1998 Report to AAPCO

1998 Report to AAPCO - Spring Meeting
March 9, 1998

ALEXANDRIA, VA

By Dr. Barry Brennen, President, American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators

SINCE I ASSUMED THE PRESIDENCY OF AAPSE LAST SUMMER I’VE BEEN WONDERING WHAT I SHOULD INCLUDE IN THIS PRESENTATION. MARY GRODNER IS A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. I AM GOING TO ASSUME THAT YOU DON’T NECESSARILY CARE WHERE WE’VE BEEN, BUT YOU PROBABLY WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE INTEND TO GO.

REMINDS ME OF A FROG WHO VISITED HIS FAVORITE PSYCHIC AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS GOING TO MEET A BEAUTIFUL GIRL WHO WOULD WANT TO KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM. THE EXCITED FROG WANTED TO KNOW IF HE WAS GOING TO MEET THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL AT A PARTY. THE PSYCHIC REPLIED, "NO, YOU’LL MEET HER IN HER BIOLOGY CLASS."

I DON’T BELIEVE IF PSYCHICS, AND MAYBE THE FROG CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT THEIR USEFULNESS, TOO. I BELIEVE THAT THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO CREATE IT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT CREATING THAT FUTURE MEANS BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS, A TERM I’VE HEARD FREQUENTLY HERE IN WASHINGTON.

WHEN I ATTENDED MY FIRST AAPCO MEETING 15 YEARS AGO I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE HEALTHY INTERCHANGE BETWEEN THE STATE LEAD AGENCIES, THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY AND EPA. YOU WERE OPEN AND CANDID IN YOUR ASSESSMENTS OF ISSUES OF CONCERN. YOU HAD YOUR DIFFERENCES, BUT YOU SHARED THE COMMON GOAL OF INSURING PRODUCERS HAD THE TOOLS THEY NEEDED TO PROTECT THEIR CROPS, WHILE SIMULTANIOUSLY PROTECTING HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT FROM THE POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECTS OF PESTICIDES. IN THAT YOU SEEMED TO BE PARTNERS. BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES INCLUDE PESTICIDE SAFETY AND RISK MITIGATION, I BELIEVE THAT AAPSE AND THE STATE PESTICIDE COORDINATORS CAN CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THAT PARTNERSHIP.

I SEE OUR PARTNERSHIP AS A THREE LEGGED STOOL SUPPORTING OUR DIVERSE CLIENTELE --- PESTICIDE APPLICATORS, MANUFACTURERS, CONSUMERS, AND MANY OTHERS. THE THREE LEGS OF THAT STOOL REPRESENT REGULATION, ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION. WE ALL HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY.

THE WESTERN REGION PESTICIDE MEETING IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PARTNERSHIPS EVOLVE. BEGINNING IN THE MID 80’S PESTICIDE COORDINATORS INVITED THEIR SLA COUNTERPARTS AND EPA REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES TO THEIR ANNUAL MEETING IN RENO. (I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THE LOCATION OF OUR MEETING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE WE RECEIVED). I’LL ADMIT, NOT ALL THE COORDINATORS LIKED THE IDEA OF A JOINT MEETING AND FELT THAT IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR "OUR MEETING". HOWEVER, THE RENO MEETING HAS PROVEN TO BE POPULAR WITH SLA’S AND REGIONAL OFFICES. WE’VE EVEN SEEN A FEW PESTICIDE COORDINATORS FROM OTHER REGIONS.

I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THE "RENO" MEETING HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE ALL CONSIDER OURSELVES PARTNERS IN ADDESSING THE POLITICAL, REGULATORY, ECONOMIC AND EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS OF PESTICIDE USE. ALL OF THE ESSENTIAL REGULATORY, ENFORCEMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL PLAYERS ATTEND. SOME PROBLEMS CAN BE VERY CONTENTIOUS AND WERE IT NOT FOR JAKE MACKENZIE’S SKILLS AS A MODERATOR, IT MIGHT JUST BE ANOTHER GRIP SESSION.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THIS JOINT MEETING WORKS, PLEASE CONSIDER ATTENDING THE NEXT WESTERN REGION PESTICIDE MEETING MAY 12-15 IN RENO (13-15 FOR REGULATORY AGENCIES).

