EPA Applauds Presidential Signature of Key Pesticide Fees and Worker Protection Law

This announcement was posted by the Environmental Protection Agency on March 11, 2019.

 

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) Assistant Administrator Alexandra Dapolito Dunn issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump signing into law S. 483, the “Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act of 2018,” also known as PRIA 4:

“Since 2004, PRIA has been a key statute to ensuring timely review by EPA of pesticide registrations. PRIA 4 is supported by farmers and ranchers, environmental justice and worker protection organizations, and a broad array of manufacturers. EPA looks forward to implementing the new law to further the agency’s mission of protecting human health and the environment.”

Click here to continue reading. 

Mowing For Monarchs

This article is by Layne CameronNate Haan and Doug Landis and was published by MSU Today on March 12, 2019.

 

You might think that mowing fields wouldn’t benefit monarch butterfly populations. New research from Michigan State University, however, shows that disturbances like mowing ­– at key times – might help boost the iconic butterfly’s numbers.

The results are published in the current issue of Biological Conservation, and they show that strategic grassland management benefits monarchs in two ways. First, monarchs lay more eggs on young milkweed – new growth after mowing – the sole food source for the butterflies in their larval stage. Second, fewer predators visit immature milkweed; more come during its mature stages, such as when it flowers.

“Monarch butterflies scout young milkweed to lay their eggs,” said Nate Haan, MSU postdoctoral research associate in entomology and the study’s lead author. “And in terms of a food source, milkweed is more like spinach when it’s young and comparable to cardboard as it ages.”

Click here to continue.

Updates to EPA announcement regarding Paraquat Certified Applicator Training

Companies are required to have newly labeled product in the market after November 14, 2019 – some may produce and sell newly labeled product before that date.

The best advice still remains, read and follow the label directions on the product you are using, keep product in its original packaging, and NEVER put product in any type of food container – especially a drink container.

  • With the newly labeled product, certified applicators must now take paraquat-specific training before use
    • Application “under the direct supervision” of a certified applicator is not allowed
  • Training must be repeated every three years

The requirement for training is only one of several actions EPA has taken to prevent poisonings with new label changes including:

  • Restricting the use of all paraquat products to certified applicators only
    • Certified Applicator Statement (for mixers, loaders, & applicators)
  • Clarifying toxicity in English and Spanish language formats
  • “DANGER-ONE SIP CAN KILL” and Skull and Crossbones symbol on the container
  • A “product package safety requirements sticker” affixed to the container
  • A “counter card” reiterating the same important warning information to be distributed with every container
  • AN IMPORTANT NOTE: Requirement for closed system transfer (requiring closed-system packaging for all non-bulk (less than 120 gallon) end use product containers of paraquat.”) is NOT going to be in place this growing season! 
    • Registrants will submit label changes and new product registrations for the closed system packaging by March, 2019, and will have 12 months from EPA’s label approval date to adopt the closed system packaging.

It is also important to note that:

  • EPA is allowing the sale of paraquat that is already in the channels of trade, so some paraquat sold this growing season may NOT have the new training requirement on the label.
  • If the new training requirement is listed on the label of the product they purchase they MUST complete the training
  • Growers that currently have a supply of paraquat that DOES NOT have the new labeling listing the required training ARE NOT required to complete the training.

NPSEC News – March 12th, 2019

 

NPSEC News – March 12th, 2019

NPSEC Speaks at 2019 Commodity Classic Tom Smith, NPSEC Executive Director, discusses Pollinator Stewardship and NPSEC’s mission to support extension Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEPs) at the Navigating a New Era in Pesticide Product Stewardship panel discussion. Tom Smith (middle) stands with Courtney Weatherbee (left), NPSEC’s Administrative Assistant and Kerry Richards (right), NPSEC’s Education Program Developer at Commodity Classic 2019. For more on the 2019 Commodity Classic click here. 

