PEP-Talk, July, 2003

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

In This Issue

Section 18 for Huron County

Outlook herbicide (dimethenamid-P) has been given a Section 18 emergency exemption for use on dry bulb onions in Huron County (Ohio) until July 30, 2003. The label and EPA letter are on our website (http://pested.osu.edu) for growers to download. It is on the "General Information" page under Section 18s.

Diazinon Cancellation by Syngenta

EPA has received a request from Syngenta Crop Protection to voluntarily cancel the registrations for all of its remaining products (agricultural and outdoor non-agricultural) containing diazinon, an organophosphate pesticide.

Retailers will be able to sell outdoor NON-agricultural (such as lawn and garden) end-use products containing diazinon made by Syngenta until December 31, 2004. Product that has already been purchased can be used according to label directions until stocks are exhausted.

Sales of agriculture end-use products containing diazinon made by Syngenta may continue until stocks are exhausted. Product already purchased can be used according to label directions until stocks are exhausted. All sales and distribution to retailers ends on August 31, 2003. The notice and information about diazinon use with Syngenta's cancellation is available. (Source: EPA Pesticide Program Update, June 16, 2003)

Ohio Pesticide Product Database

A pesticide product look-up of Ohio's registered pesticide products is now available through the internet. Maintained by Purdue University, the National Pesticide Information Retrieval System (NPIRS) is available at http://state.ceris.purdue.edu The pesticide search can be done by pest, product name, EPA registration number or other criteria.

Atrazine and Frogs

As atrazine goes through the re-registration process, controversy has heated up regarding studies of the effects of atrazine on amphibian development. EPA has evaluated 17 laboratory and field studies that have been published in research journals or submitted to the Agency regarding this subject.

EPA has developed a "white paper" which assesses the strengths and limitations of the available studies. Click here for the white paper. EPA is planning to replicate the published studies on atrazine's affect, both in the laboratory and the field. EPA is trying to determine the risk of abnormal reproductive development in amphibians exposed to atrazine. Results will not be available until at least 2004. (Sources: EPA Pesticide Program Update, May 30, 2003; Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 35)

Whitman Resigns as Head of EPA

Christine Todd Whitman has resigned as head of EPA and is planning to return to New Jersey. Her last day of work was June 27. A replacement for Whitman's seat on the president's cabinet has not been announced.

Insect Repellent May Pose Cancer Risk

EPA has said MGK Repellent 326 may pose a slightly unacceptable risk of cancer in EPA's risk assessment. The assessment is open to a 60-day comment period. The repellent, and organophosphonate is applied to humans, dogs, cats and horses. It is also used for kennels, barns and dog houses.

The MGK Repellent is rarely used as the only active ingredient in repellent products. It is generally used to enhance the repellency of other formulation components such as DEET and MGK 264. Information about the risk assessment announcement is available. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 32)

Mosquito/Vector Control Workshops Completed

The Ohio Department of Health and the Pesticide Education Program coordinated Vector Control Workshops around the state of Ohio during the month of June. These workshops were designed for health departments and communities to have their mosquito sprayers calibrated and tested for droplet size. During the workshops, 170 machines were tested and calibrated representing about 150 communities across Ohio. In addition, educational sessions for pesticide applicators in the mosquito category were held. Over 100 applicators participated in the educational sessions.

Reducing Mosquito Breeding Sites Display Available

The Pesticide Education Program has developed a display to educate the public about reducing mosquito breeding sites. The display features the detail pictures from the two posters developed by the West Nile Virus Workgroup. (See our website and follow the link for West Nile Virus Resources for a sample of the posters.) The display shows the specific breeding sites to drain and also has information about personnel protection from mosquitoes. The display will be available starting the week of July 7. For more information, contact the Pesticide Education Program at pested@postoffice.ag.ohio-state.edu

Moonshine Whiskey Could Be Hazardous to Your Health

A recently released study from the University of Virginia shows that moonshine whiskey may be toxic to adults who regularly drink the illegal brew. More than half of the 48 samples tested by the researchers had lead levels above the EPA guideline of 15 ppb. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 31, No. 32)

AAPSE Elects Officers

Joanne Kick-Raack, state pesticide coordinator for Ohio State University Extension was recently elected President-Elect of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators. The other new officers are: President - Win Hock, Penn State Extension; Secretary - Bob Wolf, Kansas State University Extension and Treasurer - Dean Herzfeld, University of Minnesota Extension.

AAPSE is open to anyone involved in pesticide safety education and resources including county agents, program assistants, extension associates and faculty. For more information visit the website at http://aapse.org. The website also contains links to pesticide education websites across the nation.

Pesticide Crop Watch

Insecticides

MSR (oxydemeton-methyl) - Gowan has added to their label the usage on Spanish onions.

Phantom (chlorfenapyr) - BASF has received registration for ant and cockroach control indoors only. Apply as a crack and crevice treatment or spot treatment.

Recruit III (noviflumuron) - Dow AgriSciences has registered this product with EPA for use as a termite control bait in conjunction with their Senticon Termite Colony Eliminator System.

Saga WP (tralomethrin) - Bayer has decided to discontinue the production of this product.

Success (spinosad) - Dow AgroSciences has added to their label the usage on herbs.

Herbicides

Drive (quinclorac) - BASF has added to their label the control of English daisy, Carolina geranium, morningglory and wild violet in turf.

Sinbar (terbacil) - DuPont has expanded the label for use on strawberries where it now can be used during the planting year.

(Source for Pesticide Crop Watch: Agricultural Chemical News, Vol. 285)

Upcoming Events

Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Training
October 2, 2003, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg

PAT Agent Inservice
January 7 & 8, 2004
Agriculture Administration Building Auditorium
Ohio State University Campus, Columbus

General Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conferences
(turf, ornamental, pest control, industrial vegetation)
November 25, 2003 - Cleveland/Independence Holiday Inn
December 17, 2003 - Dayton Convention Center
January 14, 2004 - Perrysburg Holiday Inn, French Quarters
February 17, 2004 - Columbus Convention Center

Field Crops Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Conferences
January 28, 2004 - Lima Holiday Inn
February 4, 2004 - Fawcett Center, Ohio State University, Columbus

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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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