In response to the new EPA standards for pesticide applicator certification, the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services has created a new certification category for private pesticide applicators, called Commodity Fumigation in North Carolina. Due to their inherent hazards, commodity fumigants such as Phostoxin, that are primarily used in grain bins and packaged as tablets or pellets now have new requirements. Previously, private pesticide applicators were allowed to fumigate commodities produced on land they owned or leased, as long as, they held an active North Carolina Private Pesticide Applicator license. However, the new category requires additional certification similar to private soil fumigation here in North Carolina.
In order for active private pesticide applicators to complete the new certification they will have to successfully pass the 50-question multiple choice exam titled Commodity Fumigation. The Commodity Fumigation exam is open book, where NCDA&CS will provide everyone a copy of the Commodity Fumigation: A Certification Manual for North Carolina Private Pesticide Applicators during the exam. If you also wish to prepare yourself before taking the exam you can purchase the Commodity Fumigation: A Certification Manual for North Carolina Private Pesticide Applicators through the Pesticide Safety Program at North Carolina State University.
To address this new requirement NCDA&CS, in partnership with North Carolina
Cooperative Extension, will be offering in-person exam opportunities this fall. In total there are 10 in-person exam opportunities throughout all of North Carolina. For anyone that is interested in attending these in-person exam opportunities you will need to bring photo identification, a calculator, and pay the $10 fee the day of the exam. To register for any of the in-person exam opportunities call the NCDA&CS Pesticide Section at 919-733-3556.
