A man manually spraying crops in a field.
Updated: September 25, 2024

Pesticide Safety and Training

The University of Maryland Pesticide Safety and Training program was created to assist agricultural producers and businesses with timely information regarding pesticide use and recommendations. Farms use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment.

Maryland pesticide applicators are licensed through the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) as:

  1.  Private Pesticide Applicators or;
    1. Private Applicator Certification - An optional training is offered in-person or virtually on a regular basis. You can contact your local extension office to get the dates. An online class is available by going to https://umeagfs.teachable.com/
    2. Private Applicator Exam - Exams are offered in counties through the winter months or when there are a number of individuals interested an exam can be scheduled. Contact your Extension office for dates. The Department of Agriculture in Annapolis has testing on a monthly basis.
  2. Commercial Pesticide Applicators
    1. Commercial Applicators - Commercial applicators should contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture for information regarding examinations and licensing. This certification requires an annual update for credit hours. Some UME classes are approved for commercial credits.

Pesticide Private Applicator Recertification Options

University of Maryland Extension (UME) has created a number of options for Maryland Private Pesticide Applicators to receive their recertification credits. Private Applicators are required to have a recertification training session during the last year of their current three-year certification period. Recertification training provides applicators with new information on pest control, health and environmental safety, pest management technology, and changes in pesticide laws and regulations to help the applicator continue to use pesticides safely and effectively. The training must consist of a minimum of 4 credits (1 credit is equal to ½ hour of training), which is the equivalent of two hours of pest or pesticide-related topics as determined by MDA and UME. MDA will update each private applicator's training records whenever you attend an approved course. License renewal notices are issued by MDA via email in late November to applicators that have satisfied the training requirements and whose private applicator certificates are about to expire.

The following are approved methods for receiving pesticide credits through UME:

  • OPTION 1
    You can attend in-person trainings which are scheduled throughout the year to receive your credits. To get more information about course offerings and registration, you can contact your local Extension office. You can also check for updates in our Extension newsletters, like Maryland Agronomy News and Fruit and Vegetable News. Additionally, you can visit our Pesticide Certifications web page or check our University of Maryland Extension events calendar.
     
  • OPTION 2
    Enroll in a self-paced online class through our University of Maryland Extension School. Online recertification is available at https://umeagfs.teachable.com. Be sure to complete, the survey form that will provide your contact information and pesticide license information. You will then be directed to the video series. These are best watched on a tablet or laptop as there are questions embedded in each video that you must answer.
     
  • OPTION 3
    Request a paper workbook to be mailed to you. Topics covered in this workbook are Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) approved and are equivalent to two hours of in-person training needed every three years to renew your private applicator’s license. This workbook is also approved for three (3) Delaware credits and two (2) Pennsylvania core credits. Upon completion of the workbook, the applicator will answer a 30-question quiz and mail it back to the Baltimore County Extension Office. Upon receipt, we will grade the quizzes no later than the end of the month in which they were received. To receive pesticide recertification credits, the applicator must score at least 70 percent on the 30-question quiz (21/30 correct). Once the applicator passes, the applicator will receive confirmation in the mail and their information will be submitted to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. To order your workbook, please call your local Extension office or complete the online request form: https://go.umd.edu/pesticideworkbook.

*Remember that all renewals are done online. MDA will not be mailing pesticide renewals unless specifically requested from MDA. You will not have renewed your license until you complete the renewal forms and pay MDA $7. https://egov.maryland.gov/mda/pesticides. Online tutorials on how to renew your license and print your license are available on our YouTube channel.

Private Pesticide Optional Exam Training

This is an optional training to prepare for the Private Pesticide Applicator exam. It is an optional training that includes a review of the Core Manual (PDF).

Study manuals can be found online on the Maryland Department of Agriculture's website: MD Core Manual or obtained from your county Extension Office for a Fee.

Exam

This exam is for those who wish to obtain a pesticide private applicator license. There is an optional training which includes a review of the Core Manual (PDF).

Study manuals can be found online on the Maryland Department of Agriculture's website: MD Core Manual (PDF) or obtained from your county Extension Office for a Fee.

Recertification

This training will meet the requirements for the Maryland Department of Agriculture Pesticide Private Applicator ReCertification Credits

Licensing

Maryland Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Regulation
50 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401

Telephone: (410) 841-5710

Pesticide Education and Safety

  • Pesticide applicator pouring liquid into sprayer

    Maryland Pesticide Safety Education Program

  • Crops being grown at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center.

