August 16, 2007

LANSING -The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) is currently accepting applications for the 2009 Pesticide Notification Registry and Certified Organic Farm Registry. These registries are published by the department each year to help protect consumers from pesticide drift and ensure the certification of local organic produce.

The “Pesticide Notification Registry” allows a person with a physician-diagnosed condition to be notified prior to a pesticide application on turf or ornamental plants on property adjacent to the applicant. Applications and supporting documents must be received no later than February 1, 2009.

Michigan’s “Certified Organic Farm Registry” compiles a list of state organic farms and is provided to all commercial firms licensed in agricultural, right-of-way, or aerial pesticide application. The registry information is provided to these firms so they can identify organic farms and take the additional precautions necessary to prevent pesticide drift onto these sensitive sites. Application for this registry must be received no later than March 1, 2009.

An application package is available on the MDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/mda. The forms can also be obtained from MDA’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, Michigan 48909. For questions, or to receive an application package, please contact Marie White at (517) 241-1169.