federal pesticide recordkeeping for certified applicators

Federal Pesticide RecordkeepingFor Certified Applicators

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

• 1990 Farm Bill– “Pesticide Recordkeeping

Requirements”

Pesticide Recordkeeping Requirements

• All certified applicators are required to maintain records of federally restricted use pesticide applications.

Requirements forPrivate Applicators

??


Eight steps

to

meeting the requirements for Pesticide Recordkeeping


1. Date of application

• month

• day

• year


2. Brand or Product Name


3. EPA Registration Number


4. Amount of pesticide applied• Record the total quantity of the

product used

• Amount does not refer to active ingredient (a.i).


5. Size of area treated•Record this information in the

unit of measure which is shown to the label for the crop or commodity being treated


5. Size of area treated (con’t)For example:–acres– linear feet–number of animals


6. Location of the pesticide application (there are four ways to record location):


6. Location (con’t)A. County, range, township and

section


6. Location (con’t)B. Identification system

established by USDA


6. Location (con’t)C. Legal property description


6. Location (con’t)D. Applicator generated

identification system that accurately identifies the location


6. Location (con’t)

AN

E

B

C D

RT22

RT

4

Field A

Field Bpond


7. Name of certified applicator


8. Certification numberNote: If you keep you records

together, you only have to record steps 7 and 8 once


Spot Applications• Small applications which total less than

1/10th of an acre

• And they are made in the same day

• Spot applications do not apply to nurseries or greenhouses


Spot Application Requirements1. Date of application - month, day, year

2. Brand or product name

3. EPA registration number

4. Total amount of pesticide applied

5. Location of the pesticide application, designated as “spot application” & a short description


Deadline

• Pesticide application must be recorded within 14 days of application

• There are no Federal forms for these records. Your written information becomes the official record


How Long?

• The law requires that pesticide records be maintained for a minimum of two years from the date of application

• However, you may want to keep them longer for future management decisions


Two Major Purposes for Requiring

Restricted Use Pesticide Records


1 - Licensed health care professionals have timely access to the pesticide record information for purposes of medical treatment


2 - Records improve pesticide use survey data–May be used in reregistration

process of pesticides

–Can be utilized in policy decisions involving agricultural pesticide use

Requirements for Commercial Applicators

??


Commercial applicators are required to:–Provide their clients a copy of a

restricted use pesticide application record

–Provide record within 30 days of the application


Civil Penalties for Failure to Comply

– First violation - Not more than $550

–Subsequent Violations - Minimum of $1,100 (can be less if good faith effort has been shown)


Who Has Access to Restricted Use Pesticide

Records??


• Attending licensed health care professionals to provide medical treatment

• Credentialed USDA Representatives

• Credentialed State Regulatory Representatives


• Pesticide Recordkeeping has many benefits

– Saves money

– Determines best pesticide management program


• Pesticide Recordkeeping has many benefits

– Documents pesticide performance

– Helps secure funding for loans

–Meets buyers’ requirements

For More Information Contact:

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

Pesticide Records Branch

8700 Centreville Rd. Suite 202

Manassas, VA 20110

Phone (703) 330-7826

Fax (703) 330-6110