THE PREP COURSE SPONSORED AND CONDUCTED BY EPA LAST JULY AT UC DAVIS IS ANOTHER EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND STRENGTHEN WORKING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN REGULATORY AND EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. I WAS PLEASED TO HERE THAT A SECOND COURSE HAS BEEN PLANNED FOR THIS AUGUST IN WISCONSIN.

NOW, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AAPSE HAS BEEN DOING SINCE THE LAST TIME WE LAST MET AT THE DOUBLETREE DOWN THE ROAD.

WE’VE HAD A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP . DR. MARY GRODNER FROM LOUSIANA STATE UNIVERSITY IS NOW THE PAST PRESIDENT AND DR. NORM NESHEIM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IS OUR PRESIDENT-ELECT. CAROL RAMSAY, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS OUR TREASURER AND DR. GENE BURGESS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE IS OUR SECRETARY. WE ALSO HAVE AT LEAST ONE NEW REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH USDA REGION. REPRESENTATIVES ARE ELECTED TO A TWO YEAR TERM, WITH A NEW REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED EACH YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DR. GRODNER FOR THE OUTSTANDING JOB SHE DID IN, AS SHE PUTS IT, GETTING US "A SEAT AT THE TABLE". SINCE THAT TABLE IS OFTEN OWNED BY AAPCO, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO YOUR TABLE.

SO WHERE IS AAPSE AND WHAT ARE ITS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? FOR CLARITY I’VE BROKEN THEM INTO THREE GENERAL AREAS (THOUGH THE THREE AREAS MAY OVERLAP): MAKING CHANGES, PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES AND PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT.

I. MAKING CHANGES

INCORPORATION - FOR WHATEVER REASONS, AAPSE NEVER COMPLETED ITS INTENT TO BECOME INCORPORATED. AFTER MEETING WITH AN ATTORNEY WE NOW FIND THAT WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO AMEND OUR CONSITUTION AND BYLAWS. INCORPORATING WILL ALLOW US TO SEEK FUNDING TO SUPPORT AAPSE’S GOALS WHICH INCLUDE: DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION OF EFFECTIVE, HIGH QUALITY PESTICIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS, AND COOPERATNG WITH OTHERS TO PROMOTE ADOPTION OF EFFECTIVE PESTICIDE USE PRACTICES AND POLICIES.
REORGANIZE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE -GEORGE WILL ONCE SAID THAT FOOTBALL COMBINES THE TWO WORST FEATURES OF AMERICAN LIFE: BRIEF PERIODS OF VIOLENCE PUNCTUATED BY COMMITTEE MEETINGS. SO FAR WE HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED ANY VIOLENCE, BUT WE’VE HAD LOTS OF COMMITTEES.

NOBODY LIKES COMMITTEE WORK BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT’S WHERE THE REAL WORK OF ANY ORGANIZATION GETS DONE. WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR LIMITED RESOURCES WHERE THEY CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT. OUR ISSUES AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE (MODELED AFTER YOURS) WILL NOW BE CHAIRED BY THE PRESIDENT- ELECT. WE’VE ADDED A COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES, MERGED SOME COMMITTEES, DROPPED OUR WORKING GROUPS AND ADDED A FEW AD HOC COMMITTEES.

STRATEGIC PLANNING -I’VE APPOINTED A STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE (CHAIRED BY ED VITZTHUM OF NEBRASKA) TO HELP SET OUR DIRECTION FOR THE NEAR AND LONG TERM. TO DATE, AAPSE HAS BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH AAPCO ON THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF US. BUT AAPSE NEEDS TO EXPAND BEYOND THAT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ITS OWN MEMBERSHIP AND THOSE WE SERVE AT THE STATE LEVEL. AGAIN, WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR GOALS AND OUR RESOURCES.

