Updated Soil Fumigation Manual and Exam Bank

The Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative (PERC) is ready to release the 2nd edition of the National Soil Fumigation Manual! The manual and exam bank are intended for the certification of commercial and private pesticide applicators who apply soil fumigation products. The revision includes the newly required competencies under the 2017 revised Certification of Pesticide Applicators Rule (40 CFR Part 171). More information about the manual and exam, including the new table of contents, can be found below on this webpage. The current list of adoption options is provided here. In keeping with PERC’s policies, no copy of the full manual will be available online for free access. This differs from how the 1^st edition was shared.

We expect to take requests for the exam bank in April 2026 or when printed copies of the manual are available, whichever is soonest.

Adoption Options

Select one of the Options below which best suits your institution’s needs.

Option 1: Adopt Manual “As Is", Purchase Reduced Cost Copies, Re-sell Locally

• Who may order? Certifying authorities (as defined by the U.S. EPA) may direct customers to buy copies directly from the PERC Store, or they may choose to pre-order reduced cost printed copies of the full manual, which they or their “designees” may re-sell locally at retail. Designees might include their Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) or a distribution vendor. Certifying authorities should estimate the number of printed manuals needed for the next 24 months. We expect modest annual need for this category, so we are proposing this as a printing cycle. We can print annually if demand supports that. PERC will not print the full manual again until 2028, and PERC will be the sole distributor for to certifying authorities for resale copies of the 2nd edition. The cost for future print runs could be higher, pending order volume and vendor expenses. We encourage folks to participate in this print order to ensure availability in 2026 and 2027.
• How long is the pre-sale window? And what happens if I miss it? The window for pre-sales will be open for four (4) weeks from 1/20/26 – 2/20/26 at a reduced cost. Eligible purchasers will submit payment directly to the reproduction vendor, Gleason’s Printing. After the pre-sale ends, printed copies may be purchased at the retail price (anticipated to be $60) from the PERC Store once available.
• How can I place my order? To order your copies at the reduced cost during the pre-sale window, use this form. Be prepared to indicate your method of payment, contact information for billing, tax-exempt status, contact information for shipping, etc. Gleasons Printing accepts payments made via credit card, purchase order, and Automated Clearing House. Once we have your information, then we will forward it to Gleasons, who will work with your contacts directly for invoicing, payment, and shipping arrangements. PERC will not post this offer for reduced cost copies in the PERC Store. This is a special offer only for certifying authorities and their PSEPs.
• What is my cost? Reduced-cost copies are available to certifying authorities and their designated PSEPs: $30 each for orders 200 or fewer. For orders greater than 200, contact PERCsupport@ucdavis.edu for pricing. Purchasers shall assume the cost of shipping, handling, and credit card fees and these will be made available by Gleasons (the printer/distributor) once PERC provides them with the information supplied in the form. Certifying authorities should estimate the number of printed manuals needed for the next 24 months. PERC will not print the full manual again until 2028. However, retail-priced copies will be available in the PERC store when they are available.
• Suggested retail. Copies of the 1st edition are listed for about $40-50 in various outlets, with a free download in others. Unlike the 1st edition, the 2nd edition will never be posted online for free access. The printed manual will be the only source of the material. We suggest a retail price of $60 but certifying authorities may charge what they wish. 
• Are there restrictions on resale pricing? No, this is up to the certifying authority / PSEP. However, it is our hope that resellers will collaborate on the retail price out of fairness. We suggest offering it for $60, which reflects the rigor and defensibility of the technical writing, full color interior, and the professional graphic design/layout. 
• When will I receive my copies? Purchased manuals should arrive no later than April 2026 pending no supply chain issues. We will keep you apprised of any delays.
• What if my organization wants to adopt the manual “as is” but we are not ready to purchase copies? PERC won’t leave you behind! You may participate in the next print run planned for 2028 and purchase copies then. In the meantime, you may direct your users to obtain copies through the PERC Store once available.

