Training For Farmer Assistants
Do Assistants use Class 2 or 3 pesticides on your farm?
Assistants who handle Class 2 or 3 pesticides on farms under supervision of a Certified Farmer must be trained in pesticide safety as required by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
Note: As a Certified Farmer, you are responsible for pesticide handling on your farm. You may supervise up to 3 Assistants on your farm at any given time.
Requirements for Assistants
Assistants must be:
- 16 years of age or older and be a farmer,
- have basic pesticide safety training recognized by the Ministry of the Environment before they handle or use Class 2 or 3 pesticides,
- work under the supervision of a Certified Farmer, and
- retrain every five years.
An Assistant who has completed the training may mix, load and apply most Class 2 and 3 pesticides, under supervision of a Certified Farmer. However, an Assistant may NOT:
- Choose, recommend or buy the pesticides
- Decide which application rate to use or calibrate equipment
- Decide how to store or dispose of the pesticides or containers
- Transport or dispose of waste pesticides
- Use a Class 2 or 3 pesticide that produces a suspension in air in buildings (for example fog or mist)
Certified Farmers are responsible for all pesticide use and handling on their farms. This includes the handling and use of Class 2 or 3 pesticides by their Assistants.