II. PARTNERSHIP ACTIVITIES

PARTNERING WITH OTHER EXTENSION PROGRAMS- THE METHYL PARATHION MISUSE IN SEVERAL STATES UNDERSCORED THE DIFFICULTY IN REACHING PEOPLE WHO WOULD ALLOW UNLICENSED APPLICATORS TO APPLY "COCKROACH MILK" TO THEIR HOMES. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR MEMBERS CAN WORK WITH OTHER EXTENSION PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE EXPANDED FOODS AND NUTRITION PROGRAM (EFNEP), 4-H, AND MASTER GARDENERS TO REACH INTO THE COMMUNITY WHERE GROSS PESTICIDE MISUSE MAY BE A PROBLEM.

WE WORK WITH (AND IN SOME CASES ARE) THE EXTENSION IPM COORDINATORS. IN FACT, IPM IS TAUGHT IN MOST OF OUR PAT PROGRAMS.

WE ALSO WORK WITH THE WATER QUALITY COORDINATORS. THE PAT PROGRAM INCLUDES MATERIAL ON PRACTICES THAT MINIMIZE PESTICIDE IMPACTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING GROUND AND SURFACE WATER. THESE PRACTICES INCLUDE SPRAY DRIFT MANAGEMENT, MIXING AND LOADING PESTICIDES, USE OF BACK-FLOW PREVENTORS, PESTICIDE DISPOSAL, SPILL AND FIRE PREVENTION AND PREVENTING RUN-OFF TO STREAMS OR WETLANDS.

PARTNERING WITH SLA’S, USDA, AND EPA ON ADVISORY GROUPS- PARTNERING IS NOT LIMITED TO UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, MARY GRODNER ACTIVELY SOUGHT AND OBTAINED A "SEAT AT THE TABLE", GIVING AAPSE A VOICE IN SFIREG AND ITS WORKING GROUPS.

DR. JIM CRISWELL HAS DONE LIKEWISE WITH YOUR SISTER ASSOCIATION, THE ASSOCIATION OF STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL AND REGULATORY OFFICIALS. JIM HAS BEEN ADVISING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRUCTURAL TECHNICIAN TRAINING MANUAL.

I WON’T SAY MUCH ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING ADVISORY GROUP BECAUSE KEVIN KEANEY WILL BRING YOU UP TO DATE WITH SOME OF THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. LET ME ADD HOWEVER, THAT APPSE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN INITIATING THE REVIEW AND WILL BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTING APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE ADVISORY GROUP AND ITS 4 WORKING GROUPS INCLUDE MEMBERS FROM EXTENSION, SLAS, AND EPA REGIONAL OFFICES. JOHN IMPSON AND KEVIN KEANEY PROVIDE LEADERSHIP FOR USDA AND EPA, RESPECTIVELY.

ALTHOUGH WE SUBMITTED A NOMINEE TO EPA’S PESTICIDE DIALOGUE COMMITTEE, WE HAVE YET TO OBTAIN A "SEAT AT THE TABLE". WE’LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT.

PARTNERING ON REGULATORY ISSUES -TWO WEEKS AGO USDA SPONSORED A WORKSHOP ON THE FOOD QUALITY PROTECTION ACT. PESTICIDE COORDINATORS HAVE THREE MAJOR ROLES IN IMPLEMENTING THIS ACT: COMMUNICATION WITH APPLICATORS, RISK MITIGATION VIA TRAINING, AND RISK COMMUNICATION FOR CONSUMERS. ALL OF THESE ROLES SEEM TO HAVE BEEN LOST IN USDA’S AND EPA’S EFFORTS TO DETERMINE WHO IS USING WHAT, HOW OFTEN AND WHY, THE SIZE OF THE RISK CUP, MEASURING AGGREGATE AND ACCUMULATIVE EXPOSURES, FINDING ALTERNATIVES AND REGISTERING PRODUCTS FOR MINOR CROPS. ALL OF THESE ARE IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES, BUT AUGUST 3 IS ONLY FIVE MONTHS AWAY. APPLICATORS WANT TO KNOW WHICH PRODUCTS ARE GOING TO BE AROUND AFTER THAT DATE. THAT INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO PLAN PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND EVEN SELECT WHICH CROPS TO PLANT.

