Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner    -    Anderson H. (Andy) Rackley, Director

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Bureau of Compliance Monitoring

Fertilizer Section

Please note these links will open the page in a new window.

The Fertilizer Section is responsible for enforcing the requirements of Florida's Commercial Fertilizer Law, Chapter 576, Florida Statutes (pdf) and Chapter 5E-1, Florida Administrative Code (pdf).  The Greeting Letter (pdf) provides license and registration information for a new applicant(s).  Applicant(s) requesting to distribute fertilizer in the State of Florida with their name appearing on the fertilizer label as guarantor are required to complete the following registration requirements: 

• Urban Turf Fact Sheet (pdf)
• Rule 5E-1.003(2), F.A.C., Labeling Requirements for Urban Turf Fertilizers
• Urban Turf Nitrogen and Phosphate Calculator (xls) Note:  The Nitrogen and Phosphate Calculator will assist you to calculate the Readily Available Nitrogen (RAN) and Available Phosphate (P₂0₅).  Enter the following information into the fields in the calculator to obtain RAN and Available Phosphate (P205).  1.  Enter - Weight (lb); 2. Enter - Covers (Sq. Ft.); 3. Enter - Grade; and 4. Enter - % CRN on Label.
• Fertilizer License 
• Fertilizer Dealer's Bond or post a Certificate of Deposit in the amount of $1,000 
• Application to Report Tonnage and To Pay Inspection Fee(s) for Fertilizer and Other Materials 
• Specialty Fertilizer

Fast Security Tips for Florida Growers (pdf)

Commercial Fertilizer Technical Council - The Commercial Fertilizer Technical Council was formed to consider and study all issues involving commercial Fertilizer in the state of Florida.  The council makes recommendations to the department on its findings and decisions.  The council is composed of 13 members of the Fertilizer industry.  Members are appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

Forms are available by contacting the Fertilizer Section at (850) 487-2085 or by clicking on the form number below.

Application for Fertilizer License (DACS-13222) (pdf) - A person whose name appears upon a label and who guarantees a fertilizer may not distribute that fertilizer to a non-licensee until a license to distribute has been obtained by that person from the department upon payment of a $200 fee. All licenses shall expire on June 30 each year.

Option 1:  Fertilizer Dealer's Bond (DACS-13229) (pdf) - Applicants have the option of obtaining a $1,000 surety bond to cover fertilizer tonnage fees for any reporting period.  The surety bond shall be executed by a corporate surety company authorized to do business in this state.

Option 2:  Assignment of Certificate of Deposit (DACS-13201) (pdf) - Applicants may post a $1,000 Certificate of Deposit in the name of the firm that appears upon a fertilizer label as guarantor.  Complete the Assignment of Certificate of Deposit along with the Bank Representative assigning the Certificate of Deposit over to the Department.  The Fertilizer Applicant retains the Certificate of Deposit as long as their firm is in the fertilizer business. This form may be obtained from the Fertilizer Section or downloading it from this site. The Certificate of Deposit shall be a continuous CD.

Application to Report Tonnage and to Pay Inspection Fee for Fertilizer and Other Materials (DACS-13241) (pdf) - All applicants are required to complete this form acknowledging the responsibility to pay applicable fertilizer tonnage fees for tonnage sales made within the State of Florida.

Application for Specialty Fertilizer Registration, Application Cover/List of Requested Registrations Page (DACS-13220) (pdf) and Application for Registration of Specialty Fertilizer (Guaranteed Analysis Form) (DACS-13203) (pdf) - "Specialty Fertilizer" offered for sale and distributed in the State of Florida requires product registration approval and registration fees.  "Specialty Fertilizer" means any fertilizer packaged, marketed, and distributed for home and garden use and packaged in containers or bags such that the net weight is 49 pounds or less.  The registration fee is $200 each for the first five registrations for each grade of each brand.  If more than five grades of specialty fertilizer are to be registered by a licensee, the registration fee for the sixth grade registered and for each subsequent grade registered shall be $50 for each grade of each brand.

Monthly Report of Fertilizer Sold in The State of Florida (DACS-13239) (pdf) - Every licensee shall pay to the department an inspection fee in the amount of 75 cents per ton for fertilizer sold in the state including an additional fifty cents per ton for  the same fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphate.  Ground phosphate rock, soft phosphate, colloidal phosphate, phosphatic clays and all other untreated phosphatic materials, gypsum, hydrated lime, limestone, and dolomite when sold or used for agricultural purposes shall require an inspection fee of 30 cents per ton.

Monthly Fertilizer Tonnage Report (DACS-13238) (pdf) - Every licensee shall report to the Department the amount of all fertilizers sold each month using Fertilizer Form DACS-13238, on or before the 15th day of the following month.  Instructions to complete Form DACS-13238.

Contact: Bill Cox (coxb@doacs.state.fl.us)

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