PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION: STILL NEEDED?

Barry M. Brennan, PhD

Pesticide Coordinator College of Tropical Agriculture and

Human ResourcesUniversity of Hawaii-Manoa

Background

Pesticide Safety Education

• Chlorinated hydrocarbons replaced by organophosphates

Background

Pesticide Safety Education

• Chlorinated hydrocarbons replaced by organophosphates

• USDA creates Operation Safe

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 -

“…receive, interpret, and disseminate information regarding pesticides and pest management.”

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

Significant Dates

1962 Silent Spring

1970 Environment Protection Agency

1972 FIFRA amended

1975 State Plans for Certification of Pesticide Applicators approved

1976 Training begins

1988-89 Joint EPA/USDA evaluation

The 80s and 90s

• IPM becomes the buzz word

• Endangered Species Act

• Worker protection issuesWPS

• Water quality protection

• Drift management

• Structural pest management

Pesticide Safety Education

• Proposed at 1993 National C&T Workshop– New programs = Increased workload– Funding from new CSREES programs (%-age)

Pesticide Safety Education

• Proposed at 1993 National C&T Workshop– New programs = Increased workload– Funding from new CSREES programs (%-age)

• GPRA passed

Pesticide Safety Education

• Proposed at 1993 National C&T Workshop– New programs = Increased workload– Funding from new programs

• GPRA passed

• CTAG created to assess C&T– CES, SLA, EPA, USDA partnership– C&T in the 21st Century

Are the problems that justified creation of PSEP still valid?

• Number of farms down

Are the problems that justified creation of PSEP still valid?

• Number of farms down

• Number of private applicators down

Are the problems that justified creation of PSEP still valid?

• Number of farms down

• Number of private applicators down

• Environmental contamination down

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

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

Changes in the last 30 years

• Number of RUPs down

Changes in the last 30 years

• Number of RUPs down

• Alternatives developed (e.g., baits, “less toxic” pesticides, non-chemical controls)

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

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)

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

Positive changes in the last 30 years

• Enforcement more effective (numbers up?)

Positive changes in the last 30 years

• Enforcement more effective (numbers up?)

• Awareness among applicators up

Positive changes in the last 30 years

• Enforcement more effective (numbers up?)

• Awareness among applicators up

• Support from applicator organizations up

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

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

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

Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants

Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants

• CSREES does not support

Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants

• CSREES does not support

• Base funding always uncertain

Current situation

• PSEP is low priority for many land grants

• CSREES does not support

• Base funding always uncertain

• Pesticide coordinators not being replaced

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

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

Current situation (cont.)

• Agroterrorism is a real concern

Current situation (cont.)

• Agroterrorism is a real concern

• Applicators want training, not certification

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

Recommendations

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

Recommendations

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

Recommendations

• Regionalize program (5-15 programs)

Recommendations

• Regionalize program (5-15 programs)

• Focus on non-certification training– Special needs applicators– Train the trainer– Professional development

Recommendations

• Regionalize program (5-15 programs)

• Focus on non-certification training

• Develop partnerships to deliver program(other faculty, associations, private industry,

NGOs, etc)

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

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

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

Summary and Conclusions (cont.)

• Programs may be regionalized

• Programs should be more focused

• Funding will always be an issue

Thank you!

Questions and comments?

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