2019 NCF-Envirothon will take place at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina July 28 – August 2

You can read about the 2019 Current Issue: Agriculture and the Environment: Knowledge & Technology to Feed the World here. NPSEC is exploring opportunities to collaborate with the National Association of Conservation Districts and their Foundation who sponsors Envirothon Click here to view the 2019 Key Topic Resources
NPSEC has Dicamba Education available on npsec.us that can be used in training programs by PSEPs, subject to state approval. Click here to access the Dicamba education slide deck. 
EPA Launches Paraquat Training Announcement by Marianne A. Mannix, Office of Pesticide Programs for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The original announcement can be found here

Basic Information

Paraquat dichloride, commonly referred to as “paraquat,” is one of the most widely used herbicides registered in the United States. Paraquat is also often referred to as Gramoxone (a popular end-use product).

Paraquat is used to control weeds in many agricultural and non-agricultural use sites. It is also used as a defoliant on crops, like cotton, prior to harvest. Read more about paraquat training here.

TPSA Needs Members! Check out their NEW video – recruit a member today!

Announcement by Bonnie McCarvel, Operations Manager for The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA). The original announcement can be found here.

The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA) is a collaborative partnership of government agencies – federal, state and local, educational and research institutions, public organizations, private corporations and individuals actively involved in stewarding the pesticide life cycle. Founded in 2000, TPSA utilizes education, training, outreach and other activities to accomplish stewardship objectives in local, national and international arenas. Click here to view the full video!

Your help is needed to recruit members!  It’s simple to do:

  • Identify people you think should be a member.
  • Refer them to the TPSA home page  – and have them check out the new video (click above) to hear what members say about TPSA benefits!
  • Encourage them to fill out the application form that is just below the video and send it in.
  • Have them add your name to the comments box so we can give you credit for your efforts!!
  • With your help, TPSA’s membership should be able to grow to 200!
  • Top membership recruiter will be recognized at the 2020 TPSA Annual Conference.

Visit The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance Today!

NEW NPSEC STORE PRODUCTS!

The NPSEC Store is a good place to find EPA-approved materials with expanded 2015 WPS content. This is where you can order NPSEC, PERC, WPS, and state-specific products. For PERC products, PSEPs get a 10% discount if they purchase the products using the code we mailed you at checkout. We track all PERC sales by state and send 10% of all net sales in a particular state or territory back to the PSEP as a gift. 

Shop the NPSEC Store
PERC PRODUCTS
National Worker Protection Standard: A Manual for Trainers

Available in English and Spanish!

These EPA-approved manuals (English: EPA 730-B-16-001; Spanish: EPA 730-K-17-001)) begin with an introduction to pesticides and pesticide safety, including the federal pesticide regulations. They discusses each of the specific points that must be included in WPS training sessions and contains valuable information to help trainers prepare for and conduct pesticide safety training. Purchase Here

How to Comply With the 2015 Revised Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides This EPA-approved manual will help users of agricultural pesticides comply with the requirements of the 2015 revised federal Worker Protection Standard. You should read this manual if you employ agricultural  workers or handlers, are involved in the production of agricultural plants as an owner/manager of an agricultural establishment or a commercial (for-hire) pesticide handling establishment, or work as a crop advisor. Purchase Here
WPS Respiratory Protection Guide: Requirements for Employers of Pesticide Handlers Under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) as revised in 2015, there are new requirements for pesticide handlers when pesticide labels require the use of a respirator. This 45-page guide includes step-by-step fit-testing procedures, respirator selection guidance, medical evaluation options, and some frequently asked questions.  Purchase Here
WPS Posters

Updated WPS Poster(s) for “Central Posting” areas and certain decontamination sites This poster(s) complies with the requirements in the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural pesticides.

