Purdue Extension, Purdue Pesticide Programs, and the Office of the Indiana State Chemist are working together to help Indiana pesticide applicators use crop protection products safely, effectively, and responsibly.
“We regulate feed, seed, fertilizer, pesticides, hemp and anhydrous. So we regulate all of those. Those are all broken into different sections. And then those are all regulated separately. We regulate about 25,000 credential holders,” says Nathan Davis, Manager of Certification and licensing at the Office of Indiana State Chemist.
Davis says the goal is to ensure applicators understand current regulations, proper handling practices, and techniques that protect people, crops, and the environment.
He said, “We are very much education before regulation.”
Purdue Extension delivers many of those resources through local educators, workshops, and online training opportunities.
Davis added, “They greatly help us. We couldn’t do it without them. They are our training wing.”
Together, the organizations say consistent education helps improve pesticide stewardship, supports Indiana agriculture, and gives applicators the confidence to make informed decisions in the field.
“I think it’s just the uniqueness of our office to be able to relate with industry so well.” Davis concluded.
Watch the latest episode of the Your Farm podcast featuring Nathan Davis here:
