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    Pennsylvania Milk Board

    Apply for or Renew a Milk Weigher/Sampler Certificate

    The Pennsylvania Milk Board issues certificates for milk weigher/samplers who operate in the Commonwealth.

    Overview

    A weigher/sampler picks up milk at farms. It is unlawful for any milk dealer to buy or receive milk from producers based on the amount of butterfat or components contained in the milk, unless the samples taken for testing purposes are made by a certified weigher/sampler or a certified tester. It is also unlawful for any person to pick up milk from farms unless the person making the pickup is a certified weigher/sampler or a certified tester.

    Milk weigher/samplers are certified by the Pennsylvania Milk Board per section 603 of the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Law.

    Note: Milk weigher/samplers must hold certifications from both the Pennsylvania Milk Board and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA).

    PDA administers the written exam for weigher/samplers and conducts field evaluations to ensure that weigher/samplers’ procedures meet sanitary guidelines. For more information, see the PDA website.  

    How to apply for a certificate

    Milk weigher/sampler certificates are valid for one calendar year, January 1 through December 31.

    Milk haulers will often support the application process for the weigher/samplers who work for them. Before you start, check with your employer to see if they will help you apply.

    1. 1

      Contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to begin their certification process.

      To learn about the exam and field evaluation, see the PDA website.

    2. 2

      Once you pass the PDA exam, set up a GreenPort account and access MARS to apply for certification by the PA Milk Board.

      Applications must be completed online through the Milk Accounting and Regulatory System (MARS). To access this system, you need to create a GreenPort account.

       

      You can view instructions for creating a GreenPort account and accessing MARS.

    3. 3

      The PA Milk Board will review your application.

      You can check the status of your application at any time in MARS.

       

      New applications received during a certification year are processed within 48 business hours of receiving the complete application.

       

      The Milk Marketing Law provides no time requirements regarding board action on weigher/sampler certification applications.

    How to renew a certificate

    Renewals must be completed online through GreenPort. The milk hauler you work for may help with renewing your certificate.

    You can check the status of your application at any time in MARS. Complete applications are processed by January 1 each year if they are received by December 1.

    Questions?

    If you have questions on the application or renewal process, contact Fatima Roberge at 717-787-4194.