By Andi Anderson
The Great Lakes Expo (GLEXPO) 2024 is offering a unique opportunity for pesticide handlers, farm owners, and managers to enhance their safety skills with free training sessions on December 12.
This event provides essential pesticide safety and worker protection training in both English and Spanish.
Led by the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) from Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), the sessions are designed to help attendees meet regulatory requirements and improve on-farm safety practices.
Morning Sessions (8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.):
Participants can join a four-hour National Pesticide Safety Core Manual review. This mandatory session, available in English and Spanish, covers key techniques for mixing, loading, and applying pesticides. Participants will be prepared for the MDARD Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) test, held in the afternoon.
Those holding certifications can earn four RUP credits for attending. The morning session emphasizes safety fundamentals and helps individuals meet their recertification needs.
Produce Safety Sessions for Farm Owners:
While pesticide handlers attend training, farm owners, operators, and managers can join sessions on new agricultural water rules and supervisor produce safety techniques. These sessions, running from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., cover recent FDA regulations and provide supervisors with tools to improve produce safety practices. Participants will receive a certificate of completion.
Afternoon Sessions (1 – 3 p.m.):
Following the morning training, attendees have the option to take the MDARD RUP test. The testing process includes private core, fumigation, aerial, and commercial core tests. The fee is $75 for commercial and $50 for private applicators, with fee waivers available for military veterans.
Registration and Certification:
The event is free, but seats are limited. Participants can register online by December 11. MDARD provides postage-paid envelopes for certification payment submission. No cash or card payments will be accepted.
This valuable training opportunity allows participants to gain essential safety certifications, supporting safer and more efficient farm operations across the region.
Photo Credit: istock-dusanpetkovic
Categories: Michigan, Rural Lifestyle