America’s farmers are becoming more and more dependent on exports to market their crops. In some specialty crops – almonds, for example – more than 70 percent of the harvest is shipped overseas each year.

The pesticide registration process – FIFRA – establishes acceptable pesticide residue levels for products approved in the U.S. Meanwhile, foreign governments are increasing oversight and testing of imported food for pesticide residues.

When recommending and applying pesticides, licensed Pest Control Advisers and other consultants, applicators and farmers must be sure products applied are in compliance with maximum residue limits or MRLs in foreign countries. Failure to meet these could mean the loss of shipments and customers.

A new continuing education course – The ABCs of MRLs – sponsored by DuPont Crop Protection and development by Penton Ag outlines the MRL issue and how to find information on compliance with regulations established by 150 of America’s trading partners.

As consumers around the world become more interested in their food and where it comes from, foreign governments have been investing in more testing of imported food items for pesticide residues and other materials.

Additionally, foreign-based food marketers are placing stringent limits on the amount of residues permitted on produce that may differ from those permitted under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act or FIFRA.

Viewed on a global scale, interpreting and understanding the varied pesticide Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), the maximum concentration of a pesticide residue permitted in or on food commodities and animal feeds, can be a daunting challenge.

Topics for this course will include:

The course concludes with a 20-question exam in which users must score 70 percent to earn credit.

This course is accredited in California, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Other states are pending.

To view the course materials and sign up, visit www.pentonag.com. The course is also accessible via the Western Farm Press website, www.westernfarmpress.com.

There are now over 12,000 licensed professionals and farmers registered on the portal, and to date, more than 70,000 courses have been completed for credit hours/units on more than 27 courses.