Chapter ATCP 29

ATCP 29.26(10) (10) Applicators certified in other states.

ATCP 29.26(10)(a) (a) The department may certify an individual commercial applicator without examination if the individual is currently certified as a commercial applicator in another state and if all of the following apply:

ATCP 29.26(10)(a)1. 1. The department determines that the other state has equivalent certification standards.

ATCP 29.26(10)(a)2. 2. The other state has certified the individual, in the same or equivalent pesticide use categories, based on a written closed-book examination passed within the last 5 years.

ATCP 29.26(10)(a)3. 3. The other state has never suspended or revoked its certification of that individual.

ATCP 29.26(10)(a)4. 4. The individual provides proof of certification by the other state and pays a certification fee of $75.

ATCP 29.26(10)(b) (b) Certification under par. (a) expires on December 31 of the year in which it is issued.

ATCP 29.26 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1998, No. 509, eff. 6-1-98; CR 25-074: am. (2) (intro.), (4), (5) (a) 3. Register June 2026 No. 846, eff. 7-1-26.

ATCP 29.27 ATCP 29.27 Private applicator certification.

ATCP 29.27(1) (1) Certification required. No individual may use or direct the use of a restricted-use pesticide as an agricultural producer unless one of the following applies:

ATCP 29.27(1)(a) (a) The individual is certified as a private applicator under this section.

ATCP 29.27(1)(b) (b) The individual is certified as a commercial applicator under s. ATCP 29.26 in the appropriate certification category or categories, and is not engaged in any activity for which a commercial applicator license is required under s. ATCP 29.25.

ATCP 29.27(1)(c) (c) The individual is licensed as a commercial applicator under s. ATCP 29.25 and certified under s. ATCP 29.26 in the appropriate certification category or categories.

ATCP 29.27(1)(d) (d) The individual is all of the following:

ATCP 29.27(1)(d)1. 1. Certified as a pesticide mixer and loader under s. ATCP 29.28.

ATCP 29.27(1)(d)2. 2. Engaged only in mixing and loading pesticides for application by others.

ATCP 29.27(1)(d)3. 3. Licensed under s. ATCP 29.25 if engaged in any activity for which a license is required.

ATCP 29.27(2) (2) Scope of private applicator certification. The department may certify an individual agricultural producer to use or direct the use of restricted-use pesticides as a private applicator. Private applicator certification does not authorize an agricultural producer to engage in activities for which a commercial applicator license is required under s. ATCP 29.25. The department may not issue a certification under this subsection to an individual who is less than 18 years old.

ATCP 29.27(3) (3) Length of certification. A private applicator certification is valid for 5 years unless the department suspends or revokes the certification. The department may renew a private applicator certification for another 5 years if the private applicator again satisfies the requirements for certification.

ATCP 29.27(4) (4) Special application methods; supplementary certification. No private applicator may use aircraft, chemigation, or soil fumigation to apply restricted-use pesticides unless that private applicator is also certified under s. ATCP 29.29 to apply pesticides by that method.

ATCP 29.27 Note Note: See certification requirements under s. ATCP 30.22 (2) for applicators using metam sodium.

ATCP 29.27(5) (5) Certification card.

ATCP 29.27(5)(a) (a) Within 30 business days after an individual agricultural producer satisfies the requirements for certification as a private applicator, the department shall issue a private applicator certification card to that individual. The card shall include all of the following:

ATCP 29.27(5)(a)1. 1. The individual’s name and certification number.

ATCP 29.27(5)(a)2. 2. A statement that the individual is certified as a private applicator.

ATCP 29.27(5)(a)3. 3. A statement indicating that the individual is certified under s. ATCP 29.29 to apply restricted-use pesticides as private applicator by means of aerial application, chemigation, or soil fumigation, if that is the case.

ATCP 29.27(5)(a)4. 4. The expiration date of the certification.

