PEP-Talk, June, 2007
Pesticide Education Program
Ohio State University Extension
Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator
Cindy Folck, Communications
Vol. 11, Issue 5
IN THIS ISSUE
RECERTIFICATION STATUS AVAILABLE ON-LINE
Licensed pesticide applicators will be able to view their recertification status on-line. The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has developed a site for applicators to see their credit status. The applicator enters their license number to see how many credits they have accumulated and what they still need to complete recertification. The system is for both private and commercial applicators. To see the page, go to: http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/oda3/_Apps/Pest_AllInOne/Recert.aspx
NEW APPLICATOR TRAINING FOR PRIVATE CATEGORY ONE
Bulletin 821 – Field Crops Student Workbook for Ohio Pesticide Applicator Training is currently being revised. The changes will reflect the new exam that is being used for private category one – grain and cereal crops. The current study guide has become outdated and should no longer be used.
In the meantime, new applicators can access a study outline on the Pesticide Education Program website at: http://pested.osu.edu/privatestudy.html . The outline will help applicators prepare for the test, along with OSU Bulletin #827: Corn, Soybean, Wheat and Alfalfa Field Guide. The new field crop study guide is anticipated to be available at the Extension Educator PAT Inservice on December 5 & 6, 2007.
TUNE IN FOR WEBCAST
Learn more about research on spraying nursery, shade trees and orchards in a live webcast on July 19 from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The webcast will feature Dr. Richard Derksen and Dr. Heping Zhu, agriculture engineers with the USDA-ARS Application Technology Research Unit in Wooster, Ohio.
The research is looking at the effects of tree canopy on off-target spray drift. The research is also looking at the effectiveness of low-drift nozzles in canopy sprays. The researchers will also discuss the use of DRIFTSIM, a computer program designed to help applicators estimate drift distances of pesticide sprays.
The American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators and the Pesticide Education Program, Ohio State University are sponsoring the webcast. Details about tuning in for the webcast will be available at http://pested.osu.edu/agentinfo on July 10.
Extension educators are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. There is limited seating available to county personnel to be part of the live audience on July 19 in Wooster. Call the Pesticide Education Program at (614) 292-4070 for more information.
DICAMBA SOYBEANS
Researchers at the University of Nebraska have developed soybean crops resistant to dicamba. The researchers anticipate that the new technology will help fight weeds that have become resistant to glyphosate. According to Don Weeks, one of the researchers, the dicamba resistance trait should be commercially available in soybeans in 2010, if approval is received from USDA, EPA and FDA.
(Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 35, No. 31)
DDT ENDORSED FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL
In a reversal of a 30-year old policy, the World Health Organization (WHO) has
endorsed spraying DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) indoors to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The organization said the risk of a disease that kills one million people annually outweighed the little risk from DDT when applied appropriately.
The WHO estimates that for about $5 a household of five people can be protected for one year and the incidence of disease is reduced by 90 percent. The WHO has approved other insecticides for mosquito control indoors, but says DDT is currently the most effective.
(Source: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, October 2006)
AGRICULTURE HEALTH STUDY UPDATE
The Agriculture Health Study is one of the largest rural health studies ever conducted.The study has almost 90,000 people participating with about 31,000 from North Carolina and 59,000 from Iowa. Participants include certified private pesticide applicators (farmers) and their spouses in both states and 5,000 commercial pesticide applicators in Iowa. Over half of the farmers’ spouses are active in farm work, including mixing and applying pesticides.
The study is based on survey questions about pesticide exposure with the
participants. The most recent update from the surveys, has shown that exposure to agricultural pesticides in the first-trimester of pregnancy could increase the risk of developing diabetes during the pregnancy. The women who mixed or applied pesticides or repaired pesticide-related equipment during the first trimester of pregnancy had a more than twofold increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. The women who had mixed or applied pesticides at any time before did not face an increased risk of gestation diabetes compared with those who did not. The results were in the March, 2007 issue of Diabetes Care and the article is available at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/30/3/529?
