This law refers to any product applied to control pests whether in or on a building or in the landscape around that building.  Since weeds are legally considered pests, that means that anyone who applies a weed killer (herbicide) as part of his/her business activities must pass exams and maintain a pesticide license.  That includes anyone who “only sprays _____.” 

It doesn’t matter how you fill in the blank.  If the product is to control a weed, insect, plant disease, or any other pest, someone associated with the business must be licensed to apply or supervise the application of the product.  You may be able to purchase and use the same product yourself on your own property without a license.  But anyone who does it as part of a business must be licensed.

Which brings me to the reason for this message.  Chatham County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service is offering for the first time in recent memory (perhaps for the first time ever) a two-day school for pesticide applicators.  The school will be held on March 23 and 24 at the Agriculture Building in Pittsboro.  The qualifying exam will be offered at the end of the training sessions.  Complete details for this school can be found at  http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/march_2005pesticideschool.html

We are asking your help in getting this message to individuals who need to be licensed.  Many people get in the landscaping business and have no idea that they need a license when someone asks them to control weeds.  It’s not a bad idea to ask about a license before hiring someone.