On-Farm Instructors

On Farm Instructors

On Farm Instructors train agricultural workers in the safe use of Class B or C pesticides on site at the agricultural operation workplace.  A prerequisite for taking the On Farm Instructor course is a Grower Pesticide Safety Course certificate which is not expired. The agricultural workers that receive safety training are called Farmer Assistants.

Become an On-Farm Instructor.  Take an On-Farm Instructor Course. 

We offer an On-Farm Instructor Course for Certified Farmers who want to become qualified to train Farmer Assistants. When you participate in the On-Farm Instructor Course, you'll learn how to train Farmer Assistants in the best practices of pesticide safety. You will receive a kit of training materials and supplies.  An On-Farm Instructor Course certification is valid for five years.

Choose a On-Farm Instructor Course.  Call us at 1-800-652-8573 or sign up online.

Farmer Assistants

Farmer Assistants can receive training in one of two ways.  They may choose to:

  1. participate in an in-person one day  Grower Pesticide Safety Course (no test required) OR 
  2. participate in Pesticide Safety for Farmer Assistants training provided by an On-Farm Instructor.

A Certified Farmer may train Farmer Assistants if they completes the On-Farm Instructor Course.  Employers may hire a On-Farm Instructor.  Call 1-800-652-8573 or email us at rcopep@uoguelph.ca for a list of available On-Farm Instructors.   On-Farm Instructors are provided with resources to teach their own employees, or other farmers' employees, how to handle and use pesticide safely.  

Training Farmer Assistants On Farm

Certified On Farm Instructors use the training materials received at an On-Farm Instructor Course:

  • On-Farm Instructor Guide, available in English or French
  • Workbooks, available in English, French, Spanish, Low German or Thai
  • Farmer Assistant training presentations in English, Spanish, or Low German
  • Demonstration items of protective clothing and personal protective equipment such as disposable coveralls, chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and an apron.
  • Plus any items from your farm that will help you teach Farmer Assistants

Complete, sign and send your Record of Safety Training for Assistants form. 

  • After the Farmer Assistant(s) finish their training, the On-Farm Instructor, each trainee and the operation's Certified Farmer must complete the Record of Pesticide Safety Training form. Send the completed form(s) to the Ontario Pesticide Education Program by email rcopep@uoguelph.ca or by mail to OPEP, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, 120 Main Street East, Ridgetown, ON, N0P 2C0.
  • Payments can be made by calling 1-800-652-8573 or by mailing a cheque with the completed forms.
  • We keep a record that the Farmer Assistant is trained and issue a training card to the Farmer Assistant. Training cards are valid for 5 years.

Did you hire the services of another On Farm Instructor to deliver the training for you? If you did, a Certified Farmer from your operation must be present during the training session. The Certified Farmer from your operation must also sign the Record of Pesticide Safety Training form.

Benefits of a translator. Present the training in a language that the trainees can understand. Spanish speaking On-Farm Instructors are available for hire to train Farmer Assistants.  Call 1-800-652-8573 or email us at rcopep@uoguelph.ca for a list of available Spanish speaking On-Farm Instructors.

Need Supplies?

Get the training materials you need.

An Additional Resource: Pesticide Safety for Farm Workers Manual  

This manual has safety information for farm workers who don't handle or use pesticides, but work on farms that use pesticides.  Workers can learn how to work safely on farms when Certified Farmers or Farmer Assistants are using pesticides. Call us for free copies of this manual, available in Spanish and English. A PDF of the English Farmer Assistant can be found here:  English Farmer Assistant Manual .