PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION: STILL NEEDED

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PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION STILL NEEDED?

• Barry M. Brennan, PhD
• Pesticide Coordinator
• College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
  Resources
• University of Hawaii-Manoa

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Background

• Pesticide Safety Education
• Chlorinated hydrocarbons replaced by
  organophosphates

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Background

• Pesticide Safety Education
• Chlorinated hydrocarbons replaced by
  organophosphates
• USDA creates Operation Safe

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Background

• Pesticide Safety Education
• Chlorinated hydrocarbons replaced by
  organophosphates
• USDA creates Operation Safe
• 1960 the Administrator of the FES ask extension
  directors to appoint a Pesticide Coordinator to -

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• receive, interpret, and disseminate information
  regarding pesticides and pest management.

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• The (Extension Service) Administrator envisioned
  educational programs, schools, conferences and
  intensive training courses for farmers and other
  pesticide users.

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Significant Dates

• Silent Spring
• Environment Protection Agency
• FIFRA amended
• State Plans for Certification of Pesticide
  Applicators approved
• 1976 Training begins
• 1988-89 Joint EPA/USDA evaluation

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The 80s and 90s

• IPM becomes the buzz word
• Endangered Species Act
• Worker protection issues?WPS
• Water quality protection
• Drift management
• Structural pest management

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Pesticide Safety Education

• Proposed at 1993 National CT Workshop
• New programs Increased workload
• Funding from new CSREES programs (-age)

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Pesticide Safety Education

• Proposed at 1993 National CT Workshop
• New programs Increased workload
• Funding from new CSREES programs (-age)
• GPRA passed

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Pesticide Safety Education

• Proposed at 1993 National CT Workshop
• New programs Increased workload
• Funding from new programs
• GPRA passed
• CTAG created to assess CT
• CES, SLA, EPA, USDA partnership
• CT in the 21st Century

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Are the problems that justified creation of PSEP
still valid?

• Number of farms down

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Are the problems that justified creation of PSEP
still valid?

• Number of farms down
• Number of private applicators down

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Are the problems that justified creation of PSEP
still valid?

• Number of farms down
• Number of private applicators down
• Environmental contamination down

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Are the problems that justified creation of PSEP
still valid?

• Number of farms down
• Number of private applicators down
• Environmental contamination down
• Fewer instances of pesticide poisoning

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Are the problems that justified creation of PSEP
still valid?

• Number of farms down
• Number of private applicators down
• Environmental contamination down
• Fewer instances of pesticide poisoning
• Number of illegal residues down

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Changes in the last 30 years

• Number of RUPs down

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Changes in the last 30 years

• Number of RUPs down
• Alternatives developed (e.g., baits, less toxic
  pesticides, non-chemical controls)

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Changes in the last 30 years

• Number of RUPs down
• Alternatives developed (e.g., baits, less toxic
  pesticides, non-chemical controls)
• Fewer manufacturers fewer products

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Changes in the last 30 years

• Number of RUPs down
• Alternatives developed (e.g., baits, less toxic
  pesticides, non-chemical controls)
• Fewer manufacturers fewer products
• Most private and commercial applicators trained
  (and recertified)

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Changes in the last 30 years

• Number of RUPs down
• Alternatives developed (e.g., baits, less toxic
  pesticides, non-chemical controls)
• Fewer manufacturers fewer products
• Most private and commercial applicators trained
  (and recertified)
• Funding in real dollars down every year

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Positive changes in the last 30 years

• Enforcement more effective (numbers up?)

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Positive changes in the last 30 years

• Enforcement more effective (numbers up?)
• Awareness among applicators up

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Positive changes in the last 30 years

• Enforcement more effective (numbers up?)
• Awareness among applicators up
• Support from applicator organizations up

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Positive changes in the last 30 years

• Enforcement more effective (numbers up?)
• Awareness among applicators up
• Support from applicator organizations up
• Fewer serious incidents of misuse

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Positive changes in the last 30 years

• Enforcement more effective (numbers up?)
• Awareness among applicators up
• Support from applicator organizations up
• Fewer serious incidents of misuse
• Increased number of training materials and
  formats available
• Quality up
• Interactive

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Positive changes in the last 30 years

• Enforcement more effective (numbers up?)
• Awareness among applicators up
• Support from applicator organizations up
• Fewer serious incidents of misuse
• Increased number of training materials and
  formats available
• Certification required for employment

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Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants

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Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants
• CSREES does not support

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Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants
• CSREES does not support
• Base funding always uncertain

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Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants
• CSREES does not support
• Base funding always uncertain
• Pesticide coordinators not being replaced

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Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants
• CSREES does not support
• Base funding always uncertain
• Pesticide coordinators not being replaced
• Fewer applicators need certification

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Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants
• CSREES does not support
• Base funding always uncertain
• Pesticide coordinators not being replaced
• Fewer applicators need certification
• Non-English proficient applicators up

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Current situation (cont.)

• Agroterrorism is a real concern

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Current situation (cont.)

• Agroterrorism is a real concern
• Applicators want training, not certification

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Current situation (cont.)

• Agroterrorism is a real concern
• Applicators want training, not certification
• Commercial applicators available for hire or on
  staff
• Aerial applicators
• Pest management specialists

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Recommendations

• Prioritize training needs
• Laws and regulations
• Pest management
• Environmental protection
• Pesticide application
• Personal protection and poisoning

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Recommendations

• Assign responsibilities
• Laws and regulations - SLA
• Pest management PM coordinator
• Environmental protection SLA
• Pesticide application PSEP
• Personal protection and poisoning PSEP

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Recommendations

• Regionalize program (5-15 programs)

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Recommendations

• Regionalize program (5-15 programs)
• Focus on non-certification training
• Special needs applicators
• Train the trainer
• Professional development

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Recommendations

• Regionalize program (5-15 programs)
• Focus on non-certification training
• Develop partnerships to deliver program
• (other faculty, associations, private industry,
  NGOs, etc)

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Recommendations

• Regionalize program (5-15 programs)
• Focus on non-certification training
• Develop partnerships to deliver program
• (other faculty, associations, private industry,
  NGOs, etc)
• Seek extramural funding, fees

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Recommendations

• Regionalize program (5-15 programs)
• Focus on non-certification training
• Develop partnerships to deliver program
• (other faculty, associations, private industry,
  NGOs, etc)
• Seek extramural funding, fees
• Utilize technology
• Internet, Pesticide PDA, handheld computers

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Summary and Conclusions

• Original reasons for program have been met
• Emphasis has moved from education and training to
  enforcement
• CSREES is not an effective partner
• Extension directors ambivalent
• Alternatives to state extension available

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Summary and Conclusions (cont.)

• Programs may be regionalized
• Programs should be more focused
• Funding will always be an issue

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Thank you!

• Questions and comments?

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Summary and Conclusions

• Regarding funding
• CSREES will not support
• SLAs should assume responsibilities for some
  aspects (laws and regs, environment, etc)
• EPA set up competitive grants program OR
  regionalize program