Investigate!Investigate! before applying herbicides and pesticides

[winkie61]

Hi Steve, and other LCO's. This is a great site that has helped me tremendously with growing my business. I'm going to start trying to monitor this site at least once a day either in the morning or in the evening and if possible twice a day. I'm currently awaiting to attend a class at the agriculture department to obtain an applicators license for herbicides and pesticides. This will be another service that I could offer to my customers. I can only stress that before a company offers weed treatments that they investigate thouroughly to make sure that they aren't in violation of that state laws, because I investigated last year and was told that it was alright as long as I wasn't applying commercial products that require a license, but I was recently told that as long as I'm getting paid for that service that I had to have a license and I could have been fined if caught.

[Steve]

Lawn care business tips

I can only stress that before a company offers weed treatments that they investigate thouroughly to make sure that they aren't in violation of that state laws, because I investigated last year and was told that it was alright as long as I wasn't applying commercial products that require a license, but I was recently told that as long as I'm getting paid for that service that I had to have a license and I could have been fined if caught. Oh very interesting! Give us some more of the back story here. At first where were you asking? Was it a government office that said it was ok initially? Then what made you dig further and how did you find out there was more to it? Did you see anything about what kind of fine you could be hit with?

__________________
- Subscribe to my Lawn Care Marketing Blog Feed and get daily tips sent to you. Free!
Download your Free trial of Gopher Lawn Care Software.

[winkie61]

Steve, I can't recall the exact agency, but it was a government agency. I'll further investigate next week. I use the agriculture dept. for soil samples and disease identification of the different plants that I run across and the agent informed me of the consequences because I was asking her about possible chemicals for the treatment of wild onions. She then asked me if I had an applicators license for the application of herbicides and pesticides. Which I stated no. She then told me to get in contact with the agent responsible for licensing and that agent informed me of the state laws for a business applying chemicals for monetary gain.

[Steve]

Well it was certainly a lucky break that she told you this.

It's kinda of messed up that you can't easily find this information out before you get started. I am sure there are many regulations out there that are just difficult to know about or find.

[9 Yards Lawncare]

I have to agree that the info on this isn't easily available. I have spent quite some time trying to find out the training requirements needed to take the exam in Virginia.
I too don't know how much the fine is exactly, but I've been told by others in the area that it can be >$500!!
There's actually a guy here that drives around and looks in the trailer/bed for sprayers and such of the lawncare guys and then hits them with the fine if they can't provide a license.

[Fisher]

I checked into it last year as well. I almost wished I hadn't. In TN the penalty for applying chemicals is or at least can be an eleven twenty nine sentence and $2,500 fine. From all that I can find there is a simple application and $200 fee for the certificate.

[mcscapes]

There is a very good reason for applicator license to keep you and your customer safe. Every state has requirements for this Guys if you spray something and you or the customer gets ill is that a good plan. Take the time to learn the what where and why. The tests aren't hard but you do need to study call your extension office in your county and learn what you are supposed to know and then you will be a better businessman and steward of the environment.P.S the fine in GA is 3,500 plus disposal and you better hope they don't feel like looking at all of your billing.

[Fisher]

I let people know that I don't have a license to spray and that anyone else that offers to spray for them should have a state charter number. It seems here that there are only three ways to get a certificate or license to spray and they are 1) have a four year degree focused in related field, 2) have two years full time experience with a licensed company 3) already hold a similar chemicle license