Minnesota has more than 16,000 certified Private Pesticide Applicators. These applicators are farmers who use restricted use pesticides (RUP) to control insect and weed pests as they produce their crops and other agricultural goods.

Private Pesticide Applicators are certified through a program administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and University of Minnesota Extensions. The three-year certificate costs $100.00 and expires on March 1 of the third year following certification. Once they are certified, applicators may apply or use RUPs. State law also requires dealers to record all sales of RUPs to Private Pesticide Applicators.

In addition to a Private Pesticide Applicator Certification, a Non-Soil or Soil Fumigation endorsement is needed to apply fumigants, and a General Aerial endorsement is needed if applying RUPs with an aerial application (fixed wing, rotor, or drone) in an on-farm operation.