January 4, 2021 — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced an emergency rule that extends the validity of Michigan pesticide applicator credentials due to the COVID emergency. This has been a priority issue for MABA, both to provide certainty for certified pesticide applicators, as well as to make sure there is clarity heading into 2021 for private applicators who do business with our members. We appreciate the State of Michigan for taking this common-sense action. Applicators whose credentials expired on December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2020 have had those credentials extended to June 30, 2021 under the rule. It also gives applicators six additional months to renew their credential via seminar credits. IE, if a credential carries a December 31, 2019 or 2020 expiration date, and the applicator needs credits to recertify, they can now earn those credits until June 30. You can view the media release from MDARD on this issue here. # # #