    Fieldwatch

  • Tractor with spraying equipment

    Weed Management

Upcoming Events

  • Tractor at vineyard

    Pesticide Certifications

  • grassed waterway in between soybean fileds in Easton, MD

    Agricultural Nutrient Management Meetings

Pesticide Recommendations

Field Crops

  • The Penn State Agronomy Guide (AGRS-026G)

    The Penn State Agronomy Guide is designed as a quick reference for information on crop and soil management, including varieties, nutritional requirements, establishment, and harvesting; storing seed and grain; and farm management and budgeting. Recommendations for managing weed, insect, and disease pests in corn, grain sorghum, soybean, small grains, and forages are provided in Part 2.

    This comprehensive guide is revised biennially by  Penn State Extension specialists in agronomy, entomology, and plant pathology; U.S. Pasture Laboratory staff; county extension educators; seed, fertilizer, lime, and pesticide industry personnel; and representatives of state agricultural and environmental government agencies.

    This is available as a digital download for $15, a printed copy for $35, or a print and digital bundle for $45.
     
  • Mid-Atlantic Field Crop Weed Management Guide
    John Wallace, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Science;  Dwight Lingenfelter, Extension Associate, Weed Science, William S. Curran, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Weed Science.
    PennState University


    Weed management practices and strategies, including tables containing herbicide recommendations, for corn, sorghum, soybean, small grains, forages, and farmstead; information on the problem weeds henbit, horsenettle, horseweed, palmer amaranth and waterhemp, common pokeweed, common ragweed, giant ragweed, annual ryegrass, broadleaf and curly dock, johnsongrass and shattercane, lambsquarters, milkweed, and hemp dogbane, wild mustard, and radish, and Canada thistle.
     
  • General Management of Nematodes in Field Crops FS-1082
    Andrew Kness, University of Maryland Extension Agent- Harford, Carroll, and Baltimore County

    Nematodes are an economically important pathogen of many crops in Maryland. Significant yield loss can occur if nematodes are not managed properly. This fact sheet serves as a broad introduction to nematodes as plant pathogens and serves as a general guide for sampling and managing nematodes in Maryland.
     
  • Applied Research on Field Crop Disease & Nematode Management (pdf)
    David B. Langston Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist; Hillary L. Mehl, Extension Plant Pathologist, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Tidewater Agricultural Research & Extension Center, Suffolk, Virginia 23437. Published: 2020
     
  • Efficacy of Weed Management Tactics SPES-268NP
    Flessner, M., Bamber, K., Besacon, T., Chandran, R., Hines, T., Johnson, Q., Lingenfelter, D., Rubione, C., Shergill, L.,  Singh, V., VanGessel, M., Vollmer, K., & Wallace, J. (Jan 2021)

    This poster provides relative effectiveness of various integrated weed management tactics for summer annual crops. The chart helps identify the most effective tactics to manage weeds.
     
  • Fungicide Efficacy for Control of Corn Diseases CPN-2011-W (pdf)
    Crop Protection Network

    This fact sheet contains recommendations on developed ratings for how well fungicides control major corn diseases in the United States.
     
  • Fungicide Efficacy for Foliar Soybean Diseases CPN-1019-W (pdf)
    Crop Protection Network

    This fact sheet contains recommendations on foliar fungicide efficacy for the control of major foliar soybean diseases in the United States.
     
  • Fungicide Efficacy for Control of Soybean Seedling Diseases CPN-102-W (pdf)
    Crop Protection Network

    This fact sheet contains recommended ratings for how well fungicide seed treatments control seedling diseases of soybeans in the United States.
     
  • Fungicide Efficacy for control Wheat Diseases and Small Grains CPN-3002-W (pdf)
    Crop Protection Network

    This fact sheet contains recommendations about fungicide efficacy for the control of certain foliar diseases of wheat for use by the grain production industry in the United States.
     
