System and method of managing registration, sale, distribution and use of regulated agricultural products and the licensing/certification of dealers and applicators of agricultural products

Abstract

A method and system for managing agricultural product information, and for facilitating the controlled sale, distribution, and use of agricultural products provides a single data entry process for submitting agricultural product registration applications and renewals for a plurality of jurisdictions (states). A single username and password can be used to access a plurality of state databases. State data can be easily cross-referenced and indexed against federal product registration data. Also provided is a system and process of field inspection and enforcement of registration requirements for agricultural products, wherein universal product codes (UPCs) may be scanned into a portable data terminal and be used to check the approval status of a product found in a retailer's store.

1 . A method of verifying a registration status for an agricultural product, comprising: 
 scanning into a portable data terminal a universal product code (UPC) from a package containing the agricultural product;    accessing a portable database stored in the portable data terminal to determine whether the portable database includes a portable database record matching the scanned UPC; and    when the portable database includes a portable database record matching the scanned UPC, checking said portable database record to determine whether the agricultural product is registered.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 when the portable database does not include a portable database record matching the scanned UPC, creating a new record including the scanned UPC.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 communicating the new record including the scanned UPC from the portable data device to a master computer storing a master database of agricultural products.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising updating the master database in the master computer to add a master database record including the scanned UPC.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising downloading an updated portable database from the master computer storing the master database of agricultural products, the updated portable database including a new portable database record including the scanned UPC.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising downloading the portable database from a master computer storing a master database of agricultural products.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for verifying a registration status for an agricultural product, comprising: 
 a bar code scanner for scanning a (UPC) from a package containing the agricultural product; and    a portable data terminal for receiving the UPC from the bar code scanner, the portable data terminal comprising,    a memory storing therein a portable database of agricultural products, and    a processor configured to execute instructions for accessing the portable database to determine whether the portable database includes a portable database record including the scanned UPC, and when the database includes a portable database record matching the scanned UPC, checking said portable database record to determine whether the agricultural product is registered.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the portable data terminal further comprises a communication port for communicating with a master computer.  
     
     
         9 . A method of licensing a dealer of agricultural products via the Internet, comprising: 
 establishing an Internet computer connection between a user computer for the dealer and a host computer system hosting an Internet Web site managing the licensing of agricultural dealers;    submitting an on-line payment of a dealer licensee fee from the user computer to the host computer system via the Internet;    conducting an on-line dealer licensing course wherein dealer licensing information is communicated between the host computer system and a user of the user computer via the Internet;    conducting an on-line dealer licensing test for the user, wherein test information is communicated between the host computer system and the user computer via the Internet; and    when the user passes the dealer licensing test, generating a dealer license and transmitting the dealer license to the user.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising communicating user data for the user from the user computer to the host computer system via the Internet.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising adding a new dealer data record, including the user data, to a dealer database of the host computer system.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein dealer data records stored in the dealer database may be accessed via the Internet.  
     
     
         13 . A method of licensing an applicator of agricultural products via the Internet, comprising: 
 establishing an Internet computer connection between a user computer for the applicator and a host computer system hosting an Internet Web site managing the licensing of agricultural dealers;    submitting an on-line payment of an applicator licensee fee from the user computer to the host computer system via the Internet;    conducting an on-line applicator licensing course wherein applicator licensing information is communicated between the host computer system and a user of the user computer via the Internet;    conducting an on-line applicator licensing test for the user, wherein test information is communicated between the host computer system and the user computer via the Internet; and    when the user passes the applicator licensing test, generating an applicator license and transmitting the applicator license to the user.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising communicating user data for the user from the user computer to the host computer system via the Internet.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising adding a new applicator data record, including the user data, to an applicator database of the host computer system.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein applicator data records stored in the applicator database may be accessed via the Internet.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the host computer system automatically scoring test results of the applicator licensing test.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising updating an applicator data record in an applicator database of the host computer system to include a number of credit hours corresponding to the on-line applicator licensing course.  
     
     
         19 - 33 . (canceled).