ATCP 29.27(5)(b) (b) A private applicator shall carry a current certification card when engaged in any activity for which certification is required under this section.

ATCP 29.27(5)(c) (c) The department may, upon request, replace a certification card that is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. The card holder shall pay the replacement cost.

ATCP 29.27(6) (6) Certification standards. To be certified as a private applicator, an individual agricultural producer shall demonstrate practical knowledge and competency related to the general areas identified under s. ATCP 29.30.

ATCP 29.27(7) (7) Certification procedure. To be certified as a private applicator, an individual agricultural producer shall do one of the following:

ATCP 29.27(7)(a) (a) Attend a training program provided by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, and score at least 50 percent on an open-book examination administered by the training provider. An individual who fails the open-book examination may be retested.

ATCP 29.27(7)(b) (b) Complete self-study training using materials provided by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, and score at least 70 percent on an open-book examination administered by the department or its designee. An individual who fails the open-book examination may be retested.

ATCP 29.27(8) (8) Applying for certification. An individual agricultural producer may contact the University of Wisconsin-Extension educator in a county that provides exam proctoring to arrange for training and evaluation under sub. (7).

ATCP 29.27 Note Note: The University of Wisconsin-Extension may charge a fee to cover the cost of training.

ATCP 29.27(9) (9) Private applicators certified in other states. An individual agricultural producer who is currently certified as a private applicator in another state is automatically deemed to be certified as a private applicator in this state. The certification card issued by the other state serves as a certification card under sub. (5), so that the producer need not obtain a certification card from the department.

ATCP 29.27 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1998, No. 509, eff. 6-1-98; CR 25-074: am. (2), (4), (5) (a) 3., (8) Register June 2026 No. 846, eff. 7-1-26.

ATCP 29.28 ATCP 29.28 Pesticide mixers and loaders; certification.

ATCP 29.28(1) (1) Scope of certification. The department may certify an individual to mix or load pesticides for application by others. An individual certified under this section may mix and load pesticides for application by others in all of the categories under s. ATCP 29.31, but may not do any of the following:

ATCP 29.28(1)(a) (a) Apply pesticides in any category under s. ATCP 29.31.

ATCP 29.28(1)(b) (b) Engage in any activity for which a license is required under s. ATCP 29.25 unless that individual holds a license under s. ATCP 29.25.

ATCP 29.28(2) (2) Length of certification. A pesticide mixer and loader certification is valid for 5 years unless the department suspends or revokes the certification. The department may renew an individual’s certification for another 5 years if, before the individual’s certification expires, the individual again satisfies the requirements for certification.

ATCP 29.28(3) (3) Certification card.

ATCP 29.28(3)(a) (a) Within 30 business days after an individual satisfies the requirements for certification under this section, the department shall issue a certification card to that individual. The card shall include all of the following:

ATCP 29.28(3)(a)1. 1. The individual’s name and certification number.

ATCP 29.28(3)(a)2. 2. A statement indicating that the individual is certified as a pesticide mixer and loader.

ATCP 29.28(3)(a)3. 3. The expiration date of the certification.

ATCP 29.28(3)(b) (b) A pesticide mixer and loader shall carry a current certification card when engaged in any activity for which certification is required.

ATCP 29.28(3)(c) (c) The department may, upon request, replace a certification card that is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. The card holder shall pay the replacement cost.

ATCP 29.28(4) (4) Certification standards. To be certified as a pesticide mixer and loader, an individual shall demonstrate practical knowledge and competency related to the general areas identified under s. ATCP 29.30.

ATCP 29.28(5) (5) Certification test. An individual shall demonstrate practical knowledge and competency under sub. (4) by scoring at least 70 percent on a written, closed-book examination administered by the department. An individual who fails an examination may be retested according to the procedure described in s. ATCP 29.26 (8).

ATCP 29.28(6) (6) Applying for certification. To apply for certification under this section, an individual shall follow the procedure described in s. ATCP 29.26 (9).

