Montana Pesticide Use and Records

About 5 of every 50 questions on a Montana Core practice exam come from this topic.

Sources checked November 10, 2026

What to know

Commercial, public utility, government and noncommercial applicators and their operators record each application within 24 hours and keep records for two years; private farm applicators are exempt. A record shows start and end times, the site by township, range and section (rights-of-way may use landmarks), each product's company name, trade name and EPA registration number, all data for every product in a tank mix, and weather such as wind and temperature. Records go to MDA within 14 calendar days of a written request, and records MDA holds are open to the public unless privacy clearly outweighs that. No one may use or recommend use inconsistent with the labeling, apply without a complete, legible label at hand, use an unregistered agent that must be registered, discard pesticides so as to pollute a waterway, or haul them so as to endanger food or feed. Compliance orders may require cleanup, after MDA consults the Department of Environmental Quality. An applicator whose pesticide escapes onto a third party's property reports in writing within 48 hours, and with highly toxic products stops and notifies the landowner and MDA at once. People who suffer a loss file a verified report within 30 days. Before applying a restricted use product, applicators tell the owner, lessee or manager the precautions and give a label copy on request. Local posting signs stay until the product is dry or reentry ends, whichever is later. Containers are rinsed within 48 hours until no residue shows, or power rinsed at 15 psi, and the more restrictive of label or rule applies.

Where it comes from

• ARM 4.10.207, 4.10.208, 4.10.209
• ARM 4.10.105
• ARM 4.10.802, 4.10.803
• MCA 80-8-120, 80-8-301
• MCA 80-8-305

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