Plant Industry
Keeping Pennsylvania Growing is taken very literally in this Bureau. The Bureau of Plant Industry protects the commonwealth’s plant resources and provides
consumer protection and safety for Pennsylvania citizens by ensuring quality products and
services through certification, licensing, product registration, survey/monitoring and inspection
programs.
The bureau provides programs and services to maintain and protect Pennsylvania agriculture
through its three divisions – Agronomic Services and Regional Programs; Health and Safety;
and Plant Protection.
Work includes detection, identification and control of destructive
plant pests (diseases, insects and weeds, both native and exotic). The bureau administers
laws and regulations relating to the distribution and sale of seed, feed, fertilizer, pesticides and
liming materials.
Additionally, Plant Industry administers the bee law, fruit tree improvement
program, and the pesticide program including business licensing, testing and certification of
individual applicators and investigating complaints of misuse. Staff works to promote farm
safety, worker protection, surface and groundwater protection, endangered species protection, invasive species management,
and integrated pest management.