The deadline for pesticide applicators to renew their certifications has been waived by a proclamation signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds on March 22.
“Pursuant to Iowa Code § 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code § 206.5(2)(a) solely as it applies to commercial applicators, public applicators, and private applicators who were certified applicators as of December 31, 2019.”
Iowans who were certified through Dec. 31, 2019, can retain their status and now have until Dec. 31, 2020, to submit the testing or training required to renew a pesticide applicator certification.
This waiver comes after the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship canceled its in-person testing sessions through March 31. Sessions were canceled based on social distancing recommendations from the CDC. Applicators still need to meet pesticide certification standards by Dec. 31, 2020. They are encouraged to apply for recertification upon completion of the testing or training requirements.
This waiver does not apply to individuals who are receiving their pesticide applicator certification for the first time.
Resources
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship COVID-19 page
https://iowaagriculture.gov/covid-19
Iowa Governor’s March 22 proclamation
March 22 Public Health Emergency Proclamation
The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) and will continue to communicate the message that it is in the vital interest of the country that the food production system in the United States remains as uninterrupted as possible, while at the same time, to the extent possible, offering our full cooperation in any State and Federal guidelines and regulations put in place with COVID-19.