PESTICIDE COORDINATORS DIRECTLY CONTACT OVER 500,000 APPLICATORS EACH YEAR AND AN EQUAL OR LARGER NUMBER ARE CONTACTED INDIRECTLY VIA NEWSLETTERS AND OTHER MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. YET, THERE DOESN’T SEEM TO BE A CLEAR MESSAGE FROM EPA ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO TELL THE APPLICATOR. NOBODY SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO TELL APPLICATORS WHICH PRODUCTS THEY CAN USE AFTER 3 AUGUST 1999. USDA IS URGING EXTENSION SERVICES AND COMMODITY GROUPS TO COLLECT ALL THE PESTICIDE USE DATA ON ALL CROPS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PUSHING AHEAD WITH PESTICIDE ALTERNATIVES AND MINOR USE PROGRAMS THAT ARE THEMSELVES IN THE DARK ABOUT WHICH PRODUCTS THEY NEED TO REPLACE. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE PROACTIVE IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS, BUT WE DON’T WANT TO IMPLY THAT THE SKY IS FALLING.

REGARDING RISK MITIGATION, THERE PROBABLY ISN’T A BETTER WAY TO REDUCE RISK TO THE APPLICTOR OR THE ENVIRONMENT, THAN BY ENSURING THAT THE APPLICATOR IS PROPERLY TRAINED IN PESTICIDE SAFETY, CALIBRATION, CALCULATIONS AND APPLICATION AND THAT HE OR SHE UNDERSTANDS HOW TO USE PESTICIDES AS PART OF AN INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. RISK MITIGATION IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE PAT PROGRAM. IT WAS THE REASON IT WAS CREATED 26 YEARS AGO.

A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RISK ASSOCIATED WITH PESTICIDE USE CAN BE MITIGATED THROUGH MORE EXTENSIVE AND VERIFIABLE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

THE FQPA BROCHURE DEVELOPED FOR CONSUMERS RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT FOOD SAFETY AND IMPLIES THAT ORGANICALLY GROWN IS SAFER THAN CONVENTIONALLY GROWN PRODUCE. WE THINK THE BROCHURE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RAISE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT FOOD SAFETY THAN IT ANSWERS. HOW SHOULD WE WORK TOGETHER TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS?

WE WILL DEVELOP AN ISSUE PAPER ON THIS SUBJECT FOR EPA, USDA, AND OUR MEMBERS WITH A COPY TO AAPCO.

PARTNERING WITH USDA TO MEET GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE RESULTS ACT (GPRA) REQUIREMENTS- SINCE LAST FALL STATE PAT COORDINATORS HAVE WORKED WITH JOHN IMPSON TO DEVELOP AN ANNUAL PAT REPORT THAT MEETS GPRA REQUIREMENTS AND ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE SCOPE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING NUMBERS OF PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS TRAINED FOR CERTIFICATION OR RECERTIFICATION (THE LATTER BY CATEGORY), WE WILL REPORT ON TRAINING MATERIALS (PRINTED AND ELECTRONIC), IN-SERVICE OR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSES CONDUCTED, MEMBERSHIP ON, OR TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL (INCLUDING UNIVERSITY) PESTICIDE- RELATED ADVISORY COMMITTEES. LASTLY, WE WILL BEGIN SURVEYING TRAINING PARTICIPANTS FOR CHANGES IN THEIR ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR REGARDING PESTICIDE USE.
SUPPORTING USDA FUNDING FOR PESTICIDE SAFETY TRAINING-

AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE PAT PROGRAMS HAVE NOT ENJOYED THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPPORT FROM THEIR FEDERAL PARTNER, USDA EXTENSION SERVICE, THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM YOUR FEDERAL PARTNER, EPA. PESTICIDE COORDINATORS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN A CROSSFIRE BETWEEN EPA AND USDA, ARGUING ABOUT WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IT IS TO TRAIN PESTICIDE APPLICATORS. IN MANY WAYS WE HAVE ENJOYED A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SLA’S AND EPA THAN WE HAVE WITH USDA.

MY DECISION TO ACCEPT AN IPA WITH USDA WAS PARTLY TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GENESIS OF THIS ISSUE, AND AS PRESIDENT OF AAPSE, DO SOMETHING POSITIVE TO RESOLVE IT.

