Volume 10, Number 1, March 15, 1999
Stephen J. Toth, Jr., Pesticide Impact Assessment Specialist
Wayne G. Buhler, Pesticide Education Specialist
In This Issue
Commercial applicator and dealer training schools offered by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in the Spring of 1999 are listed below. For additional information or application forms, contact Wayne Buhler, Department of Horticultural Science, Box 7609, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7609 (telephone: 919-515-3113) or see the North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program's web page at: ncpat/.
MARCH 18-19 - NEWTON - Categories: Ornamentals and Turf, Ag. Pest - Plant, and Forest.
MARCH 30-31 - CHARLOTTE - Categories: Ornamentals and Turf, Ag. Pest - Animals (Pets), Right-of-Way, and Structural PW.
APRIL 6-7 - KINSTON - Categories: Ornamentals and Turf, Dealer, Ag. Pest - Plant, Forest, and Public Health.
MAY 4-5 - WINSTON-SALEM - Categories: Ornamentals and Turf, Structural PWF, Ag. Pest - Plant, and Forest.
MAY 25-26 - FLETCHER - Categories: Ornamentals and Turf, Ag. Pest - Plant, and Right-of-Way.
JUNE 9-10 - RALEIGH - Categories: Ornamentals and Turf, Structural PWF, Ag. Pest - Animals (Pets), Dealer, and Wood Treatment.
JULY 7-8 - STATESVILLE - Categories: Ornamentals and Turf, Ag. Pest
- Animals (Livestock), Ag. Pest - Plant, and Right-of-Way.
EPA is seeking comment on a comprehensive, new testing program to help
evaluate whether chemicals present in the environment can adversely affect
the endocrine systems of humans and wildlife. Initially, the program will
focus on some 15,000 chemicals, which are manufactured in volumes exceeding
10,000 pounds annually, and for which existing test data is limited. As
a first step toward constructing its program, EPA is proposing to submit
these chemicals to a series of high throughput pre-screening (HTPS) assays
that have the potential to quickly and efficiently screen chemicals for
endocrine activity. Under EPA's proposed program, chemicals that go through
these screening assays and test negative will not need further testing.
However, chemicals that test positive may be subjected to a battery of
additional tests that will help determine their effects on the reproductive,
developmental and behavioral functions of the endocrine system. The schedule
for implementing the endocrine disruptor screening program (EDSP) will
be phased in over the next several years and is expected to evolve as test
methods and standards for identifying the effects of chemicals on the endocrine
system are developed. The framework for the program is based on a series
of recommendations developed by the Endocrine Screening and Testing Advisory
Committee, an independent advisory group of nationally recognized scientists,
public health experts and industry representatives assembled by EPA to
assist in establishing its EDSP program. A copy of the program is available
for public comment on EPA's website at: www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-TOX
(scroll to December 28, 1998). Hard copies can also be requested through
EPA's TSCA Hotline at 202-554-1404. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
January 8, 1999
The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) instructs the USDA and EPA to obtain pesticide use and usage data on the major and minor crops. Of particular importance at this time are use and usage data for the organophosphates, carbamates, and possible carcinogens. These classes of pesticides have been identified as top priority at EPA for the tolerance reassessment process. These same pesticides are also vital in the production of many of our crops.
Because some of these uses may be canceled, it is important to identify where we stand now, where we need to be in the future, and what research efforts are needed to get us there. In order to better understand where future research efforts should lead, it is necessary first to identify areas of critical need (i.e., those crops that have few if any alternative control measures available).
To help the USDA and EPA obtain this type of information, crop profiles have been developed for North Carolina agriculture. It is the intent that profiles provide the complete production story for a crop and a look at current research activities directed at finding replacement strategies for the pesticides of concern. Crop profiles will include typical use information (not simply what pesticide labels state) and for ease of use will follow a specific format.
The following table contains a list of agricultural commodities for
which crop profiles have been developed or are currently being developed
by committees of Extension and research scientists in the College of Agriculture
and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University. These crop profiles
are available on the World Wide Web at: ncpiap/cropprof.htm.
| Agricultural Commodity | Crop Profile Committee Chairperson | Status 1 |
| Apples | Turner B. Sutton, Plant Pathology | Completed |
| Blueberries | John R. Meyer, Entomology | Submitted for Review |
| Cabbage | Marc A. Cubeta, Plant Pathology | Completed |
| Christmas trees (Mountains) | Jill R. Sidebottom, Forestry | Completed |
| Christmas trees (Piedmont and Coastal Plains) | Jill R. Sidebottom, Forestry | Completed |
| Corn (field and sweet) | John W. Van Duyn, Entomology | Completed |
| Cotton | Jack S. Bacheler, Entomology | Completed |
| Cucumbers (fresh and processing) | David W. Monks, Horticultural Science | Completed |
| Grapes | William O. Cline, Plant Pathology | Submitted for Review |
| Ornamentals (nursery and greenhouse) | Ronald K. Jones, Plant Pathology | Submitted for Review |
| Peaches | David F. Ritchie, Plant Pathology | Submitted for Review |
| Peanuts | Rick L. Brandenburg, Entomology | Submitted for Review |
| Pecans | Michael L. Parker, Horticultural Science | Submitted for Review |
| Peppers | Frank J. Louws, Plant Pathology | Submitted for Review |
| Potatoes | Nancy G. Creamer, Horticultural Science | Submitted for Review |
| Poultry (broilers, layers and turkeys) | S. Michael Stringham, Entomology | Submitted for Review |
| Public health | Charles S. Apperson, Entomology | Under Development |
| Residential and structural pests | Michael G. Waldvogel, Entomology | Completed |
| Small grains (barley, rye and winter wheat) | Stephen B. Bambara, Entomology | Under Development |
| Sorghum | John W. Van Duyn, Entomology | Completed |
| Soybeans | Alan C. York, Crop Science | Submitted for Review |
| Strawberries | Eric B. Bish, Horticultural Science | Under Development |
| Sweet corn | Kenneth A. Sorensen, Entomology | Under Development |
| Sweetpotatoes | Jonathan R. Schultheis, Horticultural Science | Completed |
| Swine and cattle | D. Wesley Watson, Entomology | Under Development |
| Tobacco (burley and flue-cured) | P. Sterling Southern, Entomology | Completed |
| Tomatoes | James F. Walgenbach, Entomology | Submitted for Review |
| Turf | Fred H. Yelverton, Crop Science | Submitted for Review |
| Watermelons | Gerald J. Holmes, Plant Pathology | Submitted for Review |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new right-to-know
pesticide brochure and web site informing consumers and their families
on practical steps to reduce their exposure to pesticides used on food.
These information products are being issued as part of an EPA program to
help consumers reduce dietary exposure to pesticide residues and maintain
a healthy diet. The brochure and web site mark an important first step
in the EPA program to inform the public about the risks and benefits of
pesticide use. The web site provides more specific information on how EPA
regulates pesticides, organic farming practices, what the pesticide residue
limits are on food and the health problems pesticides may pose. Copies
of the brochure are being distributed to more than 40,000 grocery stores
nationwide and also are available to con-sumers by calling 1-800-490-9198.
The new web site can be accessed at: www.epa.gov/pesticides/ food.
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency February 12, 1999
The methyl bromide phaseout in the United States has changed! The U.S. will no longer be phasing out methyl bromide by 2001. Due to recent legislative actions by the U.S. Congress, the methyl bromide phaseout in the U.S. has been changed to the following: 1) methyl bromide production and importation will be reduced from 1991 levels as follows: 25% reduction in 1999, 50% reduction in 2001, 70% reduction in 2003, and 100% reduction in 2005; 2) preshipment and quarantine uses exempt; and 3) critical agricultural uses allocated after 2005.
Congress attached an amendment to the Fiscal Year 1999 Appropriations
bill that makes these specific changes to the Clean Air Act. These changes
will essentially harmonize the U.S. phaseout of methyl bromide with
the Montreal Protocol phaseout schedule for developed countries. Further
information can be obtained from the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/
ozone/mbr. You can also call the EPA Ozone Protection Hotline at 800-296-1996
or contact Bill Thomas, Stratospheric Protection Division, EPA, Phone:
202-564-9179, Fax: 202-565-2156, E-mail: thomas.bill@epa.gov. Reregistration
Notification Network, Office of Pest Management Policy, U. S. Department
of Agriculture Volume 8, Number 10, November 4, 1998
The EPA has acknowledged that they will not be able to meet the Food Quality Protection Act's (FQPA) mandated August deadline for completing tolerance reassessment of the organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. FQPA charged EPA with reviewing one-third of the 9,000+ pesticide tolerances by August 1999, two-thirds by August 2002, and the remaining tolerances by August 2006. EPA is confident, however, that they will beat the statutory first-third deadline, it just will not include all the organophosphate and carbamate insecticides as was originally required. Agency officials assured the public as recently as Septem-ber that the August 3 deadline for organophos-phate/carbamate reassessments would be met.
