PEP-Talk, March, 2003

PEP-Talk, March, 2003

Pesticide Education Program
Ohio State University Extension
Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator
Cindy Folck, Communications
Vol. 7, Issue 3

In This Issue

New Head of Pesticide Section at ODA

West Nile Virus Satellite Conference

Field Crops Study Guide is Available

Atrazine Information Available

Growers Need to Prevent Insect Resistance

States Deal with Shrinking Budgets

Growers Warned of Telemarketers

States Looking to Reduce Pesticides

Senators Send Letter Supporting FIFRA

Non-English Pesticide Label Debate

Health Issues

Pesticide Crop Watch

Upcoming Events

New Head of Pesticide Section at ODA

William Pound has been named the head of the pesticide section at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. This follows the retirement of Robert Wulfhorst who worked for the department for 30 years. Most recently, Pound was the head of the Gypsy Moth Program at ODA.

Thanks Bob! We extend a sincere thank you to Bob Wulfhorst for his 30 years of service to the citizens of Ohio through the pesticide regulation program at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. He brought experience, patience and steadiness to his work for the state of Ohio. We appreciate Bob's contributions to the pesticide industry.

West Nile Virus Satellite Conference

"Educating the Public about West Nile Virus and Its Prevention" will be the subject of a satellite conference on March 19 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. The target audience is primarily OSU Extension Agents in all disciplines and county registered sanitarians. If space allows, please invite local agencies, township and city officials, soil & water conservation districts, park districts, scouting organizations, 4-H leaders, farm groups, elderly advocates, county fairground managers and county agency personnel interested in learning more about the threat of West Nile Virus to various populations. Access will be available at OSU Extension county and district offices as well as OSU Learning Centers.

The schedule of the satellite conference will be: Robert Restifo, Vector-borne Disease Program, Ohio Department of Health, giving an overview of West Nile Virus and its spread through the U.S. and Ohio. Dr. Forrest Smith, state epidemiologist, Ohio Department of Health, will talk about human infection with West Nile Virus. Richard E. Gary, entomologist, Vector-borne Disease Program, Ohio Department of Health will focus on the surveillance of birds and mosquitoes and control activities. Dr. William Saville, epidemiologist/large animal internist, The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine will focus on West Nile Virus and farmers and horse owners.

The satellite conference will be on the Dish Network system (formerly the RISE network) or C-band satellite. We'll forward the satellite numbers to everyone when they're available.

Field Crops Study Guide is Available

The Pesticide Applicator Training Field Crops Study Guide (OSU Bulletin 821) is now available from the publications office. The cost is $4.50 per book. The study guide is designed for private applicators preparing to take their licensing exam in category 1.

Atrazine Information Available

Earlier in February, the Pesticide Education Program e-mailed information to OSU Extension offices about the interim reregistration eligibility decision (IRED) for atrazine released from EPA. Monitoring of drinking water for atrazine has been done in the Midewest and Ohio for years. In Ohio, the last 20 years of data show a decline in atrazine loading in Ohio watersheds. The IRED announced enhanced water monitoring in the Corn Belt. Some of the sites will be in Ohio, although it has not been announced which specific watersheds. More details and information about the enhanced water monitoring is available as a pdf file. Information from the EPA regarding the IRED is available .

Growers Need to Prevent Insect Resistance

In a presentation to the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, EPA officials encouraged participants to help their clients comply with resistance requirements for genetically engineered (GE) crops. A big part of the resistance management plan is planting a refugee of unmodified crops beside the GE crops to encourage resistant and non-resistant insects to interbreed. A recent survey revealed that almost 25 percent of growers weren't taking steps to prevent insect resistance. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 13)

States Deal with Shrinking Budgets

Ohio is not alone in facing state-wide budget cuts. In New York, budget cuts are forcing a 30 percent increase in pesticide applicator fees with additional increases for first-time certification. California is also considering increasing exam and licensing fees. The state regulator agencies are not the only ones feeling the pinch. California Cooperative Extension is anticipating a loss of $15 million in their budget. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 15)

Growers Warned of Telemarketers

This is the time of year when growers may receive phone calls from telemarketers urging them to buy pesticide products. Often these products sound too good to be true - great control at half the price of the local dealer. Actually, the products may be too good to be true; Ohio has experienced fraudulent claims from some pesticides telemarketers. The products have often turned out to be highly diluted solutions which offer very little control.

