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PEP-Talk, April, 2008 Pesticide Education Program IN THIS ISSUE
STEVE BAERTSCHE RETIRES We appreciate Steve’s support and advice during years of growth, budget constraints and development of the Pesticide Education Program. Thanks Steve! 24C LABEL FOR EMERALD ASH BORER If applicators are planning to use Tree-age for this purpose, they must have a copy of the Section 24C label at the time of application. A copy is available to download from the Pesticide Education Program website at: http://pested.osu.edu/24C.htm CALIFORNIA FARMERS FACE FUMIGATION LIMITS California instituted the permits after losing a lawsuit from environmental groups that challenged the state’s air quality plan approved in 1994 that called for a 20 percent reduction in emissions from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in areas that violated federal smog standards. The purpose of the permits is to limit use of soil fumigants, including methyl bromide, during the ozone-heavy months of May to October. In addition to limiting the use of fumigants, growers will also need to use low-emission techniques to apply the fumigants. The initiation of the low-emission techniques are considered sufficient for the San Joaquin and Southeast Desert areas to meet the 20 percent reduction goal. However in Ventura County, where over 12,000 acres of strawberries are grown, the reductions could affect grower’s decisions to raise strawberries. The Ventura County Agricultural Association (VCAA) has filed suit against the California Department of Pesticide Regulation that the regulation will cost local farming operations millions of dollars. The group points out strawberries and other specialty crops are the only viable option on the high-priced land. They contend this regulation would force agricultural land to be converted to residential and commercial development, which would increase smog and create carbon emissions. VOCs have been targeted because they routinely evaporate out of fumigants into the air and react with sunlight and nitrogen oxides to form ground level ozone, otherwise called smog. More information about the regulations is available at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation website: http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/emon/vocs/vocproj/reg_fumigant.htm (Sources: “About New Rules to Control Field Fumigant Emissions,” fact sheet by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, January 2008; Ventura County Star, March 1, 2008; Columbia Tribune, March 13, 2008; Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 36, Nos. 16 & 18) MOSQUITO CONTROL WORKSHOPS Applicators will be able to bring in their mosquito ULV spraying equipment for droplet testing. The sprayers must be in working condition and calibrated prior to the workshop. Droplets can be taken only using pesticide as the spray, so have some pesticide in the tank. At selected locations, an educational program and license exam testing will be available. The program includes a morning of new applicator training for the mosquito category on a pesticide applicator license. Applicators will be able to take their licensing exam the same morning. The afternoon educational session will feature an update on mosquito and vector control. Pesticide recertification credits for the mosquito and vector category 10d (1 hour) and core (1/2 hour) will be available in the afternoon session. The dates and locations of the workshops are: June 18 - Whitehall Community Park, 402 Hamilton Rd., Whitehall (Columbus area) June 19 – Lake County Health Department, 550 Black Brook Rd., Painesville, Educational session, ODA license exam and ULV droplet testing ALL available. June 20 – Toledo Area Sanitary District, 5015 Stickney Ave., Toledo, ULV droplet testing only - NO education session or ODA license exam testing will be available Registration is $10/person for the educational session. ULV droplet testing is free. The workshops are made possible through a grant from the Ohio Department of Health. Registration forms and more information are available on the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu or by calling (614) 292-4070. PESTICIDE ISSUES ON EPA WEBSITE PESTICIDE CROP WATCH Sulfometuron methyl – EPA has released the risk assessment for this non-selective herbicide used primarily in forestry and industrial vegetation. There are no food uses for sulfometuron methyl. Risks of concern are indirect effects on freshwater fish and invertebrates, estuarine/marine fish and invertebrates and acute and chronic exposure to aquatic and terrestrial plants. Comments are accepted until April 28, 2008. More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/sulfometuron_methyl/ INSECTICIDES UPCOMING EVENTS TRAINED SERVICEPERSON AND NEW APPLICATOR SCHOOLS April 9, 2008 EXTENSION EDUCATOR INSERVICE -------------------------------------------------------------- |
Pesticide Education Program • Ohio State University Extension |