Option 2: Adopt Manual to Modify, Request Modifiable Digital File, Distribute as Desired

• Who may request? Certifying authorities and their PSEPs may request a modifiable digital file of a simplified manual to adapt and modify, adhering to a license agreement with necessary elements described here. The entity who will be creating the modification and responsible for producing the output is the entity who should request the license. File-sharing is not permitted. 
• How will the simplified manual file differ from the full manual file? The simplified manual file will arrive without a cover, have a different interior spot color and font, and lack certain design elements of the full manual. The technical content will be the same as the full manual. Modifiers should be proficient in working with Adobe InDesign files for the best results, as PERC cannot assist with editing the manual. The InDesign file may be accessed on either a Mac or PC. Fonts and illustrations will be embedded/linked.
• How long is the request window open? And what happens if I miss it? The window for requests for modifiable files will be open for four (4) weeks during the pre-sale window. If you miss the window, then you will not be able to request a modifiable file again until 2028. The pre-sale and request for modifiable digital file window is 1/20/26 – 2/20/25.
• How can I request the modifiable file? To request the modifiable digital file, use this form.
• What is my cost? Because of a significant budget cut to PERC in Year 5 with no funds awarded, UC Regents reserves the option to assign a modest licensing fee to cover the effort needed to prepare your license agreement and review and sign off on your modified work. Depending on the extent of your changes and review required, the licensing fee will be $250-750. If you request a file and do not complete the Modification, then there will be no fee. But it’s our expectation that if you request a file, that you intend and agree to modifying it by the deadline.
• When will I receive my file? We will forward requests to the campus copyright office each week so requesters may begin the licensing process. PERC will serve as the initial liaison with campus, and then the requester may work with them directly on their license. PERC will provide the requested file to the Licensee using a secure method within 10 business days once we are notified of a countersigned license agreement. Take note of the 5/31/26 deadline for PERC to verify the compliance of your modified manual with the license terms before you can distribute it. Entities should plan to submit their drafts to PERC no later than 5/1/26 to allow ample review and response time. We encourage you to submit your Modification at any time before that. It is PERC’s goal to review all Modifications upon receipt and return with comments/approval in 10 business days, to the extent possible.

Option 3: Do Not Adopt Manual

• Certifying authorities who select this option may still request a copy of the exam bank from EPA once available. Please let us know if you decide on option 3 by emailing us at PERCsupport@ucdavis.edu so we know not to reach out to you.

Soil fumigants are some of the most toxic pesticides on the market. Each one can be fatal by inhalation, and users must be trained and certified to ensure their safety. The primary goal of this project is to replace the 2012 edition of the Soil Fumigation manual and exam item bank created by NASDARF, a former EPA grantee. 

● The purpose of the manual is to prepare pesticide applicators to successfully complete a certification exam in their states, tribes, or territories in the “Soil Fumigation” category. 

● This manual/exam is available for adoption by states, tribes, and territories to train and assess pesticide applicators who wish to use soil fumigants. 

● Both private and commercial applicators will be required to earn this certification in order to use soil fumigation products after implementation of the 2017 revised Certification & Training Rule (40 CFR Part 171). 

● Examples of soil fumigation uses are 1,3-dichlorpropene (e.g., Telone) and chloropicrin (e.g., Strike). 

The manual includes newly-required competencies under the 2017 revised Certification of Pesticide Applicators Rule (40 CFR Part 171). The development process may have included a job analysis, collaborative development of learning objectives, content-development, exam-item testing and refinement, making recommendations for needed visuals, and evaluation/testing with relevant audiences. The National Project Coordinator fostered stakeholder engagement and seek consensus. They ensured that the latest science and modern safety practices are included. The manual and exam item bank was developed only in English at this time. 

In keeping with PERC’s policy about the sharing of manuals associated with exams, no copies of the revised manual will be made available digitally by PERC or adopters. The manual and exam bank will be developed exclusively in English. Consistent with PERC’s policy, no digital copies of the manual will be distributed by PERC or its adopters. Once complete, printed copies will be available for purchase. Click here for PERC's Certification and Training Manual Adoption Options.

Team Leaders

National Project Lead: Ronda Hirnyck, University of Idaho

Technical Writers: Sherman Takatori, Agricultural Consultant, and Thia Walker, most recently of the Colorado State University Extension.

Table of Contents (Draft)

The listing below is subject to change once all writing, editing, and reviewing are complete.

For More Information

Please direct your questions to PERCsupport@ucdavis.edu. Feel free to share with colleagues and peers by forwarding a link to this page. Also, check us out on social media for updates!