2017 marks over 30 years of pesticide safety education for Ontario vendors and growers.
In the mid 1980’s, representatives from, what is now known as CropLife Canada, requested a course for Ontario’s pesticide vendors and the current Farm and Food Care Ontario promoted a similar course for growers.
The Ontario Pesticide Education Program now provides courses for both. To protect human and environmental health through certification and training, thousands of vendors and tens of thousands of growers have been trained in pesticide safety.
The education program continues to be supported by the agricultural industry and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
Dozens of ag retailers host the courses at their locations across the province.
Evaluations show that the courses bring value to Ontario’s vendors and growers.
On a scale of poor-ok-good, over 80% of growers selected good for the course content.
The instructors, many of whom are farmers themselves, “provided excellent feedback and practical advice on each of the topics covered”.
Grower and vendor pesticide safety courses continue to be offered in-class and on-line. For details on the next course, see opep.ca, or call 1-800-652-8573.