Posters come in Large (22×34.5in) and Small (11×17) with a English/Spanish front, and the option of English or Spanish back. All Posters have a gloss laminate finish for durability. Purchase Here

WPS Training Videos

These WPS training videos for agricultural workers and pesticide handlers apply to many sectors because they include footage and examples from orchards, forestry, nurseries, greenhouses, vineyards, and row crops.

Available in English and Spanish! Purchase Here

WPS Standard Handbook for Agricultural Employers

Can be purchased individually or in bundles of 2 and 10!

This handbook is formatted as a small booklet, half the size of a sheet of paper. We hope you’ll find it as useful as a handout when training and/or inspecting agricultural work under the WPS. Purchase Here 

Web-Based Training for Trainers of Agricultural Workers and Pesticide Handlers

Online training course!

This web-based course is EPA-approved, including 12 self-paced learning modules. The course provides the required information for trainers who will perform annual training for agricultural workers and pesticide handlers under the U.S. EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS). It will guide you through the necessary procedures to provide effective training about pesticide safety topics. Purchase Here

 

Muck fields may attract bees to aid pollination

The causes of pollinator decline have been well-documented, but research at Ohio State University’s Muck Farm near Willard, Ohio, is trying a new approach of putting pollinator habitat in strips among the vegetable crops.

“Can we see an increase in bee numbers? Can we see an increase in the types and diversity of wild bees in areas where muck soils predominate?” asked Elizabeth Long, assistant professor in Ohio State University’s Entomology Department. “If we make these resources available, will they come? Will these fields be more attractive to bees?”

The concept has some hurdles. Muck soil is extremely valuable and growers want every acre in production. There’s also the issue of putting bee habitat in the middle of intensively-managed crops. “Attracting bees into this area is risky because vegetables are intensively managed and lots of chemicals are used,” Long said.

Read more at Vegetable Growers News.

TPSA Needs Members! Check out their NEW video – recruit a member today!

Announcement by Bonnie McCarvel, Operations Manager for The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA). The original announcement can be found here.

The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA) is a collaborative partnership of government agencies – federal, state and local, educational and research institutions, public organizations, private corporations and individuals actively involved in stewarding the pesticide life cycle. Founded in 2000, TPSA utilizes education, training, outreach and other activities to accomplish stewardship objectives in local, national and international arenas.

Click here to view the full video!

Your help is needed to recruit members!  It’s simple to do:

  • Identify people you think should be a member.
  • Refer them to the TPSA home page  – and have them check out the new video (click above) to hear what members say about TPSA benefits!
  • Encourage them to fill out the application form that is just below the video and send it in.
  • Have them add your name to the comments box so we can give you credit for your efforts!!
  • With your help, TPSA’s membership should be able to grow to 200!
  • Top membership recruiter will be recognized at the 2020 TPSA Annual Conference.

Visit The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance Today! 

Pollen Sleuths: Tracking Pesticides in Honey Bee Pollen to Their Source Plant

This article is by Kimberly Stoner, Richard Cowles, and Brian Eitzer and was published in Entomology Today on February 14th, 2019. The original article can be found here.

More than 10 years after the appearance of Colony Collapse Disorder, people are still worried about honey bees, and for good reason. Beekeepers still lose a substantial portion of their honey bee colonies each year. A nationwide bee survey estimated annual loss at 40 percent for 2017-2018. Many factors are likely to be involved, but the one that we study as a team is exposure to pesticides.

We have been measuring honey bee (Apis mellifera) exposure to pesticides in pollen since 2007 by putting honey bee hives in different habitats, collecting pollen using a pollen trap, and then measuring pesticide residues in the pollen using high-pressure liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. A pollen trap is a clever device, invented by beekeepers, which forces each foraging worker bee returning to the hive to travel through a screen. The screen removes the pollen pellets from the bee’s pollen baskets on her hind legs, whereupon the pellets are collected onto a smaller-mesh screen. Ideally, the result is a collection of pollen pellets, of fairly uniform size, each representing the pollen collected on a single foraging trip by a worker bee…

Read more at Entomology Today.