Growers are encouraged to be cautious when purchasing pesticides over the phone. Be aware of products that are unbelievably cheap and have incredible control periods. These telemarketers usually demand immediate payment by credit card or cashier's check and try high-pressure tactics to have the grower buy the product.

States Looking to Reduce Pesticides

Two states are looking at legislations that will further reduce available pesticides. Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a ban on ten chemicals and pesticides, including organophosphate pesticides, 2,4-D, perchloroethylene, formaldehyde, lead and five others. If the bill is passed the production, sale and use of these compounds will be gradually phased out and eventually banned.

Environmental groups in New York are lobbying lawmakers to ban aesthetic use of pesticides, such as lawn and tree care. A recently released report showed that 20 percent of pesticides applied in the state are for agricultural purposes. The majority of pesticides applied in New York are used for commercial applications, such as lawn care or indoor pest control (household pesticide use is exempted from reporting requirements).

The city council of Vedic City, Iowa, unanimously passed a resolution requiring all food items sold in the city to be organic. The resolution makes the sale of any food that is genetically modified or not grown organically illegal inside the city limits. There are no grocery stores in town and only one restaurant, located at a resort. (Sources: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, January 2003; Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 16 and 13)

Senators Send Letter Supporting FIFRA

A recent circuit court case ruled that aerial application of a pesticide needed a discharge permit in accordance with the Clean Water Act. This has raised concern from some U.S. Senators. These senators sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft voicing concern about the precedent of the court's decision. The letter stated that pesticide application done in accordance with the label had been approved by EPA under FIFRA.

The senators stated that if the court's opinion is left to stand it would create confusion, encourage further litigation and cause unnecessary delay and expense to critical programs for the protection of forest, crop and human health. The senators that signed the letter included Larry Craig, Gordon Smith, Mike Crapo and Frank Murkowski. (Source: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, January, 2003)

Non-English Pesticide Label Debate

State regulators express concern over the issue of foreign-language pesticide labels. Growing numbers of Spanish-speaking agricultural workers and other pesticide applicators are driving demand for non-English labels and registrants have begun submitting some Spanish-language labels to some states for approval. However, state regulators across the country are concerned about their ability to enforce non-English labels. Other concerns include the resources available to states to translate and interpret non-English labels and the ability of the first responder such as medical or fire personnel to be able to read a non-English pesticide label. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, December 23, 2002)

Health Issues

A recently released study showed that family members on farms where pesticides are applied generally do not have appreciably-increased pesticide levels compared with non-farm participants. The study analyzed urine samples from 95 farm families in Minnesota and North Carolina. Urine samples were taken from family members over four days after pesticide were applied on the individual farms, along with a pre-pesticide application sample for comparison. (Source: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, January 2003)

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a human exposure study on 116 organophosphate pesticides, herbicides, phthalates and other chemicals. The study focused on the amount of chemical absorbed in the human body. Over 2,000 human volunteers participated in the study. The CDC plans to use the findings as benchmarks for medical professionals to use when determining if an individual has a high exposure level of certain chemicals. No conclusions on toxicity of individual chemicals was made through the study. The scientists stressed the study was for informational purposes and not to determine health effects from certain chemicals. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 15)

Pesticide Crop Watch

Insecticides

Baygon (propoxur) - Bayer plans to phase out this product as the inventories are depleted.

Ethoprop (active ingredient for Mocap by Bayer Crop Science) - EPA released an interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) on all but liquid (EC) formulation. Golf courses will be removed from the Mocap label. Snap and lima beans and field/sweet corn will be taken off the EC formulation label. Information is available.

