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In This Issue
April 7 is Landscape and Household Pest Inservice Register today for the Landscape and Household Pest Inservice on April 7. The registration form is available on the Pesticide Education Program website at http://pested.osu.edu Follow the link for "Agent Information." The deadline for registering is March 29. The inservice is for Extension educators, program assistants and lead master gardeners. The focus will be on common questions and issues that consumers ask in regards to household and landscape pests. For more information, check out the website or call the Pesticide Education Program at (614) 292-4070. Parkinson's Disease is the focus of studies at the University of Rochester seeking possible environmental risks for the progressive neurological disorder. The fungicide Maneb along with the lubricant PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), have been identified as disruptors of the type of nerve cell that degenerates in the course of Parkinson's. The study on PCBs was published in the December issue of NeuroToxicology and the Maneb study will be published in February's issue. Other pesticides are also being studied along with diozins and heavy metals. The pesticide studies will focus on how combinations of pesticides may damage the nervous system. (Source: Democrat & Chronical, Jan. 27, 2005) The University of Buffalo is also researching Parkinson's Disease and possible environment risks. The researchers looked at rotenone, a naturally occurring compound derived from roots, seeds and tropical plant leaves that is registered with the U.S. EPA as a pesticide. This botanical pesticide is used as a selective, non-specific insecticide used in home gardens for insect control and for lice and tick control on pets. The study looked at dopamine, the neurotransmitter that controls body movement. Using rat neurons, the researchers showed that rotenone could disrupt the transport of dopamine to the brain's movement center. (Sources: University of Buffalo via The Label, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cooperative Extension, Vol. 17, No. 1; Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News) U.S. Joins Other Countries in Global Harmonization The U.S. EPA has expressed a commitment with other countries to pursue global harmonization for pesticide registrations. This initiative would create a worldwide, standardized format for submitting new and existing product registration data to regulators. The governmental agencies of participating countries would exchange reviews of the date and utilize set protocols for conducting risk assessments and regulatory decisions. The goal is to have the new system implemented by 2014. Pesticide applicators would see a new label layout, wording and signal words as a result of the globalization process. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 33, No. 16) EPA Assesses Cost of the Worker Protection Standard The EPA Office of Pesticide Programs has initiated an assessment of the time and cost nationwide for compliance with the Worker Protection Standard, including information collections, information exchange and training paperwork. Estimations are that 2,293,364 hours have been spent at a cost of $109,436,947. This is the total time, effort or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a federal agency. So, this is the time spent by growers to adhere to the regulation. (Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Update) Monsanto Purchases Fruit and Vegetable Seed Company Monsanto has agreed to pay about $1 billion to acquire Seminis, the world's largest producer of fruit and vegetable seeds. Monsanto spokespeople said the company would develop new vegetable varieties using convention breeding and that the fruit and vegetable seed business could grow without biotechnology. This move will make Monsanto the largest supplier of vegetable seeds and be the largest seed and biotech company in the world. (Source: Chemically Speaking, University of Florida Extension, February 2005) Georgia Cattlement Plead Guilty to Bird Kill Two cattlemen pled guilty to killing approximately 3,300 migratory birds on their Georgia farm. In January of last year, the pair spread corn laced with Warbex around a pond on the farm to kill nuisance birds. Warbex is a topical preparation for cattle to control insect pests and its active ingredient, famphur, is highly toxic if ingested. (Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Update) EPA Office of Pesticide Programs has their annual report available online at http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/annual/2004/04annualrpt.pdf The report is entitled "Taking Care of Business: Protecting Human Health and the Environment" and highlights the accomplishments and key achievements in 2004. (Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Update) EPA Launches New Spanish Language Site EPA's Spanish language materials have been compiled to one central website. The address of the new site is http://www.epa.gov/espanol The site will feature Spanish language materials on a wide variety of areas from proper management of pesticides to lead poisoning prevention and controlling asthma triggers. There is also Spanish language learning tools on the environment available for students and teachers. (Source: EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Update) Green cleaning is the focus of an executive order by the governor of New York to require state facilities to use cleaning products that contain no components that are harmful to humans or the environment. The governor is also planning to propose legislation to require public schools to ban similar cleaning products. Opponents of the move point out that the efficacy of the approved cleaning products that meet the governor's criteria are not the best products for controlling mold and some pathogens in facilities such as public schools. (Source: Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 33, No. 13) Insecticides
Herbicides
Misc.
(Sources for Pesticide Crop Watch: USDA/CSREES/PAS Update, Pesticide & Toxic Chemical News, Vol. 33, Nos. 12, 13)
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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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Pesticide Education Program • Ohio State University Extension |