AAPSE IS WORKING WITH JOHN IMPSON’S OFFICE TO PROMOTE SUPPORT FOR USDA FUNDING FOR THE PESTICIDE APPLICATOR SAFETY TRAINING. I DON’T THINK WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MARKETING OUR PROGRAM WITHIN OUR OWN INSTITUTIONS WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE THE PAT PROGRAM REACHES OUT AND INVOLVES MORE INDIVIDUALS THAN ANY OTHER PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY USDA.

I HAVE CONTACTED THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH EXTENSION, EDUCATION AND ECONOMICS ADVISORY BOARD TO POINT OUT HOW THE PAT PROGRAM CAN SUPPORT MANY OF USDA’S CURRENT INITIATIVES INCLUDING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND PRECISION AGRICULTURE. THIS ADVISORY BOARD IS MEETING IN CRYSTAL CITY LATER THIS WEEK.

THIS LACK OF FUNDING HAS AFFECTED OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS THAT MIGHT HAVE LIMITED THE SCOPE OF METHYL PARATHION MISUSE. MANY OF THE HOUSEHOLD SPRAYED WITH METHYL PARATHION ARE REACHED THROUGH THE EXPANDED FOODS AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (EFNEP). SOME STATES ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING EDUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR EFNEP CLIENTELE.

THE LACK OF FUNDS HAS ALSO CREATED SOME INTERESTING OR CREATIVE EXTENSION - SLA PARTNERSHIPS. EARLIER THIS YEAR THE IDAHO DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRAINING APPLICATORS. THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO IS PROVIDING THE EPA PAT PASS-THROUGH FUNDS TO THE SLA. I DON’T KNOW IF THIS VIOLATES FIFRA SECTION 23C WHICH STATES THAT THE STATE EXTENSION SERVICES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATION. IN EITHER CASE, IT CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT SUPPORT FOR THE PAT IS INADEQUATE IN SOME UNIVERSITIES.

HAWAII ALSO ENJOYS AN INTERESTING PARTNERSHIP. THE EXTENSION SERVICE DEVELOPS THE TRAINING MATERIALS AND THEN SENDS THEM TO THE SLA. THE SLA REPRODUCES AND DISTRIBUTES THE MATERIALS, COLLECTS A REGISTRATION FEE FOR TRAINING ($100) AND THEN "HIRES" THE PAT PROGRAM TO CONDUCT THE TRAINING. IN THIS WAY, PROGRAM COSTS ARE BEING SHARED WITH THE APPLICATORS.

INTERNET ACCESS TO TRAINING MATERIALS- I HAVE APPOINTED A COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER HOW WE CAN MAKE TRAINING MATERIALS AVAILABLE OVER THE INTERNET, INCLUDING USE OF THE INTERNET TO MEET CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. THIS IS AN IDEAL PROJECT TO PARTNER WITH THE SLA’S AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SEVERAL COORDINATORS, INCLUDING LARRY SCHULZE, NORM NESHIEM, MIKE WEAVER, AND CAROL RAMSAY, HAVE ALREADY POSTED MATERIAL ON THE INTERNET. I’M SURE OTHERS HAVE DONE SO, ALSO. SOME OF THE MATERIALS ARE OR COULD BE USED FOR TECHNICIAN TRAINING AND CONSUMER EDUCATION, AS WELL AS CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION TRAINING. I BELIEVE FLORIDA IS ALREADY USING OR PLANS TO USE THE INTERNET TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR RECERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM. MISSOURI IS USING AN INTERACTIVE CD-ROM AVAILABLE AT EACH COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE.

HOWEVER, IT ISN’T JUST ENOUGH TO LIST WHAT MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE, INTERNET USERS WANT TO BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD AND USE THE MATERIALS. THIS RAISES QUESTIONS SUCH AS "WHO WILL MAINTAIN THE WEB SITES? WHO WILL TAKE RESPONSIBLILITY OF LINKING SIMILAR MATERIALS? HOW WILL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS BE PROTECTED? TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT LIABILITY? INDEED, WHAT SORTS OF MATERIALS ARE SUITABLE FOR INCLUSION ON THE WEB? WHICH APPLICATORS (PRIVATE, COMMERCIAL, TECHNICIAN, CONSUMER) WILL USE THE MATERIALS?