Naled - EPA has released the Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for this active ingredient used for mosquito control. Naled is considered within acceptable levels for individual and aggregate risk if risk mitigation is adopted. Naled may not be used in and around the home by residents or commercial applicators. Information is available.

Vectobac (B.t.) - Valent BioSciences added to their label the control of aquatic midges

Herbicides

Boa Herbicide and Boa Concentrate (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride) - Griffin has cancelled these products.

Distinct (diflufenzopyrid/dicamba) - BASF has registered for use on popcorn and the replant interval has been shortened to 30 days.

Extreme (imazathapry/glyphosate) - BASF received an additional label on soybeans to apply in the fall before the ground freezes.

Scepter (imazaquim) - BASF received an EPA registration to apply in the fall on soybeans grown in Ohio, Ind., Ill., Mo. and Kan.

Fungicides

Methyl bromide - The U.S. has submitted its formal nomination to the U.N. for critical use exemption from the phase-out of methyl bromide. Methyl bromide is a broad-spectrum fungicide that is scheduled to be phased-out by developed countries by 2005 in accordance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer. The Protocol contains a provision for exempted uses of methyl bromide for which there are no technical or economically feasible alternatives. The uses are primarily for fruit and vegetable crops.

Phyton 27 (copper sulfate/pentehydrate) - Source Tech Biologicals has added to their label the control of bacterial leaf spot and alternaria.

Serenade (Bacillus subtilis QST-713) - Agraquest added to their label the usage on broccoli and peppers.

(Source for Pesticide Crop Watch: Agricultural Chemical News, Vol. 281; Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, January 2003; EPA Office of Pesticide Program Information Sheets.)

Upcoming Events

Commercial New Applicator Training
March 4, 2003 (core, turf, general pest)
Columbus, OSU Fawcett Center
March 5, 2003 (core, industrial vegetation, agronomics, ornamentals)
Columbus, OSU Fawcett Center

West Nile Virus Satellite Conference
March 19, 2003, 2:00 p.m.
OSU Extension county and district offices and OSU Learning Centers.

Pesticide Education Program Advisory Council
April 4, 2003, 9:30 a.m.
Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.

