have a commercial fertilizer applicator license AND be working for a licensed commercial fertilizer business.

5. Applicable to: • Any person applying manure from a confined feeding operation (CFO) on any property, must be certified. • Includes manure from CFO size facilities out of state. • An exception is made for people that use amounts under 10 cubic yards or 4,000 gallons of manure per year.

6. EXCEPTIONS: • People that apply less than 10 cubic yards or 4,000 gallons of manure per year • Farmers that apply commercial fertilizers to their own property • Are NOT covered by this regulation

7. CFO: Confined Feeding Operation is any animal feeding operation engaged in the confined feeding of at least 300 cattle, or 600 swine or sheep, or 30,000 fowl, such as chickens, turkeys or other poultry. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) regulates these confined feeding operations.

8. Applicable to: • Distribution of fertilizer material (including manure) must be through a licensed fertilizer DEALER. Registration only, no testing required.

9. How Growers Become Certified As A Manure Applicator: • Pass the Category 14 multiple choice exam. • Manual can be ordered from The Education Store  888-398-4636. • Test can be taken • free at regional sites in the winter • free at monthly test-only days at Purdue • fee-based training in the summer/fall by PPP • Submit application for individual certification.

10. How Growers Become Certified As A Manure Applicator: • No fee if the examinee currently holds an OISC private applicator credential. Category 14 will be added to your private applicator card. • $20 fee if this is your first OISC credential. • Private applicator card valid for five years.

11. To Become Certified Commercial Fertilizer Business: • Pass the Category 14 fertilizer exam • Submit application for the individual’s license and the business license. • No fee if the examinee currently holds an OISC credential. Category 14 will be added to list of categories on your card. • No fee if business currently holds a pesticide business license. • A first time applicator license and business license for Category 14 each is $45 (annually).

12. Recertification Process • Private applicators may re-examine or attend 3 PARP, private applicator recertification programs, to recertify for another five years. • PARP Programs can now include both fertilizer and pesticide topics, or only fertilizer or pesticide topics. Each PARP now approved will count toward updating fertilizer and pesticide components of private applicator card. • Approved PARP programs are posted on-line http://btny.agriculture.purdue.edu/parpevents/ And listed on the PhoneLine: 800-319-3090

13. Recertification Process • Commercial applicators can re-examine or obtain 3 CCH’s (continuing certification hour) over a five-year period. • Approved CCH programs are listed on the Office of Indiana State Chemist website: https://www.isco.purdue.edu/exec/index.php?nav=pest&p1=conf

14. Supervision • A certified supervisor can supervise up to 10 trained employees. • A certified applicator is responsible for uncertified trained employees.

15. Supervision • A certified applicator is responsible for uncertified trained employees and must: • Insure that the noncertified employee has received training • Keep record of the training • Provide the supervised noncertified trained employee with the means and instructions to: • Establish direct voice communication during the use or distribution of fertilizer material; and • Immediately contact the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to report any fertilizer material spill that may threaten waters of the state • Make work assignments for the supervised noncertified trained employee • Know the status of the work assignments made to supervised trained employee

16. Questions Leo Reed Certification and Licensing Manager OISC reedla@purdue.edu Matt Pearson Engineering Specialist OISC pearsonm@purdue.edu Office of Indiana State Chemist: 765 494 1492