NPSEC News – February 12th, 2019


 

NPSEC News – February 12th, 2019

NEWS FROM NPSEC

SERVICES NPSEC CAN PROVIDE ON A FEE FOR SERVICE OR COST RECOVERY BASIS

To support Extension Pesticide Safety Education Programs, NPSEC can provide a variety of services. These include:

  • Sale of pesticide exam training materials directly to stakeholders in your state.
  • Distribution of your for sale publications to stakeholders in your state or nationwide.
  • Development of interactive online course materials or upgrading of powerpoint presentations 
    • Examples
      • Idaho Private Applicator Training
      • New Hampshire Recertification Training Course
    • Notes
      • PSEP retains ownership of all materials created
      • Includes access to NPSEC videographers, instructional designers, and content available on Adobe Stock
      • This can be done from existing PowerPoints or created from scratch
      • Cost is based on how much assistance is needed for development, procuring, or producing media.
  • Web hosting of of existing or new online courses
    • Examples
      • New Hampshire Courses
      • Idaho Courses
  • Webpage Development
  • Video Production
  • PowerPoint design and enhancement with still photos, videos and simulations
  • Radio and digital ad production and outreach campaigns
  • Publication design, layout and printing services
  • Other Projects Upon Request

NPSEC Respirator Collaboration Team Producing Video Introduction to Respirators

The Upper Midwest Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (UMASH) reached out to NPSEC Respirator Collaboration Team member Natalie Hoidal (Minnesota PSEP) about making a promotional video about respirators. The goal is to create a short video to get the word out, and could be linked to more substantial resources and in-depth information. NPSEC will be collaborating with UMASH to produce this short video. Natalie has developed the script, and is getting feedback from other Respirator Collaboration Team members as part of the production process.

NPSEC INCREASES DISCOUNT & REVENUE SHARING TO PSEPs FROM PRODUCT SALES

Based on the recommendation of the NPSEC Finance Committee, the NPSEC Board of Directors has approved increasing the discount from 5% to 10% for PERC and AFOP products, and the Rutgers Respirator Protection manual sold at the NPSEC Store, when ordered directly by PSEPs. In addition, the revenue share sent back to PSEPs as program gifts from the state sales of these products will also increase from 5% to 10%.

These increased benefits to PSEPs are effective as of January 1st 2019. Pesticide safety products are sold by NPSEC at www.npsecstore.com as part of NPSEC’s mission to serve and support extension pesticide safety education programs (PSEPs) in every state and US territory. For more information about the NPSEC Store and these benefits to PSEPs, or to receive additional discounts for bulk orders, contact Courtney Weatherbee at cweatherbee@npsec.us.

List of Acronyms:

AFOP – Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs

NPSEC – National Pesticide Safety Education Center

PERC – Pesticide Educational Resources Collaborative

PSEP – Pesticide Safety Education Program

NPSEC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS NOW AVAILABLE

If you have questions about NPSEC, we invite you to read our FAQs here. If you have any questions, please contact Tom Smith at tomsmith@npsec.us

REMINDER: NPSEC OFFERS PSEP-ONLY EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST

NPSEC created an email distribution list for PSEP Coordinators and their selected staff. To maintain the integrity of this PSEP-only distribution list, please contact Aaron Weibe at aaronweibe@npsec.us if you have any questions or would like to add any Extension Pesticide Safety Education staff to the list.

NEWS RELEASES

Microscopy research shows workings of a major honeybee pest

Research by scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the University of Maryland released today sheds new light – and reverses decades of scientific dogma – regarding a honeybee pest (Varroa destructor) that is considered the greatest single driver of the global honeybee colony losses. Managed honeybee colonies add at least $15 billion to the value of U.S. agriculture each year through increased yields and superior quality harvests.