Essentially, then, EPA will have the first third of the tolerances finished
by August 3, but not necessarily the riskiest tolerances. Food
Chemical News January 18, 1999 in Chemically Speaking, University
of Florida February 1999
Pesticides contribute substantially to our quality of life. Their value as guardians of our crops, landscapes, dwellings, and health can easily be taken for granted. While the benefits of pesticide use are numerous, their misuse can pose a threat to human health and environmental quality. Training pesticide applicators in the proper use of pesticides thereby plays a critical role in ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of these products while protecting our valuable natural resources.
The Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) Program is a federally supported program conducted in all 50 states. The primary purpose of this program is to develop and deliver educational materials to pesticide applicators who use or supervise the use of restricted use pesticides. A pesticide bears a restricted use classification (with label statement shown below) because it can cause adverse effects in the environment (e.g., leach into groundwater) or to human health, if it is used incorrectly.
North Carolina, like most states, recognizes two types of restricted use pesticide applicators: (1) private applicators (farmers, foresters, greenhouse and nursery workers) who apply restricted use pesticides on land they own or rent for purposes of producing an agricultural commodity, and (2) commercial applicators who apply pesticides for hire. The North Carolina Pesticide Law requires commercial applicators to become certified and licensed before they apply any pesticide (restricted or general use) to the property of another for financial compensation. Certification of pesticide applicators refers to the process (training and/or testing) by which an individual becomes eligible for a pesticide applicator license. Therefore, a license may be obtained only after certification requirements are met. Both private and commercial applicators must be certified in North Carolina, however, licensing is required of commercial applicators only.
The major program areas of the North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program include the certification and recertification of private applica-tors and the certification and recertification of commercial applicators, public operators (govern-ment workers), and dealers of restricted use pesticides. The program is coordinated by the Pesticide Education Specialist at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and implemented by a network of 100 county agents (Pesticide Coordinators) with pesticide training responsibilities in each of North Carolina's counties, Extension specialists at NCSU, and regulatory officials with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA & CS). Training provided within this framework enhances personal contact between certified pesticide applicators, and staff of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and NCDA & CS.
There are more than 28,400 private applicators in North Carolina. Private applicators can choose one of three options to become certified: attend a 4-hour class, complete a workbook, or pass a written exam administered by the NCDA & CS. The county Pesticide Coordinator serves as the primary contact and instructor for private applicators. Training topics include principles of integrated pest management, applicator safety, environmental protection, pesticide mixing and loading, and laws pertaining to pesticide use. In order to maintain their certification, private applicators must recertify every three years. The purpose of recertification is to encourage pesticide applicators to stay abreast of new regulations, developments, and techniques, and to maintain high standards for the certification program. The county Pesticide Coordinator schedules a number of 2-hour training sessions each year for private applicator recertification. Private applicators that fail to get recertified by re-training must pass a written exam to regain their certification.
North Carolina has over 13,000 commercial applicators, and more than 1,000 restricted use pesticide dealers. Commercial applicator certification is attained by close-book examination only. The test is comprised of multiple choice questions derived from the Applying Pesticides Correctly manual, North Carolina Pesticide Laws and Regulations manual, and a manual specific to the applicant's field of professional interest. The 15 specialty categories and subcategories of com-mercial pesticide applicators in North Carolina are: Aquatic, TBT Paints, Public Health, Forest, Right-of-Way, Regulatory, Agricultural Pest Control-Animal, Small Animal (Pets), Poultry, Ornamental and Turfgrass, Seed Treatment, Demonstration and Research, Agricultural Pest Control-Plant, Wood Treatment, and Structural Pests. The five commercial pesticide applicator license types include: Consultant, Dealer, Commercial Ground Pesticide Applicator, Public Operator (same as ground applicator except employed by government or public utility), and Aerial Pesticide Applicator. Specific requirements for licensing vary by license type; however, all require the passing of at least one exam.
The Cooperative Extension Service conducts 2-day "Pesticide Schools" to prepare prospective applicators for the commercial exam. About 20 Pesticide Schools per year are offered at various locations in the state. During the first day of the school, Extension and NCDA & CS staff present topics from the Applying Pesticides Correctly and Pesticide Laws manuals, respectively. In the morning of the second day, specialists in various category-specific areas provide training. Exams are given later in the afternoon. NCDA & CS offers exams throughout the year for those individuals who choose not to attend a Pesticide School.
Unlike private applicators, commercial applicators can become recertified by attending workshops, field days, or other meetings that are approved for credit by the NCDA & CS. Commercial ground applicators must recertify every 5 years by obtaining 3-10 hours (depending on their chosen specialty area) of Continuing Certification Credit Units, or by retesting. Aerial applicators must re-certify every 2 years. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, community colleges, and private industry typically conduct training sessions approved for recertification.
