OH Pesticide Applicator cheat sheet

Ohio pesticide law is administered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA); FIFRA sets the federal framework for registration, labeling, and restricted-use classification.

Private applicator license: required to apply or supervise restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) on land owned or rented by the applicator or employer for agricultural commodity production; issued by ODA.

Commercial applicator license: required to apply RUPs for hire or on property not owned/rented by the applicator or employer; categories (e.g., ag, turf, ornamental, structural) determine which applications are covered.

Pesticide business license: required for any business that applies pesticides for hire in Ohio; the business license is separate from the individual applicator credential.

Dealer requirements: persons selling RUPs must be licensed/registered as pesticide dealers and may sell RUPs only to licensed applicators or certified personnel.

Applicator credentials carry a defined recertification cycle; continuing education or re-examination is required before expiration to keep the license active.

Records of licensed applications and RUP sales must be maintained for the retention period set by ODA rule and made available on request during inspections.

Applying a pesticide inconsistent with its label (site, rate, method, or PPE) is a violation of both FIFRA and Ohio law and can result in license suspension or civil penalty.

A restricted-use pesticide is one classified by EPA as available only to certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision because of acute toxicity or environmental hazard.

RUP sales require verification that the buyer holds a valid private or commercial applicator credential covering the product's use category; the credential number is recorded.

Required sales record elements typically include product name and EPA registration number, quantity sold, date of sale, buyer name and address, and buyer's certification/license number.

Dealers must retain RUP sales records for the period specified by ODA rule and produce them for inspection; records support enforcement traceability.

A private applicator may purchase and use RUPs only for agricultural production on owned or rented land; purchase for use on others' property requires a commercial credential.

Uncertified persons may use an RUP only when acting under the direct supervision of a certified applicator, per the product label's supervision statement.

EPA registration number format: three parts (company number, product number, distributor/alternate number), used to verify a product is registered and to match sales records.

Selling or distributing an RUP to an unlicensed buyer is a violation and can result in dealer license action and civil penalties.

A pesticide must be registered with EPA under FIFRA Section 3 before distribution or sale in the U.S.; ODA registers products for use in Ohio as well.

The label is the law: use must conform to the registered label directions, and any use not permitted by the label is a violation (with limited FIFRA exceptions).

Section 24(c) special local need registrations allow a state to add uses to a federally registered product for a specific local pest problem, with state and EPA review.

Section 18 emergency exemptions permit unregistered use for a limited time and defined area when no registered alternative exists; the exemption letter defines terms of use.

Experimental use permits (EUPs) allow limited testing of unregistered products under controlled conditions before registration.

Distributors and dealers must ensure products are properly registered and labeled; misbranded or adulterated products may not be sold or distributed.

Tolerances (maximum residue limits) must exist for pesticide residues on food/feed commodities; use inconsistent with a tolerance can render the crop adulterated.

Registration review under FIFRA periodically re-evaluates registered pesticides; label changes from review can alter permitted uses and rates.

Application rate = (product amount) ÷ (treated area); calibrate sprayers to deliver the labeled rate per acre (or per 1,000 sq ft for turf/ornamental uses).

Sprayer calibration formula: GPA = (GPM × 5940) ÷ (MPH × nozzle spacing in inches) for broadcast boom sprayers.

Nozzle selection and pressure control droplet size; finer droplets increase drift potential, coarser droplets reduce drift but may reduce coverage.

Drift management: use low-drift nozzles, lower boom height, buffer zones, and avoid application when wind favors off-target movement.

Band and directed applications reduce total product used versus broadcast; calculate rate based on band width relative to row spacing.

Granular applications require calibration of the spreader and consideration of swath overlap to achieve uniform coverage.

Tank mixing order and compatibility testing prevent clumping or antagonism; jar test before mixing unfamiliar combinations.

Application records must document method, rate, area treated, and conditions consistent with label requirements.

Aerial application of pesticides requires a commercial applicator credential with the appropriate aerial category and, for aircraft, FAA pilot/operator compliance.

UAS (drone) pesticide application is regulated under FIFRA labeling and ODA rules; the label must permit aerial application for the intended use.

Aerial/UAS labels specify droplet size (often medium or coarser), boom height, wind speed limits, and buffer zones to reduce drift.

Aerial application rates are typically expressed per acre and require calibration of swath width and flow rate to match ground speed.

Aerial applicators must maintain records of each application including product, rate, area, date, time, and weather conditions.

UAS operators must verify the product label authorizes aerial application and follow any state-specific UAS pesticide application requirements.

Wind speed and direction, temperature inversions, and humidity affect aerial drift; applications are prohibited when conditions exceed label limits.

Aerial and UAS application records are subject to ODA inspection and must be retained for the required period.

Certified applicators must maintain application records for each RUP application; records include product name, EPA reg. number, rate, date, location, and applicator name.

Records must be kept for the retention period specified by ODA rule (commonly two years for RUP application records) and made available to ODA on request.

RUP dealer sales records must include buyer identity, credential number, product, quantity, and date, and be retained for the required period.

Application records should document target pest, site, weather conditions, and method to support label compliance and investigation traceability.

Records may be maintained electronically if they are legible, retrievable, and reproducible in a form acceptable to ODA.

Failure to maintain required records is a violation independent of the application itself and can result in license action.

Records of applications made by a business must be retained by the business and by the certified applicator responsible for the application.

Accurate records support recertification audits and demonstrate compliance during inspections or complaint investigations.