PEP-Talk, February, 2007

Pesticide Education Program
Ohio State University Extension
Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator
Cindy Folck, Communications
Vol. 11, Issue 2

IN THIS ISSUE

• Website Resources
• Trained Serviceperson and Core Training for Commercial Applicators
• Reminders of Upcoming Training
• Arkansas Proposes Regulations for 2,4-D and Glyphosate
• Oregon Begins Pesticide Reporting System
• Television Show Depicts Pesticide Victims
• Upcoming Events

WEBSITE RESOURCES
Training season is now in full swing. We’d like to remind you of resources available on the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu .

On the private applicator page, a listing of private applicator recertification schools is listed by counties. Please review the list and contact our office if your meeting does not appear on the list. We will also advertise any upcoming private new applicator training sessions available in the counties. Send the meeting specifics and we will post it on the website. Study materials recommended for the private applicator exams are also on the private applicator page.

The private applicator page also contains the listing of testing opportunities around the state. This is also the place where applicators register on-line to take a test with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

The agent information page contains resources for educators. There is an Excel file of a sample recordkeeping form that you can share with applicators. The form is designed to meet the required recordkeeping items for Ohio Pesticide Law and the Worker Protection Standard.

If you, or any of your staff members, need help finding resources on the website, they can contact us at (614) 292-4070.

TRAINED SERVICEPERSON AND CORE TRAINING FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS
Public agencies, school districts, companies and businesses who apply pesticides are required to have a licensed, commercial pesticide applicator. Employees who are not licensed are able to work under the supervision of the licensed applicator as a trained serviceperson. The trained serviceperson must receive training on pesticide safety before applying or handling pesticides. The training must be noted and recorded in the employee’s personnel file.

The Pesticide Education Program will begin offering classes on a regular basis to train the unlicensed employees to meet the trained serviceperson requirements. These classes will be held at the Ohio Department of Agriculture in Reynoldsburg.

The classes will also be a review of the Core material for commercial pesticide applicators preparing to take their exam. Licensed commercial pesticide applicators would be able to attend the classes to receive recertification credit for the core category.

The next classes will be held on: May 23, June 20, July 18 and August 8. For more information, visit the Pesticide Education Program website at: http://pested.osu.edu or call (614) 292-4070.

REMINDERS OF UPCOMING TRAINING
The final winter recertification conference for commercial applicators will be February 27, 2007 at the Columbus Convention Center. Commercial applicators who have recertification that expires in 2007 should take advantage of the conference. More information is available at the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu

New Applicator Training will be on March 1, 2007. The morning session will focus on the core exam and in the afternoon applicators have their choice of a session for the turf category, ornamental weed category or the industrial vegetation category. Exams will be offered immediately following the afternoon sessions. For more information, visit http://pested.osu.edu

Inspectors needing to obtain their license for Wood-Destroying Insect Inspections should attend the required training class on March 13. The class will meet the required 5-hour training class before becoming licensed. More information is available at the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu

ARKANSAS PROPOSES REGULATIONS FOR 2,4-D AND GLYPHOSATE
The Arkansas Plant Board has proposed a ban on 2, 4-D in ten eastern counties from April 15 – September 15. 2, 4-D is used on rice crops, but easily damages cotton. Most complaints of 2, 4-D were filed by cotton growers. More information on the 2,4-D regulations is available at: http://deltafarmpress.com/images/070117-arkansas-regulations/

The board has also proposed regulations on glyphosate usage. Roundup Ready crops grown in Arkansas include cotton, soybeans corn. Rice is not glyphosate-tolerant and rice growers have experienced drift damage on their crops. The plant board is looking at licensing requirements for glyphosate purchase that include attending drift mitigation classes. More information on the glyphosate regulations is available at: http://deltafarmpress.com/images/070117-glyphosate-regulations/

The proposals will be discussed at a public hearing followed by a public comment period. More information about the regulations is available at: http://deltafarmpress.com/news/070125-glyphosate-regulations/

(Source: Delta Farm Press, http://deltafarmpress.com)

OREGON BEGINS PESTICIDE REPORTING SYSTEM
The Oregon Department of Agriculture launched a pesticide reporting system at the beginning of the year. Anyone who uses or applies pesticides for their business, a government agency or in a public place must file a report about each application. The stated goal of the program is to collect information that will help to ensure public health and safety and protect Oregon’s water and environment. For more information about the reporting system, go to http://oregon.gov/ODA/PEST/purs_index.shtml

TELEVISION SHOW DEPICTS PESTICIDE VICTIMS
A recent episode of the television show, “Law & Order: Special Victim’s Unit” depicted victims of pesticide testing. The show depicted intentional dosing of uninformed individuals, who were harmed by their exposure to an unregistered pesticide.

EPA has released a statement summarizing pesticide testing rules. The rules prohibit intentional dosing studies with children and pregnant or nursing women. The rules also include a prohibition against relying on such testing in EPA’s decisions under pesticide law. EPA requires that all new international dosing human studies on non-pregnant, non-nursing adults be reviewed by EPA and a panel of independent experts for ethical and scientific acceptability.

These regulations were issued by EPA in February 2006 to govern human testing for pesticides by companies and other parties not affiliated with the government. More information on EPA human testing is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/guidance/human-test.htm
(Source: U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs)

UPCOMING EVENTS
More information about these events at http://pested.osu.edu

OHIO COMMERCIAL RECERTIFICATION SCHOOLS
General Schools (turf, ornamental, industrial vegetation and pest control)
Columbus – February 27, 2007

NEW APPLICATOR TRAINING FOR
COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATORS
March 1, 2007
Categories offered: Core, 8, 6a, 5
Taught at: Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg

WOOD-DESTROYING INSECT INSPECTION TRAINING
March 13, 2007
Taught at: Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg

TRAINED SERVICEPERSON AND CORE TRAINING
May 23, 2007
June 20, 2007
July 18, 2007
August 8, 2007
Taught at Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg

------------------------------------------------------------------------

OSU Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868