Pesticide associations offer an abundance of business opportunities and positive exposure for your business. In addition to the industry members of the fertilizer industry organization, you will have opportunities to meet and get to know other members of the pesticide industry association, including business leaders that support the pesticide trade organization.

Affiliation with a fertilizer industry organization provides lobbying and networking opportunities that can be immensely helpful to your own business interests while you support the industry. Membership in a pesticide applicators association often means access to information and contacts that can be important to your own company. Regional fertilizer and pesticide organizations offer even more chances to network with local business leaders in your community. Approach your membership in a pesticide trade organization from a variety of perspectives.

1. Expand your network through fertilizer organizations

2. Support the industry by participating in pesticide associations

3. Stay informed with pesticide industry association publications

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Develop business contacts in national fertilizer organizations

Fertilizer and pesticide organizations hold regular meetings, seminars and conventions for members and interested parties. At pesticide industry association events, as well as through various committees in which you can participate, you will have numerous occasions to socialize and network with other business people who support and work within the industry. The business leaders you meet could offer a number of trade opportunities for you and your company.

I recommend: The Ag Container Recycling Council is a group that supports the recycling of fertilizer and pesticide containers. At the NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management, you can join other pesticide industry association members interested in furthering the technology in the industry.

Demonstrate your interest by joining pesticide trade organizations

If you want to do business with fertilizer and pesticide professionals, you will want to show your support while building relationships with national and local leaders in the industry. You often can do this best by participating in a fertilizer industry organization with both your presence and your financial support.

I recommend: The National Pest Management Association is one of the nonprofit pesticides organizations that supports world health. Society for Vector Ecology is a pesticide trade organization that supports a diverse membership in the pesticide industry.

Keep your company in the loop with pesticide company trade organization publications

While you may not have time to participate in a trade group or volunteer on a committee, you can take advantage of membership in a pesticide trade organization through the myriad publications they put out. By keeping up with the reports and news in the industry, you can pick and choose which events will be most beneficial for you to attend while keeping updated on changes or news that affect the industry.

I recommend: The American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators is constantly producing resources that will keep you informed of changes within the industry while offering other membership benefits. The Mid-American CropLife Association provides a myriad of publications and resources for members including a job board.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join a committee in a pesticide industry association to develop closer relationships with others who could provide sources of business for your company.