The Ohio Department of Agriculture's Division of Plant Health houses the Grain Warehouse, Feed & Seed, Pesticide & Fertilizer Regulation, and Plant Pest Control sections, which are responsible for many consumer- and farmer-protections regulations. Staff members' duties include registering pesticides, licensing pesticide applicators, investigating pesticide use complaints, verifying label statements on feed and fertilizers, monitoring the financial stability of grain elevators, testing germination of packaged seeds, inspecting honey bee colonies, regulating plant nursery stock, and working with USDA-APHIS and the U.S. Forest Service to control invasive pest species. Our goal is to hold businesses which produce, process, and distribute plant-based agricultural products to high standards of integrity and safety.
The
Apiary Program coordinates the state and county inspection services that help to ensure a healthy beekeeping industry. The apiary program registers all apiaries in Ohio, both hobbyist and commercial.
The
Grain, Feed and Seed Program licenses and regulates commodity handlers in Ohio, helps assure label claims are accurate on all seeds and animal feed, and handles claims to the grain Indemnity Fund.
The
Pesticide and
Fertilizer Regulation Program regulates the use and distribution of pesticides as well as the manufacturing, distribution, and use of fertilizer, lime, and agricultural additives. The section also manages the
Ohio Specialty Crop Registry, provided by FieldWatch, Inc.
The Plant Pest Control Program helps protect the state’s plant
nurseries and consumers by performing annual inspections and
exotic pest surveys to detect pests that pose a threat to plants. The section also manages the
Gypsy Moth and
Asian Longhorned Beetle Programs.
Plant Health Diagnostic Laboratory
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The ODA Plant Health Diagnostic lab analyzes plant and soil samples that are collected by ODA and other state agency inspectors year-round from nurseries and orchards shipping in, out, and within the state of Ohio.
In an effort to protect plant life and the plant industry statewide, the ODA Plant Health Diagnostic lab works alongside the Ohio State University’s C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic to provide testing to all Ohioans for viral, bacterial, fungal, oomycete, and nematode pathogens, as well as insect pests requiring containment conditions.