THE PAT PROGRAM IS BEING OVER TAKEN BY TECHNOLOGY. HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND AND HOW CAN WE COORDINATE RESPONSES FROM MANY DIFFERENT STATES?

DR. IMPSON, WITH SUPPORT FROM EPA, HOPES TO FUND A COOPERATIVE EFFORT TO DEVELOP ACCESS TO TRAINING MATERIALS VIA THE INTERNET. FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, E.G., APPROVAL OF MATERIALS FOR CERTIFICATION OR RECERTIFICATION PURPOSES, THE SLA’S NEED TO BE INVOLVED.

TRADE JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS -SEVERAL YEARS AGO ASPCRO ENDORSED THE TRADE MAGAZINE STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL TECHNICIAN AS A SOURCE OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS USEFUL TO INDUSTRY TECHNICIAN. LAST YEAR, AAPSE FOLLOWED SUIT BY ENDORSING TURF AND ORNAMENTAL SERVICE TECHNICIAN AS A "RECOMMENDED TRAINING RESOURCE". WE WILL WRITE A BIMONTHLY COLUMN FOR THE MAGAZINE.

NEWSLETTERS AND TRADE JOURNALS OFFER AN EXCELLENT MEANS OF REACHING CERTIFIED AS WELL AS NON-CERTIFIED APPLICATORS.

IN HAWAII, APPLICATORS CAN RECEIVE RECERTIFICATION CREDIT FROM PASSING A SHORT QUIZ ON AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN OUR PESTICIDE NEWSLETTER. IN ESSENCE, RECERTIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES ARE DELIVEREDD EVERY OTHER MONTH TO THE APPLICATORS MAILBOX. THERE ISN’T ANY GOOD REASON WHY THE SAME PROCEDURE COULDN’T BE IMPLEMENTED USING LOCAL, REGIONAL OR NATIONAL TRADE JOURNALS.

III. PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT

AS A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION, AAPSE IS COMMITTED TO THE PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT OF ITS MEMBERS. WE WILL DO SO IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.

WORKSHOPS- AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR JOINT MEETING ON TUESDAY, AAPSE IS SPONSORING THREE WORKSHOPS FOR ITS MEMBERS. THE FIRST IS AN AERIAL APPLICATOR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH COMPUTER MODELS DEVELOPED BY THE SPRAY DRIFT TASK FORCE TO TEACH AERIAL APPLICATORS HOW TO PREDICT DRIFT. MORE THAN 2000 PESTICIDE DRIFT INCIDENTS WERE BROUGHT TO EPA’S ATTENTION LAST YEAR. MANY MORE WERE PROBABLY SETTLED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES. AS KAREN HEISLER, EPA REGION IX, POINTED OUT, THE SOLUTION REQUIRES A ‘CONSORTIUM APPROACH’. THE PAT PROGRAM IS PART OF THAT CONSORTIUM.

A SECOND WORKSHOP WILL FOCUS ON HOW TO MARKET YOUR PROGRAM WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATORS. WE HOPE TO RAISE THE VISIBILITY OF THE PAT PROGRAM WITHIN OUR COLLEGES AND ULTIMATELY HAVE OUR DIRECTORS SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVELY SUPPORTING USDA’S PAT BUDGET.

THE LAST PROGRAM WILL FOCUS ON CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP NEW MATERIALS AND PROGRAMS QUICKLY TO RESPOND TO ISSUES SUCH AS DRIFT, FQPA, AND MISUSE OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS.

JOURNAL OF PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION (JPSE) -MIKE WEAVER AGREED TO SERVE AS THE FIRST EDITOR OF AN ELECTRONIC JOURNAL TO PUBLISH ARTICLES OF INTEREST TO THOSE INVOLVED IN PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION. THREE ASSOCIATE EDITORS WERE APPOINTED FROM EACH USDA REGION. ALL ARTICLES WILL BE PEER REVIEWED. TOPICS SUITABLE FOR PUBLICATION INCLUDE FEATURE ARTICLES, RESEARCH IN BRIEF, IDEAS AT WORK, TOOLS OF THE TRADE, AND COMMENTARY. THE FIRST ELECTIONIC ISSUE WILL BE OUT THIS YEAR.
CENTER FOR PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION -I BELIEVE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF ANY HANDS-ON TRAINING PROGRAM IS THE INSTRUCTOR. I DON’T CARE WHAT KIND OF TRAINING MATERIALS OR FACILITIES YOU HAVE, IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN HANDS-ON TRAINING THE COMPETENCY OF THE INSTRUCTOR IS CRITICAL. I AM GOING TO PROPOSE THE AAPSE SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTER FOR PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION. IDEALLY THERE WOULD BE MORE THAN ONE SUCH CENTER.