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	PEP-Talk, March, 2003 Pesticide Education Program Ohio State University Extension Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator Cindy Folck, Communications Vol. 7, Issue 3 In This Issue New Head of Pesticide Section at ODA West Nile Virus Satellite Conference Field Crops Study Guide is Available Atrazine Information Available Growers Need to Prevent Insect Resistance States Deal with Shrinking Budgets Growers Warned of Telemarketers States Looking to Reduce Pesticides Senators Send Letter Supporting FIFRA Non-English Pesticide Label Debate Health Issues Pesticide Crop Watch Upcoming Events New Head of Pesticide Section at ODA William Pound has been named the head of the pesticide section at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. This follows the retirement of Robert Wulfhorst who worked for the department for 30 years. Most recently, Pound was the head of the Gypsy Moth Program at ODA. Thanks Bob! We extend a sincere thank you to Bob Wulfhorst for his 30 years of service to the citizens of Ohio through the pesticide regulation program at the Ohio Department of Agriculture. He brought experience, patience and steadiness to his work for the state of Ohio. We appreciate Bob's contributions to the pesticide industry. West Nile Virus Satellite Conference "Educating the Public about West Nile Virus and Its Prevention" will be the subject of a satellite conference on March 19 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. The target audience is primarily OSU Extension Agents in all disciplines and county registered sanitarians. If space allows, please invite local agencies, township and city officials, soil & water conservation districts, park districts, scouting organizations, 4-H leaders, farm groups, elderly advocates, county fairground managers and county agency personnel interested in learning more about the threat of West Nile Virus to various populations. Access will be available at OSU Extension county and district offices as well as OSU Learning Centers. The schedule of the satellite conference will be: Robert Restifo, Vector-borne Disease Program, Ohio Department of Health, giving an overview of West Nile Virus and its spread through the U.S. and Ohio. Dr. Forrest Smith, state epidemiologist, Ohio Department of Health, will talk about human infection with West Nile Virus. Richard E. Gary, entomologist, Vector-borne Disease Program, Ohio Department of Health will focus on the surveillance of birds and mosquitoes and control activities. Dr. William Saville, epidemiologist/large animal internist, The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine will focus on West Nile Virus and farmers and horse owners. The satellite conference will be on the Dish Network system (formerly the RISE network) or C-band satellite. We'll forward the satellite numbers to everyone when they're available. Field Crops Study Guide is Available The Pesticide Applicator Training Field Crops Study Guide (OSU Bulletin 821) is now available from the publications office. The cost is $4.50 per book. The study guide is designed for private applicators preparing to take their licensing exam in category 1. Atrazine Information Available Earlier in February, the Pesticide Education Program e-mailed information to OSU Extension offices about the interim reregistration eligibility decision (IRED) for atrazine released from EPA. Monitoring of drinking water for atrazine has been done in the Midewest and Ohio for years. In Ohio, the last 20 years of data show a decline in atrazine loading in Ohio watersheds. The IRED announced enhanced water monitoring in the Corn Belt. Some of the sites will be in Ohio, although it has not been announced which specific watersheds. More details and information about the enhanced water monitoring is available as a pdf file. Information from the EPA regarding the IRED is available . Growers Need to Prevent Insect Resistance In a presentation to the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, EPA officials encouraged participants to help their clients comply with resistance requirements for genetically engineered (GE) crops. A big part of the resistance management plan is planting a refugee of unmodified crops beside the GE crops to encourage resistant and non-resistant insects to interbreed. A recent survey revealed that almost 25 percent of growers weren't taking steps to prevent insect resistance. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 13) States Deal with Shrinking Budgets Ohio is not alone in facing state-wide budget cuts. In New York, budget cuts are forcing a 30 percent increase in pesticide applicator fees with additional increases for first-time certification. California is also considering increasing exam and licensing fees. The state regulator agencies are not the only ones feeling the pinch. California Cooperative Extension is anticipating a loss of $15 million in their budget. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 15) Growers Warned of Telemarketers This is the time of year when growers may receive phone calls from telemarketers urging them to buy pesticide products. Often these products sound too good to be true - great control at half the price of the local dealer. Actually, the products may be too good to be true; Ohio has experienced fraudulent claims from some pesticides telemarketers. The products have often turned out to be highly diluted solutions which offer very little control. Growers are encouraged to be cautious when purchasing pesticides over the phone. Be aware of products that are unbelievably cheap and have incredible control periods. These telemarketers usually demand immediate payment by credit card or cashier's check and try high-pressure tactics to have the grower buy the product. States Looking to Reduce Pesticides Two states are looking at legislations that will further reduce available pesticides. Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a ban on ten chemicals and pesticides, including organophosphate pesticides, 2,4-D, perchloroethylene, formaldehyde, lead and five others. If the bill is passed the production, sale and use of these compounds will be gradually phased out and eventually banned. Environmental groups in New York are lobbying lawmakers to ban aesthetic use of pesticides, such as lawn and tree care. A recently released report showed that 20 percent of pesticides applied in the state are for agricultural purposes. The majority of pesticides applied in New York are used for commercial applications, such as lawn care or indoor pest control (household pesticide use is exempted from reporting requirements). The city council of Vedic City, Iowa, unanimously passed a resolution requiring all food items sold in the city to be organic. The resolution makes the sale of any food that is genetically modified or not grown organically illegal inside the city limits. There are no grocery stores in town and only one restaurant, located at a resort. (Sources: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, January 2003; Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 16 and 13) Senators Send Letter Supporting FIFRA A recent circuit court case ruled that aerial application of a pesticide needed a discharge permit in accordance with the Clean Water Act. This has raised concern from some U.S. Senators. These senators sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft voicing concern about the precedent of the court's decision. The letter stated that pesticide application done in accordance with the label had been approved by EPA under FIFRA. The senators stated that if the court's opinion is left to stand it would create confusion, encourage further litigation and cause unnecessary delay and expense to critical programs for the protection of forest, crop and human health. The senators that signed the letter included Larry Craig, Gordon Smith, Mike Crapo and Frank Murkowski. (Source: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, January, 2003) Non-English Pesticide Label Debate State regulators express concern over the issue of foreign-language pesticide labels. Growing numbers of Spanish-speaking agricultural workers and other pesticide applicators are driving demand for non-English labels and registrants have begun submitting some Spanish-language labels to some states for approval. However, state regulators across the country are concerned about their ability to enforce non-English labels. Other concerns include the resources available to states to translate and interpret non-English labels and the ability of the first responder such as medical or fire personnel to be able to read a non-English pesticide label. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, December 23, 2002) Health Issues A recently released study showed that family members on farms where pesticides are applied generally do not have appreciably-increased pesticide levels compared with non-farm participants. The study analyzed urine samples from 95 farm families in Minnesota and North Carolina. Urine samples were taken from family members over four days after pesticide were applied on the individual farms, along with a pre-pesticide application sample for comparison. (Source: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, January 2003) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a human exposure study on 116 organophosphate pesticides, herbicides, phthalates and other chemicals. The study focused on the amount of chemical absorbed in the human body. Over 2,000 human volunteers participated in the study. The CDC plans to use the findings as benchmarks for medical professionals to use when determining if an individual has a high exposure level of certain chemicals. No conclusions on toxicity of individual chemicals was made through the study. The scientists stressed the study was for informational purposes and not to determine health effects from certain chemicals. (Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 15) Pesticide Crop Watch Insecticides Baygon (propoxur) - Bayer plans to phase out this product as the inventories are depleted. Ethoprop (active ingredient for Mocap by Bayer Crop Science) - EPA released an interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) on all but liquid (EC) formulation. Golf courses will be removed from the Mocap label. Snap and lima beans and field/sweet corn will be taken off the EC formulation label. Information is available. Naled - EPA has released the Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decision (IRED) for this active ingredient used for mosquito control. Naled is considered within acceptable levels for individual and aggregate risk if risk mitigation is adopted. Naled may not be used in and around the home by residents or commercial applicators. Information is available. Vectobac (B.t.) - Valent BioSciences added to their label the control of aquatic midges Herbicides Boa Herbicide and Boa Concentrate (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride) - Griffin has cancelled these products. Distinct (diflufenzopyrid/dicamba) - BASF has registered for use on popcorn and the replant interval has been shortened to 30 days. Extreme (imazathapry/glyphosate) - BASF received an additional label on soybeans to apply in the fall before the ground freezes. Scepter (imazaquim) - BASF received an EPA registration to apply in the fall on soybeans grown in Ohio, Ind., Ill., Mo. and Kan. Fungicides Methyl bromide - The U.S. has submitted its formal nomination to the U.N. for critical use exemption from the phase-out of methyl bromide. Methyl bromide is a broad-spectrum fungicide that is scheduled to be phased-out by developed countries by 2005 in accordance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer. The Protocol contains a provision for exempted uses of methyl bromide for which there are no technical or economically feasible alternatives. The uses are primarily for fruit and vegetable crops. Phyton 27 (copper sulfate/pentehydrate) - Source Tech Biologicals has added to their label the control of bacterial leaf spot and alternaria. Serenade (Bacillus subtilis QST-713) - Agraquest added to their label the usage on broccoli and peppers. (Source for Pesticide Crop Watch: Agricultural Chemical News, Vol. 281; Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, January 2003; EPA Office of Pesticide Program Information Sheets.) Upcoming Events Commercial New Applicator Training March 4, 2003 (core, turf, general pest) Columbus, OSU Fawcett Center March 5, 2003 (core, industrial vegetation, agronomics, ornamentals) Columbus, OSU Fawcett Center West Nile Virus Satellite Conference March 19, 2003, 2:00 p.m. OSU Extension county and district offices and OSU Learning Centers. Pesticide Education Program Advisory Council April 4, 2003, 9:30 a.m. Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension. Top of Page Return to Home