The Ontario Pesticide Education Program has cancelled all classroom Grower Pesticide Safety Courses and Pesticide Vendor Certification Courses, as a preventative measure to minimize the spread of COVID-19
For the over 1,400 people whose pesticide safety certification will expire this spring, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks has announced an extension. For growers and vendors whose certification expires on or after January 1, 2020, the certification will is extended until December 31, 2020.
Extending these certification dates will allow Ontario’s growers to continue to purchase and use the products they need for the 2020 growing season, and allows vendors to continue selling pesticides, says the Ontario Pesticide Education Program.
The Ontario Pesticide Education Program offers courses focused on product information, health and environmental risk management, pesticide application, and pesticide safety practices. Currently, over 22,000 growers, 1,300 vendors, and nearly 300 On-Farm Instructors are certified through the program. It is supported by growers, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), pesticide manufacturers, and retailers.
