Update on Special Permit Training 2017
CCE has offered NYS DEC Special Permit Training (SPT) in New York for the last 17 seasons, training over 500 farm employees in 2016. Special Permit holders are legally authorized to apply specified federal restricted use pesticides (FRUP) without the direct on-site supervision of a NYS DEC certified pesticide applicator. Special Permits are valid for one season only and must be renewed annually.
Discussions are in process between CCE and DEC to obtain approval for Special Permit training in 2017. Please stay tuned for the latest updates, and (we hope) the eventual announcement of training dates and registration information. Regarding possible dates, please contact us if you foresee a repetition of last spring's delays in the approval of H2A applications, as we will take these delays into consideration in setting dates.
EPA final regulations covering pesticide applicator certification were issued in January 2017. A few things to be aware of:
- The new regulations eliminate the provision that allows states to develop and implement Special Permit Training Programs, which will effectively cancel SPT at some point, but possibly not for another 2 or 3 years (see below).
- The prior regulations will remain in force until such time that NYS DEC develops and implements the new regulations (which may take 2-3 years).
- In the meantime, the Special Permit Training Program now falls into an uncertain state regulatory environment.
- Cornell Pesticide Management and Education Program (PMEP) specialists are reviewing the newly published regulations, and we expect to hear more details from them shortly.
- CCE staff is moving forward with SPT for 2017, but at this time we cannot be certain that an SPT program will be approved by the NYS DEC for 2017.
- The situation may become more challenging for 2018 and beyond. As stated earlier, the new regulations will not allow the issuance of Special Permits by states. This means that those farm employees who have held a Special Permit in the past will have two options: to pass the exam and become certified private applicators, or lose the ability to legally apply FRUP's without direct on-site supervision.
- The White House recently issued a statement that the implementation of all new pending federal regulations that have not already been published in the Federal Register will be placed on temporary hold for further review. The new pesticide applicator certification regulations were published in the Federal Register earlier in January but have not yet been implemented. Hence, depending on the exact legal language of the presidential directive, their current status needs further clarification.
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Upcoming Events
Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings
April 24, 2025 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 1 of 4
Hilton, NY
Join specialists Janet Van Zoeren, Anya Stansell, and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month.
May 29, 2025 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 2 of 4
Holley, NY
Join specialists Janet Van Zoeren, Anya Stansell, and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month.
June 26, 2025 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 3 of 4
Ithaca , NY
Join specialists Anya Stansell and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month. This meeting will include Spanish Interpretation. Este mes en Español También.
July 31, 2025 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 4 of 4 - CANCELED
Canceled.
2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School Recordings
April 8, 2025
July 31, 2025
: Recording Available for 2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School
Access to the 2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School recordings are now available for purchase.
3rd Annual Western NY Fruit Growers Tour, Featuring Wayne County
July 31, 2025
We are excited to announce the 3rd annual Western New York Fruit Grower Tour, the premier fruit tour of the northeast brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension's Lake Ontario Fruit Program and Lake Ontario Ag Consulting, LLC! Located in Wayne County, this orchard field day will highlight new and existing products, chemistries, practices, technologies & equipment that shape the orchard industry today. The Western NY Fruit Grower Tour will again combine two past orchard tour events, the LOF Summer Fruit Tour and the Wayne County Fruit Grower Tour, giving industry members the opportunity to conveniently showcase their product offerings to ONE unified group at ONE time and place!
Stay tuned for more info as we get into the summer!