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(Source: The Label, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Vol. 19, No. 4)
OSU COMMERCIAL RECERTIFICATION CONFERENCES
November begins the Recertification Conferences for Ohio Pesticide Commercial Applicators coordinated by OSU Extension. The conferences are designed to provide commercial applicators an opportunity to complete their recertification requirementsfor their license. The conferences will be for applicators whose recertification requirement expires on September 30, 2008, 2009 or 2010. Registration, schedules and directions will be available on the website at http://pested.osu.edu on October 1.County educators who would like to assist with moderating or registration will be able to attend the conference for no charge. The educators can also obtain commercial pesticide recertification credit during the conference. Please contact the Pesticide Education Program if you are interested. The dates and locations will be:
General Schools (turf, ornamental, industrial vegetation and pest control)
Akron – November 20, 2007
Dayton – January 15, 2008
Perrysburg – February 19, 2008
Columbus – February 26, 2008
Field Crop Conferences (agronomic pest control)
Lima – December 12, 2007
Columbus – March 5, 2008
THE BENEFITS OF PESTICIDES
A research paper has been published on the benefits of pesticides to humans and the environment. The paper was published in Crop Protection and is authored by Jerry
Cooper and Hans Dobson from the University of Greenwich in the United Kingdom.
The article title is “The benefits of pesticides to mankind and the environment.” The article can be found online at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02612194
Use the quick search to find the article.
(Source: Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. EPA)
HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS DATABASE
A household product list is available on the web for people to look up household pesticides and repellents for information on the label precautions, first-aid instructions, storage/disposal, manufacturer, EPA registration number and other items.The website is at: http://www.pesticidesafety.uiuc.edu/newsletter/html/200703f.html
and is operated by the National Institute of Health and the National Library of
Medicine. In addition to pesticides, the site also contains products used for personal care, pet care, home-office products, auto, arts and crafts and other household items.
(Source: Illinois Pesticide Review, Vol. 20, No. 3)
BEYOND THE DRIFT...ALIENS BOYCOTT GM CROPS
Aliens refuse to create crop circles in genetically modified crop fields according to a study conducted by Buck Uranus, chief astronomer for the William H. Carpenter Foundation in Nevada. The study found that no crop circles created in the past five years were in fields with genetically modified crops. Uranus believes the aliens fear the possible side-effects of crops. He also adds that they may be worried about paying royalty fees for any seeds picked up by the undercarriage of the spacecraft. (Source: Weekly World Inquisitor, 3/2/07 via Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, March 2007)
PESTICIDE CROP WATCH
FUMIGANTS
Methyl bromide – The U.S. inventory of methyl bromide continues to show a steady decline. Used as a general pesticide in agriculture, methyl bromide was identifiedas an ozone-depleting chemical and is being phased out except for allowable exemptions for users who have no technically and economically feasible alternative. The phase-out is part of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Clean Air Act.
(Source: Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. EPA)
UPCOMING EVENTS
More information about these events at http://pested.osu.edu
TRAINED SERVICEPERSON AND NEW APPLICATOR TRAINING
Commercial Recertification Credit Also Available
The new applicator classes will be a review of the Core material in the morning, which also covers the training for trained servicepersons. In the afternoon, the class will focus on weed control principles for the turf (8), industrial vegetation (5) and ornamental weed (6c) categories. Participants will be able to take exams at the conclusion of the classes.
July 18, 2007
August 8, 2007
Taught at Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg
WOOD DESTROYING INSECT INSPECTION TRAINING
Commercial Recertification Credit Also Available
This training is for inspectors wanting to become licensed to inspect properties
involved in a real estate transaction for wood-destroying insects.
September 19, 2007
Taught at Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg
COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR RECERTIFICATION CONFERENCES
General Conferences
November 20, 2007 – John S. Knight Center, Akron
January 15, 2008 – Dayton Convention Center
February 19, 2008 – Holiday Inn French Quarter, Perrysburg
February 26, 2008 – Columbus Convention Center
Field Crop Conferences
December 12, 2007 – Ohio State University, Lima Campus
March 5, 2008 – OSU Fawcett Center, Columbus
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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
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