FOUR YEARS AGO I WROTE A PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT A TRAIN THE TRAINER CLASS FOR EXTENSION AND SLA PESTICIDE PERSONNEL IN GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, MICRONESIA AND THE NORTHERN MARIANAS. THE PROJECT OFFICER IN REGION IX WANTED TO KNOW IF SHE COULD ATTEND. IT OCCURRED TO BOTH OF US THAT TOO MANY NEW EXTENSION, SLA AND EPA EMPLOYEES HAVE VERY LIMILTED KNOWLEDGE REGARDING PEST MANAGEMENT, PESTICIDE USE AND SAFETY, OR LAWS AND REGULATIONS. THE CENTER FOR PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION WOULD SERVE NOT JUST EXTENSION TRAINERS, BUT ALSO SLA INSPECTORS, AND REGIONAL EPA STAFF. THERE ISN’T ANY REASON WHY DEALERS OR OTHERS INVOLVED IN TRAINING COULD ALSO PARTICIPATE.

IN-SERVICE AND TRAIN-THE-TRAINER COURSES WOULD VARY IN LENGTH DEPENDING ON SUBJECT MATTER AND BACKGROUND OF THE AUDIENCE.

PERSONALLY, I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO WORK WITH AAPCO, EPA AND USDA TO CREATE THIS CENTER AS PART OF EPA’S PESTICIDE ENVIRONMENT STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.

FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED TO ME WORKING AS AN IPA WITH USDA AND AS PRESIDENT OF AAPSE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND THE SOUTHERN AND NORTHEASTERN REGION MEETINGS OF PAT COORDINATORS, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE FQPA WORKSHOP, THE CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING REVIEW, AND THE PAT GPRA WORKING GROUP MEETINGS. TWO REMARKABLE THINGS STAND OUT:

FIRST, ALTHOUGH EVERY STATE PROGRAM HAD ITS GENESIS IN FIFRA, THEY DIFFER FAR MORE THAN I SUSPECTED THEY COULD. IN PART THIS MAY BE DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN STATE LAWS AND IN PART IT MAY BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF APPLICATORS AND THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO TRAIN THEM. IN OTHER CASES PAT PROGRAMS REFLECT THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE PAT COORDINATORS.

SECONDLY, I OVERHEARD A COMMENT MADE BY AN EPA EMPLOYEE WHO WORKED ON THE CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING REVIEW. SHE REMARKED THAT SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSED WITH THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT OF EXTENSION PESTICIDE COORDINATORS TO THE PESTICIDE SAFETY PROGRAM.

I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THAT COMPLIMENT. I, TOO, AM ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSED WITH THE DEDICATION AND ENERGY OF THE SLA’S AND REGIONAL OFFICES WITH EXAMINING THE CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS AND COMMITMENT TO RE-MAKE THEM IN A WAY THAT WILL MEET THEIR ORIGINAL OBJECTIVE OF PROTECTING THE APPLICATOR, THE PUBLIC AND THE ENVIRONMENT FROM THE POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECTS OF RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDES.

FINALLY, IN GETTING BACK TO MY OPENING COMMENTS ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS, I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH FAR MORE AS PARTNERS WORKING TOGETHER THAN WE CAN AS INDIVIDUALS CIRCLING OUR WAGONS AGAINST ADVERSITY. IN AN ERA OF SHRINKING RESOURCES, RISING EXPECTATIONS AND INCREASED REGULATION WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE OFTEN AND OPENLY AND WE NEED TO COOPERATE WHEN A WHERE WE CAN.

THANK YOU!