Holmes County Extension shares 2026 ANR plans and recertification dates

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all had an awesome few days to enjoy some time with family and friends. I know chores on the farm never end, but hopefully, everyone was able to enjoy some downtime.

This weather has sure been fun to work around with the highs and lows and critters. We are still waiting on one more calf to arrive, and Jack Jack the bull is here to see what our AI rates were in the freezing cold days in December. I hope in January I can report back and talk a little more about the AI process.

In 2026 we have a lot of exciting ANR events planned in Holmes County for the first few months.

According to ODA, pesticides are classified as either restricted-use pesticides or general-use (unclassified) pesticides. RUPs are not available for purchase or use by the public. RUPs have the potential to cause unreasonable adverse effects to the environment and injury to applicators or bystanders without added restrictions.

In Ohio the sale and use of RUPs are limited to licensed private or commercial pesticide applicators, a trained serviceperson under the direct supervision of a licensed applicator.

Pesticide is a general term that includes but is not limited to all herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants and insect repellents. A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest or used as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant.

The previous state budget bill, HB 96, enacted several important adjustments to its pesticide and fertilizer regulation programs. Effective Oct. 1, 2025:

—Pesticide registered locations: The registered location type of pesticide business licenses has been eliminated, and all businesses previously licensed as registered locations have been converted to the pesticide business license type.

—Pesticide product registration: The registration fee for pesticide products distributed in Ohio is now $25 per product. Registration renewals filed after the deadline will be charged a penalty fee of $125 per product.

—Commercial fertilizer manufacturer/distributor license: The application fee for commercial fertilizer licenses is now $50 per license. License renewals filed after the deadline will be charged a penalty fee of $25 per license. No changes have been made to the annual fertilizer tonnage report or inspection fee.

—Liming material: The annual sales tonnage report and inspection fee for liming material are no longer required.

In Holmes County we will co-teach pesticide and fertilizer recertification and will host many opportunities this spring if you need to recertify. To register, call the Holmes County office.

—Jan. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon (Core, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) at Harvest Ridge Fairgrounds, 8808 OH-39, Millersburg, with fertilizer recertification from 1-2 p.m.

—Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon (Core, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) at Mt. Hope Auction Barn, 8076 state Route 241, Mt. Hope, with fertilizer recertification from 1-2 p.m.

We also are looking forward to offering three opportunities for fertilizer training if anyone needs it, in partnership with Holmes County Soil and Water Conservation District. Be on the lookout for details and flyers in January. There also will be a few in-county testing options to obtain a fertilizer license.

As we begin a new year and look ahead to our goals and plans for 2026, remember the extension office is here to support you and serve as a resource in any endeavor where guidance is needed. You can call the Holmes County office at 330-674-3015, email me at hill.1357@osu.edu or visit agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/pesticides/home for more information on this article.

Janessa Hill is an ANR educator with Holmes County OSU Extension.