Most questions regarding pesticide certification and licensing can be answered by accessing the North Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training Program web site. The address of the web site is: ncpat/. The website includes a registration form for Pesticide Schools, times and locations of certification exams, a list of county Pesticide Coordinators, and a current schedule of recertification opportunities for commercial applicators and dealers. As more instructional resources are revised and compiled, the website will be expanded to include informa-tion on pesticide safety and regulations and educational materials such as training manuals and study guides. Inquiries about study manuals for pesticide exams can be made to Dr. Wayne G. Buhler, Department of Horticultural Science, NCSU, telephone: (919) 515-3113. Questions regarding certification and licensing requirements should be addressed to Dr. Colleen Hudak, NCDA & CS, telephone: (919) 733-3556. For informa-tion regarding structural pest control certification and licensing call (919) 733-6100.
In summary, pesticide training and certifica-tion is an integral part
of the regulatory process designed to protect the applicator and the environment
from the possible harmful effects of pesticides. The North Carolina Pesticide
Applicator Training Program, through the activities of the Cooperative
Extension Service and NCDA & CS, provides educational resources to
help pesticide applicators succeed in becoming certified and gain the knowledge
they need to increase productivity, improve safety practices, and enhance
their professional image.
Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced a new $275 million federal-state initiative with North Carolina to improve the water quality of the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary. The agreement, signed today by Glickman and Governor Jim Hunt, creates the North Carolina Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). It will fund conservation practices on stream and river banks in the Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, and Chowan river basins, including land in the Haw and New Hope River watershed, which provides municipal drinking water.
This program will restore habitat for endangered and threatened wildlife, help bring an important fishery back to health, and improve the quality of a drinking water source serving more than 550,000 people, said Glickman. This is a long-term, cost-effective solution to help preserve North Carolina's river basins and watersheds for future generations.
The North Carolina CREP will pay farmers to plant hardwood trees, grass filter strips, riparian buffers, and vegetation that will serve as habitat for wildlife and that restores wetlands. The vegetation and wetlands will filter contaminants from water runoff before it enters streams and rivers. Up to 85,000 acres of riparian habitat and 15,000 acres of wetlands will be enrolled.
The Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary is the second largest estuarine complex in the United States and produces over $1 billion in economic benefits. However, rising levels of nutrients and other contaminants may have contributed to outbreaks of pfiesteria, loss of shellfish beds, loss of aquatic vegetation, and degradation of wetlands. Annual commercial fish production in the estuary has dropped from 400 million pounds in the 1970s to 181 million pounds in the 1990s.
CREP uses financial incentives to encourage farmers to enroll highly environmentally-sensitive land adjacent to targeted streams and rivers in CRP contracts of 10 to 15 years duration. Under the contracts, agricultural landowners and producers agree to remove the lands from agricultural production and plant and maintain long-term, resource conserving vegetative covers. In return, they receive cost-share and technical assistance.
The program is estimated to cost approximately $275 million over 15 years, with $221 million coming from the federal government and $54 million coming from North Carolina. For producers who enroll solely in a 15-year CREP contract, the State will pay 25 percent of the cost of establishing trees, 20 percent of the approved costs of livestock exclusion and remote watering, and 10 percent of installing grass filter strips. These payments are in addition to the regular payments made under the CRP. Other incentives are available for producers enrolling in permanent conservation agreements and those planting trees. USDA's Farm Service Agency administers the program.
Farmers and landowners can obtain more information about this program
from their local USDA Service Center or on the web at: www.fsa. usda.gov/dafp/cepd/crpinfo.htm.
U. S. Department of Agriculture March 1, 1999
The EPA has registered a new reduced-risk miticide that can effectively
control tracheal mites in honey bee hives. The new miticide also aids in
the suppression of verroa mites. Both the mites are parasites that infect
honey bees and decrease honey production. Controlling mites in cultivated
hives has been a major problem for professional beekeepers in recent years.
Honey bees play an important role in the pollination of everything from
farm orchards to home gardens, and their population has been significantly
impacted by mite infestations in several areas throughout the country.
The active ingredient of the newly-registered miticide is formic acid,
a naturally occurring substance that is produced by ants to repel mites.
The new product is available in a gel-pak formulation that is vented and
placed inside a hive during specified time frames. The packaging of the
product makes it safer for pesticide applicators to handle than older liquid
formulations, and the EPA's review of data submitted on formic acid shows
that it does not pose any dietary risks when the product is used as directed.
Information on this new product is available on the EPA website at: www.epa.gov/
pesticides. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency March 9, 1999
Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Last modified on May 18, 1999 by Stephen
J. Toth, Jr.