ATCP 29.28 History History: Cr. Register, May, 1998, No. 509, eff. 6-1-98.

ATCP 29.29 ATCP 29.29 Special application methods; supplementary certification.

ATCP 29.29(1) (1) Aerial applicator; supplementary certification. The department may certify an individual to use aircraft to make pesticide applications for which that individual is certified as a commercial or private applicator under s. ATCP 29.26 or 29.27. To be certified as an aerial applicator, an individual shall do all of the following:

ATCP 29.29(1)(a) (a) License and training. Provide proof that he or she is licensed and fully trained to operate and apply pesticides with each type of aircraft used for that purpose.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b) (b) Knowledge and competency. Demonstrate practical knowledge and competency related to all of the following:

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)1. 1. ‘Labeling.’ Labeling requirements and restrictions specific to aerial application of pesticides including:

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)1.a. a. Spray volumes.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)1.b. b. Buffers and no-spray zones.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)1.c. c. Weather conditions specific to wind and inversion.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2. 2. ‘Application equipment.’ Understand how to choose and maintain aerial application equipment, including all of the following:

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.a. a. The importance of inspecting application equipment to ensure it is in proper operating condition prior to beginning an application.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.b. b. Selecting proper nozzles to ensure appropriate pesticide dispersal and to minimize drift.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.c. c. Knowledge of the components of an aerial pesticide application system, including pesticide hoppers, tanks, pumps, and types of nozzles.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.d. d. Interpreting a nozzle flow rate chart.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.e. e. Determining the number of nozzles for an intended pesticide output using nozzle flow rate chart, aircraft speed, and swath width.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.f. f. How to ensure nozzles are placed to compensate for uneven dispersal due to uneven airflow from wingtip vortices, helicopter rotor turbulence, and aircraft propeller turbulence.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.g. g. Where to place nozzles to produce the appropriate droplet size.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.h. h. How to maintain the application system in good repair, including pressure gauge accuracy, filter cleaning according to schedule, and checking nozzles for excessive wear.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.i. i. How to calculate required and actual flow rates.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)2.j. j. How to verify flow rate using fixed timing, open timing, known distance, or a flow meter.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)3. 3. ‘Application considerations.’ The applicator must demonstrate knowledge of factors to consider before and during application, including all of the following:

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)3.a. a. Weather conditions that could impact application by affecting aircraft engine power, take-off distance, and climb rate, or by promoting spray droplet evaporation.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)3.b. b. How to determine wind velocity, direction, and air density at the application site.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)3.c. c. The potential impact of thermals and temperature inversions on aerial pesticide application.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)4. 4. ‘Minimizing drift.’ The applicator must demonstrate knowledge of methods to minimize off-target pesticide movement, including all of the following:

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)4.a. a. How to determine drift potential of a product using a smoke generator.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)4.b. b. How to evaluate vertical and horizontal smoke plumes to assess wind direction, speed, and concentration.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)4.c. c. Selecting techniques that minimize pesticide movement out of the area to be treated.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)4.d. d. Documenting special equipment configurations or flight patterns used to reduce off-target pesticide drift.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)4.e. e. Requirements under s. ATCP 29.53

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)5. 5. ‘Performing aerial application.’ The applicator must demonstrate competency in performing an aerial pesticide application, including all of the following:

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)5.a. a. Selecting a flight altitude that minimizes streaking and off-target pesticide drift.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)5.b. b. Choosing a flight pattern that ensures applicator and bystander safety and proper application.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)5.c. c. The importance of engaging and disengaging spray precisely when entering and exiting a predetermined swath pattern.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)5.d. d. Tools available to mark swaths, such as global positioning systems and flags.

ATCP 29.29(1)(b)5.e. e. Recordkeeping requirements for aerial pesticide applications including application conditions if applicable.

ATCP 29.29(2) (2) Chemigation applicator; supplementary certification.