October 14 , 2011

LANSING - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's (MDARD) Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division (PPPMD) annually publishes two registries intended to protect Michigan citizens -- the Pesticide Notification Registry and the Certified Organic Farm Registry.

The Pesticide Notification Registry allows persons with a physician-diagnosed condition to be notified by commercial pesticide application firms before applications are made on turf or ornamental plants on properties adjacent to their primary residence.  To be added to the Pesticide Notification Registry, an applicant must submit the Pesticide Application Notification Registry application, Physician's Certification form indicating the applicant's condition and any additional distance requirements for notification, and Additional Properties Listing form showing adjacent and other properties within the distance of notification.

MDARD is currently accepting Pesticide Notification Registry applications and supporting documents for 2012.  Applicants may obtain Pesticide Notification Registry forms from MDARD at www.michigan.gov/mdard (Licensing, Certification, and Registration - Pesticide Notification Registry); MDARD's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, Michigan 48909; or by calling (517) 241-1169.  Registry forms must be submitted by February 1, 2012.  The Pesticide Notification Registry is published annually on March 15.

The Certified Organic Farm Registry allows organic farmers to list their farm locations so that commercial pesticide application firms can take precautions to prevent pesticide drift onto these sensitive sites.  "MDARD will be using a new system to publish the Certified Organic Farm Registry," said Gina Alessandri, PPPMD Division Director.  "Beginning in 2012 organic farmers must register their information on the Driftwatch website at www.driftwatch.org."

Driftwatch is an online registry that helps pesticide applicators and specialty crop growers communicate more effectively to protect sensitive areas.  Only those certified organic farms that register via Driftwatch by March 1, 2012 will be included in MDARD's notification to commercial pesticide applicators licensed in agricultural, right-of-way, or aerial pest management. The online registry will replace less-descriptive versions of the registry used in the past, and will show all certified organic farm locations in Michigan.

If you have any questions on Driftwatch, please contact MDARD (Antonio Escobar) at (517) 373-6350.

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