PEP-Talk, August, 2004 Pesticide Education Program Ohio State University Extension Joanne Kick-Raack, State Coordinator Cindy Folck, Communications Vol. 8, Issue 7 In This Issue Comment Period for Pesticide Containers and Containment Active Ingredients under Assessment What is a Pesticide? Change in Endangered Species Policy New Funding for Turfgrass Research Beyond the Drift Pesticide Crop Watch Upcoming Events Comment Period for Pesticide Containers and Containment EPA has reopened the public comment period to August 16 for proposed regulation establishing standard for pesticide containers and containment. The proposed rule focuses on the strength and integrity of non-refillable and refillable pesticide containers and labeling for these containers as well as labeling with cleaning instructions for the containers. The rule also established standards for secondary containment structures for pesticide dealers who repackage pesticides, commercial applicators and custom blenders. The EPA websites address for information about the proposed regulations are: Overview of the proposed rule: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/containers.htm#comments Details about key requirements and who will need to comply: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/container-rule.pdf Information about submitting comments: http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2004/June/Day-30/p14463.htm (Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, August, 2004) Active Ingredients under Assessment Thiram Thiram is a fungicide used in foliar treatments of apples, peaches and strawberries, as well as seed treatment for numerous vegetable and field crops. Thiram is also used for non-residential turf on golf courses, rights of way, parks, athletic fields and sod and in some cases is labeled as an animal repellents to protect crops from wildlife damage. With the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) guidelines, there is concern over dietary risk from food uses of thiram in foliar treatments. Seed treatments are considered as non-food use. The comment period on the reregistration eligibility decision extends until September 2. More information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/thiram/ Amitraz Amitraz has been labeled for numerous crops and uses in the past, but the manufacturer has cancelled crop uses and is only seeking reregistration for use on beef and dairy cattle, swine and dogs. Amitraz is used for control of mites, ticks and lice in cattle and swine and for ticks and lice in dog collars. There is concern about human health risks of the active ingredient through exposure from the animal uses, especially the dog collars. With the FQPA guidelines, there is also concern of dietary risk through milk and other dairy products. A comment period for amitraz is open until August 25. For more information go to the website at: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/reregistration/amitraz/index.htm (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 32, No. 38) What is a Pesticide? A California anti-pesticide group recently released a study on pesticide use in five northwestern California counties. The three-year study included a survey of 89 school districts. While the study promotes no pesticide use at schools, there were some interesting findings. Several of the school districts maintained a "no pesticides" policy but the study found that the schools used Roundup for weed control. Staff at 13 of the schools did not consider Roundup a pesticide. At other schools, groundskeepers did not consider using a weed and feed on the lawns as a pesticide application. Teachers at some of the schools often used an over-the counter pesticide in their classroom without consulting the maintenance department. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 32, No. 38) Under Ohio law, school districts that have personnel using any pesticides, including Roundup, weed and feed products or over-the-counter pesticides must have a licensed commercial pesticide applicator employed by the district. The Pesticide Education Program offered new applicator classes for school district personnel this spring. If you are interested in hosting a training session in your area, please contact Joanne Kick-Raack, state pesticide coordinator, (614) 247-7489. Change in Endangered Species Policy EPA will be able to register pesticides without formal consultation with federal wildlife agencies. The Bush administration has waived the requirement that EPA consult with the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service and Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service each time the agency registers a new pesticide. The wildlife agencies have commented that the current EPA risk mitigation assessment effectively determines if a pesticide is a concern for endangered species. Federal officials anticipate the new rule would help avoid lawsuits such as one brought against EPA by environmental groups who charge that EPA did not consult federal wildlife agencies about the risks various pesticides pose to salmon in the Pacific Northwest. (Source: Associated Press, July 30, 2004) New Funding for Turfgrass Research The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) branch of the USDA has signed an agreement with the National Turfgrass Foundation to fund long-term research to improve the nation's turfgrass. Currently, turfgrass covers 50 million acres nationally (almost as may acres as wheat) and supports a $40 billion-a-year business. In Maryland alone, turfgrass is the number one crop bringing $1 billion to the state's economy. The new initiative will support research in the six priority areas of improvement of water management, germplasm collection and enhancement, pest management, improving turfgrass' role in the environment, soil enhancement and integrated turf management systems. (Source: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, June 2004) Beyond the Drift The city of Calgary, Canada, has passed the cost of maintaining city parks without pesticides onto the residents. Citizens of Sunnyside, an inner-city community of Calgary, are refusing to pay for the extra cost of being organic. However, the citizens claim that Calgary can still maintain their parks pesticide-free without additional costs to residents by adopting correct management practices. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 32, No. 37) Pesticide Crop Watch Insecticides Confirm (tebufenozide) - Dow AgriSciences has added to their label the control of armyworms in canola. Pyganic (pyrethrin) - MGK has added to their label the usage in food and non food areas such as food processing plants, industrial sites, homes and storage facilities and on livestock and poultry. Also added to the label the control of apple maggots and yellow jackets. Herbicides Pythion (flumetsulam) - Dow AgriSciences has added to their label the control of teaweed and prickly sida in soybeans. Sonalan (ethalfluralin) - Dow AgriSciences has added to the label the usage on safflower, canola and crambe. Fungicides Actigard (acibenzolar-s-methyl) - Syngenta has added to the label for this plant activator the suppression of black rot on cole crops. Misc. Bird Shield (methyl anthranilate) - Bird Shield Repellent Corp. has added to their label the usage on apples, strawberries and wild rice. (Source for Pesticide Crop Watch: Agricultural Chemical News, Vol. 298) Upcoming Events Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Training October 14, 2004, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Ohio Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg Agent Inservice for Pesticide Applicator Training January 5 - 6, 2006 Agriculture Administration Building, OSU Campus, Columbus Ohio Commercial Recertification Schools General Schools (turf, ornamental, industrial vegetation and pest control) Cleveland - November 22, 2004 Perrysburg - December 16, 2004 (notice switch to December) Dayton - January 19, 2005 (notice switch to January) Columbus - February 17, 2005 Field Crop Conferences (agronomic pest control) Lima - December 9, 2004 Columbus OSU Fawcett Center - February 2, 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 .