Pesticide board wants regulations

The North Dakota Pesticide Control Board has asked the Legislature to ensure that only properly trained people can apply especially risky pesticides.

Testifying Friday be-fore the Senate Agriculture Committee in support of Senate Bill 2248, Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, who chairs the Pesticide Control Board, said these chemicals are classified as “Restricted Use Pesticides” because they pose special risk to human health or the environment. The bill, introduced by Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden, also includes a number of provisions aimed at clarifying and simplifying the state’s pesticide law.

“RUPs include such things as aluminum phosphide and paraquat that are highly toxic to people; pesticides such as picloram and atrazine that have high potential to leach into groundwater, and substances like insecticides that are highly toxic to fish and other aquatic species,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the current law contains a loophole, allowing a person to make a private application of an RUP without being certified.

“The law requires that only certified dealers can sell RUPs . . . and that only certified persons can buy RUPs,” he said. “Both of these provisions are meant to control the distribution of these products and keep them out of the hands of untrained users. The greatest risk, however, is in the use of these pesticides. If we do not keep them in the hands of certified applicators, we defeat the entire purpose of certification.”

Johnson said the new language makes it clear that only certified applicators may purchase or use an RUP, regardless of whether it is for private or commercial use. He also said the change in the law will not affect most producers.

“RUPs represent less than five percent of the registered pesticides in North Dakota, and they are not as commonly used as some may believe,” he said. “Of the top 30 pesticides used in North Dakota on a per-acre basis, only one is a RUP.”

He also pointed out that obtaining private certification is not difficult, requiring only four hours of training every three years and a $25 fee.

In addition to Johnson, the Pesticide Control Board includes Duane Hauck, director of North Dakota State University Extension Service, and Ken Grafton, director of the North Dakota State University Experiment Station.

Tags: north dakota, pesticide, regulation, agriculture, legislature, news