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Pesticide applicator changes pass Illinois legislature

The president of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association says lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved changes to the state’s pesticide applicator licensing process.

Kevin Johnson says the bill allowing recertification through continuing education instead of a required test every three years is headed to the Governor’s desk.

“What we would like to see is an option like what most states have around us.”  He says, “Pass that test the first time, but then take continuous education classes to keep up your license.”

He tells Brownfield it effects more than 36,000 registered pesticide applicators in the state, including 11,000 farmers.

“We’re looking at probably 5 hours a year to keep up that license.”  He says, “There’s so much new stuff coming at us on pesticides. We gotta get better to the guys that are in the cab. Those classes change every year to figure out what we need to be hitting on, so this will be an ever evolving, every year different type of class.”

Johnson says if signed into law, the measure goes into effect January 1^st, but it’ll likely take up to a year to fully institute the changes.  He says the current recertification test every three years would remain an option for applicators.