Are you preparing to become a commercial pesticide applicator in Ohio? Join OSU Extension for two focused training sessions designed to help you gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to apply pesticides safely, effectively, and in compliance with state regulations.
These trainings are ideal for individuals seeking a commercial applicator license for the first time or preparing for certification exams. Led by pesticide safety and education experts from OSU Extension, each session will cover essential topics for agronomic commercial pesticide applicators. Paulding County Extension is partnering with the Mercer County Extension Office to offer these two different sessions. November 20 will only be offered in Mercer County, and December 18 will be offered in both counties. Flyer and Registration Link
📅 Training Dates & Topics
November 20, 2025 – Commercial Core Training
Learn the foundational principles every commercial applicator needs to know:
- Laws and regulations
- Applicator safety and environmental protection
- Calculations and formulations
- Label interpretation
December 18, 2025 – Agronomy Pesticide Basics Training
Take a deeper dive into agronomic pest management:
- Weed control principles and herbicide terminology
- Disease management in agronomic crops
- Insect management in agronomic crops
📍 Location: Mercer County Agriculture Center Conference Room, 4978 Mud Pike, Celina, OH
Note: The December 18 session will also be hosted in Paulding County, but all registration will be coordinated through the Mercer County office.
🕗 Time: 8:00 – 11:30 a.m.
💲 Cost: $35 per training (Pay at the event with cash or check, or Pay by credit card when registering online)
📝 Registration: Pre-registration is required. Scan the QR code on the flyer or register online at go.osu.edu/commpest.
📞 Questions? Contact Sarah Noggle at 419-399-8225 or noggle.17@osu.edu
Farm Science Review tickets are on sale now at the Paulding County Extension Office!
The Ohio Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is offering a free pesticide disposal collection event for farmers and agribusinesses.
Farmers and agribusiness professionals are reminded to renew their Ohio Department of Agriculture private pesticide applicator license and private or commercial fertilizer license by the March 31, 2025, deadline. To assist with this process, the Ohio State University Extension in Paulding County will host its annual Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertification class on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Paulding County Fertilizer & Pesticide Recertification Classes
📬 The 2025 Northwest Ohio Newsletter is Coming!
Basic Information
This class is geared toward those preparing to obtain a Private Pesticide Applicator License in Ohio. The class covers the basics of how the Ohio Department of Agricultural test is formatted, testing tips, the basics of the CORE category required to be passed by all private and commercial pesticide applicators as well as Category 1 (Agronomic Crops and use of restricted use pesticides). 
Greetings all,
Registration is required for the January 30, Fertilizer and Pesticide Recertification in Paulding County. We now have a link to register online and we now also have a credit card payment option. You must have an email address to pay by credit card. You may also scan the QR Code to register and pay.
LONDON, Ohio – More than 50 companies will join the ranks as exhibitors for the 61st Farm Science Review Sept. 19-21 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. The new exhibitors represent various sectors in the agriculture industry including livestock handling, equipment advancements, agronomic technology, agricultural policy, and more.
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (May 3, 2023) – The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will be sponsoring three collection events for farmers wishing to dispose of unwanted pesticides. This year, the collections are happening in Morgan, Putnam, and Miami counties on the following days and locations:
Testing for Private and Commercial Pesticide, Fertilizer Applicator License will take place on February 7, February 23, and March 8 in Paulding County at the Extension Office. While our office does not administer the test, we are the host and will do our best to provide you with information. Testing will start at 10:00 AM. You must pre-register via ODA’s website 
By now many of you who are up for certification for Private Pesticide or Commercial/Private Fertilizer (Category 15) are receiving letters your renewal letters from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. If you have completed your total hours for re-certification, you may mail the invoice and payment into ODA for the $30. This is called the RENEWAL fee. Many times this is confusing as you only do this once every three years. (There is also an option to pay the RENEWAL online at 
Please call the office or email 
Whenever I give a presentation about the need to calibrate a sprayer and how to do it, there is always someone asking me this same question: “I have a rate controller in the cab that regulates the flow rate of the sprayer regardless of the changes in sprayer ground speed. I just enter the gallons per acre application rate, and the controller does the rest, just like cruise control in a car. So, should I still calibrate the sprayer? The answer is, Yes, a calibration should be done. Although the rate controllers do an excellent job of regulating the flow rate of nozzles to keep the application rate constant regardless of the changes in travel speed, a manual calibration at least once a year is needed for two reasons: 1) to ensure the rate controller is functioning properly, 2) the rate controller is not forced to operate outside the pressure operating range for the nozzles on the sprayer boom. Let me elaborate on both points I made and share with you the reasons why a manual calibration of a sprayer is a good idea.