Chemical Safety

All Chemical Safety Content

Rows of empty white, plastic pesticide containers.

Private Applicator Training for Pesticides

Private applicator certification is required before an agricultural producer can purchase or use a restricted use pesticide.

A red sprayer in a green field with a cloudy sky in the background.

Commercial Applicator Training for Pesticides

Those who apply pesticides for hire or as a government employee that applies pesticides while performing work duties, must have a commercial applicator license.

Group of people watching a presentation during at pesticide applicator training

Oct 20 - 21

Pine Ridge & Rosebud Pesticide Applicator Training

SDSU Extension will host a pesticide applicator training provided to the Pine Ridge and Rosebud communities, held at Crossroads Inn & Annex (102 1st Ave, Martin, SD 57551) on October 20 and 21, 2026.

Farm employee inspecting a piece of heavy machinery.

Safety & Training

Covering the range from animal handling to equipment safety, including training and certification to keep producers and their workforce productive.

Testing Center on the South Dakota State University campus.

SDSU Extension Pesticide Applicator Testing Locations

Whether you are interested in becoming certified as a private or commercial pesticide applicator, SDSU Extension is proud to offer in-person pesticide applicator testing locations throughout South Dakota.

A red, weed hoe next to a freshly cut, green weed surrounded by brown soil.

Reminder: Cutoff for over-the-top dicamba products labeled for soybean is June 30 or R1 growth stage in South Dakota

Over-the-top dicamba products for application in soybean have been relabeled for the 2026 growing season. A stipulation for applying these herbicides is a cutoff date of June 30 or R1 soybean.

Cleaned, emptied pesticide containers on a concrete workshop floor.

South Dakota Pesticide Container Recycling

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is again offering pesticide container recycling services across the state. View a complete list of 2026 dates and locations.

Field of green soybean plants with green corn and blue sky in the background.

EPA Approves Dicamba for Over-the-Top Applications in Tolerant Soybean in 2026 and 2027

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a limited-time registration of over-the-top use of dicamba on tolerant cotton and soybean for two growing seasons, 2026 and 2027.

Producer loading pesticide into a sprayer tank.

SDSU Extension to host training for DOT pest control applicators

October 08, 2025

South Dakota State University Extension will host two recertification trainings in October for two categories of pesticide applicators.

Private Applicator Endorsements for M-44 Devices, Fumigants, and Aerial Applications

Recent changes to South Dakota private applicator pesticide regulations have impacted the requirements to use M-44 predator-control devices, fumigants, and to apply pesticides from aerial vehicles.