The microscopy images are part of a major study showing that the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) feeds on the honeybee’s fat body tissue (an organ similar to the human liver) rather than on its “blood,” (or hemolymph). This discovery holds broad implications for controlling the pest in honeybee colonies.

Read more here

Monarch butterfly population slowly increasing

Monarch butterflies from east of the Rocky Mountains received a reprieve on Wednesday as a recent survey count showed their population increased by more than 144 percent, a dramatic increase from previous years.

News of the uptick arrived shortly after it was reported that the western population of the monarch butterfly had dropped to an all-time low.

Since the 1990s, populations of the iconic orange and black butterfly have been on a downward spiral mainly due to habitat destruction and commercial use of pesticides, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.

The butterflies migrate to warmer climates during the winter months and most North American monarchs make their way to Oyamel fir forests on 12 mountaintops in central Mexico, according to researchers…

Read more here.

February’s National Pesticide Safety Education Month Highlights Nationwide Efforts to Promote Safe Pesticide Use

The second annual National Pesticide Safety Education Month gets underway February 1st, to reinforce core principles of safe handling and use and to raise awareness of and support for the land-grant university Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEPs).

The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), American Phytopathological Society (APS) and Entomological Society of America (ESA) are among the many organizations promoting safe handling and use of pesticides and the important role of PSEPs. Pesticide safety is a must, whether the applicator is an unlicensed homeowner or certified in one or more of the federal or state categories of use.

Read more here.

PERC & RUTGERS PRODUCTS ON THE NPSEC STORE!

The NPSEC Store is a good place to find EPA-approved materials with expanded 2015 WPS content. This is where you can order NPSEC, PERC, WPS, and state-specific products. For PERC products, PSEPs get a 5% discount if they purchase the products using the code we mailed you at checkout. We track all PERC sales by state and send 5% of all net sales in a particular state or territory back to the PSEP as a gift.

Additionally, the Rutgers E358 Respiratory Guides can also be found on the NPSEC Store.

Shop the NPSEC Store

RUTGERS E358 RESPIRATORY GUIDES

This document provides practical information for proper use of respirators by occupational users of pesticides. It also outlines regulatory requirements of EPA and OSHA that apply to commercial users and also agricultural operations that use pesticides. Its purpose is to describe types of respirators, their limitations, use, care, and maintenance.

Purchase Here.

PERC PRODUCTS

National Worker Protection Standard: A Manual for Trainers

Available in English and Spanish!

These EPA-approved manuals (English: EPA 730-B-16-001; Spanish: EPA 730-K-17-001)) begin with an introduction to pesticides and pesticide safety, including the federal pesticide regulations. They discusses each of the specific points that must be included in WPS training sessions and contains valuable information to help trainers prepare for and conduct pesticide safety training.

Purchase Here

How to Comply With the 2015 Revised Worker Protection Standard for Agricultural Pesticides

This EPA-approved manual will help users of agricultural pesticides comply with the requirements of the 2015 revised federal Worker Protection Standard. You should read this manual if you employ agricultural  workers or handlers, are involved in the production of agricultural plants as an owner/manager of an agricultural establishment or a commercial (for-hire) pesticide handling establishment, or work as a crop advisor.

Purchase Here

WPS Respiratory Protection Guide: Requirements for Employers of Pesticide Handlers

Under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) as revised in 2015, there are new requirements for pesticide handlers when pesticide labels require the use of a respirator. This 45-page guide includes step-by-step fit-testing procedures, respirator selection guidance, medical evaluation options, and some frequently asked questions. 

Purchase Here

WPS Posters

Updated WPS Poster(s) for “Central Posting” areas and certain decontamination sites
This poster(s) complies with the requirements in the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for agricultural pesticides.

Posters come in Large (22×34.5in) and Small (11×17) with a English/Spanish front, and the option of English or Spanish back. All Posters have a gloss laminate finish for durability.

Purchase Here

WPS Training Videos

These WPS training videos for agricultural workers and pesticide handlers apply to many sectors because they include footage and examples from orchards, forestry, nurseries, greenhouses, vineyards, and row crops.