  • Spray Tank Check Chart for Soybeans (pdf)
    Mark VanGessel¹, Ben Beale², Thierry Besacon³, Melissa Bravo³, Rakesh Chandran⁴, Michael Flessner⁵, Dwight Lingengelter⁶, Vijay Singh⁵, Kurt Vollmer², John Wallace⁶
    ¹University of Delaware, ²University of Maryland Extension, ³Rutgers University, ⁴West Virginia University, ⁵Virginia Tech, ⁶Penn State

     
  • Spray Tank Check Chart for Corn (pdf)
    Mark VanGessel¹, Ben Beale², Thierry Besacon³, Melissa Bravo³, Rakesh Chandran⁴, Michael Flessner⁵, Dwight Lingengelter⁶, Vijay Singh⁵, Kurt Vollmer², John Wallace⁶
    ¹University of Delaware, ²University of Maryland Extension, ³Rutgers University, ⁴West Virginia University, ⁵Virginia Tech, ⁶Penn State

Vegetable Crops

  • Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations
    Information presented in this publication is based on research results from the University of Delaware, the University of Maryland, Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, The Pennsylvania State University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and State University, West Virginia University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, combined with industry and grower knowledge and experience.
     
  • Maryland Fruit & Vegetable Blog
    Provides readers with current information on fruits and vegetables, disease and pest updates, and much more.
     
  • Efficacy of Weed Management Tactics SPES-268NP
    Flessner, M., Bamber, K., Besacon, T., Chandran, R., Hines, T., Johnson, Q., Lingenfelter, D., Rubione, C., Shergill, L.,  Singh, V., VanGessel, M., Vollmer, K., & Wallace, J. (Jan 2021)

    This poster provides relative effectiveness of various integrated weed management tactics for summer annual crops. The chart helps identify the most effective tactics to manage weeds.

 

Ornamental Horticulture

  • IPMnet
    University of Maryland Extension

    IPMnet is an online resource for commercial ornamental plant production and maintenance with an emphasis on using an integrated pest management approach. We primarily work with nursery growers, landscapers, greenhouse growers, cut flower growers, IPM scouts, and arborists.

    Learn more

Tree and Small Fruit

  • 2021 Spray Bulletin for Commercial Tree Fruit Growers (456-419)
    Douglas G. Pfeiffer, Virginia Cooperative Extension

    This guide contains information on pesticides used in orchards, with a seasonal treatment of when and how these materials should be employed. Efficacy information toward major fruit pests as well as beneficial species is included. 188 pages. To download or print the pdf, click on the 'preview' button and, then the option to download the PDF appears.
     
  • Efficacy of Weed Management Tactics SPES-268NP
    Flessner, M., Bamber, K., Besacon, T., Chandran, R., Hines, T., Johnson, Q., Lingenfelter, D., Rubione, C., Shergill, L.,  Singh, V., VanGessel, M., Vollmer, K., & Wallace, J. (Jan 2021)

    This poster provides relative effectiveness of various integrated weed management tactics for summer annual crops. The chart helps identify the most effective tactics to manage weeds.
     
  • Spray Program for Multi-Small Fruit Plantings
    R. David Myers, University of Maryland Extension

    Multi-Small Fruit Spray Program (updated yearly) for pest and disease control of major small fruit (Strawberries, Brambles, Blackberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, and Grapes.)
     
  • Spray Program for Multi-Tree Fruit Orchards
    R. David Myers, University of Maryland Extension.

    Multi-Tree Fruit Orchard Spray Program (updated yearly) for the control of major tree fruit (Pomes: apples, pears; Stones: peaches, plums, nectarines, and cherries) pest and diseases. 
     
  • Maryland Fruit & Vegetable Blog
    Provides readers with current information on fruits and vegetables, disease and pest updates, and much more.

Home and Garden

  • Home and Garden Information Center
    University of Maryland Extension

    The Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) develops and delivers science-based, sustainable gardening and integrated pest management education for better human and environmental health.

    The Home and Garden Information Center partners with the Master Gardener Program to provide educational resources to the volunteers as well as digital resources through the Home and Garden website.

    Learn more

Special Spray Provisions

  • Dicamba

    If you are growing dicamba-tolerant soybeans and plan to use EPA approved dicamba products forever-the-top applications on soybeans, you need to take an annual dicamba training. These trainings are offered through private industry and Extension. Contact your local Extension office for more information on available training. Additional information on dicamba training requirements can be found on the EPA website: https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/dicamba-trainin…

  • Paraquat

    Anyone purchasing or applying paraquat (Gramoxone) must complete an EPA-approved paraquat training course once every three years. This training is available online at: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/paraquat-dichloride-trainin…. Once completed, print and save a copy of your certificate.

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