PEP-Talk, March, 2008
Pesticide Education Program
Ohio State University Extension
Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator
Cindy Folck, Communications
Vol. 12, Issue 2
IN THIS ISSUE
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE STANDARD PROTESTS
The American National Standards Institute is prepared to endorse a sustainable agriculture standard that was crafted by the Leonardo Academy in Wisconsin. Over 30 national and state agribusiness organizations have sent a letter to the Leonardo Academy pointing out the substantive flaws in the standard.
The standard currently equates organic with sustainable and best agricultural practices. The standard also rejects the use of biotechnology and requires producers to follow organic processes rather than achieving measurable results. The groups also point out that the standard does not meet the definition of sustainable agriculture in the 1990 Farm Bill and that the standard process did not include materially affected stakeholders.
The letter was sent to the Leonardo Academy by the American Farm Bureau, American Seed Trade Association, American Soybean Association, Animal Health Institute, Biotechnology Industry Organization, CropLife America, Grocery Manufacturers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association and others.
Information on the proposed standard is available at the Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association: http://ohiovegetables.org/standards/index.html
(Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Feb. 11, 2008)
WORKER SAFETY RULE CHANGE DATE EXTENDED
Public comments were submitted to EPA for the proposed rule changes to the agricultural worker protection and applicator certification regulations. Because of comments that were received, EPA must do a regulatory impact analysis on the regulations for small businesses. The Small Business Regulation Economic Fairness Act process includes a panel of representatives from small businesses to offer recommendations to offset burdensome requirements of the proposed rules. The proposed rules after this process should be available for comment in the fall of 2009.
(Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, 2/21/08)
WOOD DESTROYING INSECT INSPECTION – APRIL 2
April 2 will be the next training session for inspectors wanting to become licensed for wood-destroying insect inspections. Ohio regulation requires a license for anyone performing insect inspections as part of a real estate transaction. The license requires the inspectors to attend a mandatory five-hour training session and take a test.
Anyone interested in attending the training can go to the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu for information. If there are any questions, they can call the program at (614) 292-4070. The class will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The registration, which includes lunch, is $90 if pre-registered and $100 at the door. Ohio State University Extension Educators who would like to learn more about inspecting structures for insect damage can attend the training at the discounted rate of $25. Call (614) 292-4070 for more information.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON EXPANDED LIST OF WATER CONTAMINANTS
EPA is asking for public comments on a list of 104 possible drinking water contaminants that may be regulated in the future. The Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) contains 93 contaminants that are unregulated and known or anticipated to occur in public water systems. The CCL process is under the Safe Drinking Water Act and lists chemicals used in commerce, pesticides, biological toxins, disinfection by products and waterborne pathogens. More information is available at:
http://epa.gov/safewater/ccl/ccl3.html
(Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, 2/25/08)
RULE PROPOSED REQUIRING PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING
EPA is moving forward to propose regulations that once finalized, would require registrants of agricultural and professional specialty pesticides to recycle plastic pesticide containers. The proposed regulations will be published by the fall of 2008. A public 60-day comment period will be held on the proposed rule at that time.
(Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, 1/25/08)
COMMERCIAL NEW APPLICATOR TRAINING AROUND THE STATE
Training for commercial new applicators and trained servicepeople will be available in different parts of the state this year. The training for March 25 will be in Richland County and April 9 will be in Auglaize County. The training will also be held in Reynoldsburg at the Ohio Department of Agriculture on March 26, April 16 and May 14.
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 classes will offer the trained serviceperson training and also be a review of the Core material for commercial pesticide applicators preparing to take their exam. There will also be sessions for applicators preparing to take the turf (category 8), industrial vegetation (category 5) and ornamental weed (category 6c) exams. For more information, visit the Pesticide Education Program website at: http://pested.osu.edu or call (614) 292-4070.
UPCOMING EVENTS
More information about these events at http://pested.osu.edu
COMMERCIAL RECERTIFICATION CONFERENCE
Field Crop Conference
March 5, 2008 – OSU Fawcett Center, Columbus
WOOD-DESTROYING INSECT INSPECTION
April 2, 2008
Taught at Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg
TRAINED SERVICEPERSON AND NEW APPLICATOR SCHOOLS
March 26, 2008
April 16, 2008
May 14, 2008
August 27, 2008
September 24, 2008
Taught at Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg
March 25, 2008
Richland County
Contact OSU Extension, Richland County for more information at (419) 747-8755
April 9, 2008
Auglaize County
Contact OSU Extension, Auglaize County for more information at (419) 738-2219
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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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