Available in English and Spanish!

Purchase Here

WPS Standard Handbook for Agricultural Employers

Can be purchased individually or in bundles of 2 and 10!

This handbook is formatted as a small booklet, half the size of a sheet of paper. We hope you’ll find it as useful as a handout when training and/or inspecting agricultural work under the WPS.

Purchase Here 

Web-Based Training for Trainers of Agricultural Workers and Pesticide Handlers

Online training course!

This web-based course is EPA-approved, including 12 self-paced learning modules. The course provides the required information for trainers who will perform annual training for agricultural workers and pesticide handlers under the U.S. EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS). It will guide you through the necessary procedures to provide effective training about pesticide safety topics.

Purchase Here

 

Microscopy research shows workings of a major honeybee pest

The original article comes from Fruit Growers News. You can access the full article here

 

Research by scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the University of Maryland released today sheds new light – and reverses decades of scientific dogma – regarding a honeybee pest (Varroa destructor) that is considered the greatest single driver of the global honeybee colony losses. Managed honeybee colonies add at least $15 billion to the value of U.S. agriculture each year through increased yields and superior quality harvests.

The microscopy images are part of a major study showing that the Varroa mite (Varroa destructor) feeds on the honeybee’s fat body tissue (an organ similar to the human liver) rather than on its “blood,” (or hemolymph). This discovery holds broad implications for controlling the pest in honeybee colonies.

The study was published on-line Jan. 15 and in today’s print edition of the Proceedings of the NationalAcademy of Sciences. An image produced by the ARS Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit in Beltsville, Maryland, is on the cover of today’s journal.

Varroa mites have been widely thought to feed on the hemolymph, of honeybees (Apis mellifera) because of studies conducted in the 1970’s which used outdated technology. But today’s collaborative study, by University of Maryland and ARS researchers at the ARS Electron and Confocal Microscopy Unit, offers proof of the mite’s true feeding behavior. Through the use of electron microscopy, the researchers were able to locate feeding wounds on the bee caused by the mites, which were located directly above the bee’s fat body tissue. The images represent the first direct evidence that Varroa mites feed on adult bees, not just the larvae and pupae.

In addition, University of Maryland researchers conducted feeding studies and found that varroamites that were fed a diet of fat body tissue survived significantly longer and produced more eggs than mites fed hemolymph. The results show, mites fed a hemolymph-only diet were comparable to those that were starved. Thus, proving conclusively that the varroa mite feeds primarily on the fat body consumed from bees.

The results are expected to help scientists develop more effective pesticides and other treatments to help bees cope with a mite known to spread at least five viruses. They also help explain why varroa mites have such detrimental effects on honeybees, weakening their immune systems, and making it harder for them to store protein from pollen and survive through the winter.

The study was part of the Ph.D. thesis of Samuel D. Ramsey from the University of Maryland and was conducted in collaboration with ARS researchers and study co-authors Gary Bauchan, Connor Gulbronson, Joseph Mowery, and Ronald Ochoa.

The study can be found here.

 Dennis O’Brien, ARS

Monarch Butterfly Population Slowly Increasing

The original article comes from the Courthouse News Service. You can read the full article by clicking here

(CN) – Monarch butterflies from east of the Rocky Mountains received a reprieve on Wednesday as a recent survey count showed their population increased by more than 144 percent, a dramatic increase from previous years.

News of the uptick arrived shortly after it was reported that the western population of the monarch butterfly had dropped to an all-time low.

Since the 1990s, populations of the iconic orange and black butterfly have been on a downward spiral mainly due to habitat destruction and commercial use of pesticides, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.

The butterflies migrate to warmer climates during the winter months and most North American monarchs make their way to Oyamel fir forests on 12 mountaintops in central Mexico, according to researchers…

Read more from Courthouse News Service here