Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Pesticide Training and Certification Clinics for commercial applicators and operators were conducted at 27 sites during the months of November 2011 through May 2012. At these meetings, 9,724 commercial applicators and operators were trained. In addition to General Standards (core) Training, Category Training was offered in the areas of Field Crops, Turf, Ornamentals, Rights-of-Way, Aquatics, Plant Management, Seed Treatment, Demonstration and Research, Mosquito, and Grain Facility. Latino and Latina clientele benefit from a General Standards Manual written in Spanish, along with a Bilingual Spanish/English General Standards Workbook. Worker Protection Standard training materials are also available in Spanish. Worker Protection Standard (WPS) training is covered in all of the commercial and private applicator clinics. The PSEP team is active in attending national WPS meetings and keeping up-to-date through various venues. Private Pesticide Certification and Training was conducted at 20 clinics from November 2011 through March 2012, training 3,914 applicators. Mass media efforts included 28 newspaper and magazine articles, 8 radio programs, and 9 television programs. The Pesticide Safety Education internet web site (www.pesticidesafety.uiuc.edu) continues to provide up-to-date pesticide safety information. Homeowners and other residents are educated through Master Gardener and other training and publications including Pest Management for the Home Landscape. Both on-site and distance learning tools were utilized in providing Master Gardener training opportunities. PARTICIPANTS: Loren Bode, PSEP Coordinator, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Patty Bingaman, PSEP Program Facilitator, Extension Assistant, Department of Crop Sciences. Coordinates commercial and Private PSEP clinics. Conducts clinic preregistration and PSEP publication distribution. Maintains financial accounts. Coordinates acquisition, reprinting, and marketing of PSEP study material. Scott Bretthauer, Private PSEP Co-coordinator, Extension Specialist in Application Equipment, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Provides subject matter expertise and training in pesticide application equipment and calibration. Co-cordinates the private PSEP program. Conducts aerial calibration clinics and pesticide drift reduction programs. Manages the PSEP website. Travis Cleveland, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator, Extension Specialist in Plant Pathology, Department of Crop Sciences. Provides subject matter expertise and training in plant pathology. Coordinates PSEP study material and training activities for Latino, Latina, and other underserved clientele. Co-coordinates Illinois' Worker Protection Standard program. Phil Nixon, Reporting Coordinator, Extension Entomologist, Department of Crop Sciences. Provides subject matter expertise and training in entomology. Prepares grant proposals, reports and summaries. Structural pest control liason with state agencies and associations. Coordinates Commercial PSEP support trainers. David Robson, Private PSEP Co-coordinator, Extension Specialist in Horticulture, Department of Crop Sciences. Provides subject matter expertise and training in horticultural pests. Co-cordinates the private PSEP program. Coordinates the development of social media and the PSEP website. Michelle Wiesbrook, Newsletter Coordinator, Extension Specialist in Weed Science, Department of Crop Sciences. Provides subject matter expertise and training in weed science. Collects and organizes newsletter information and ensures its timely publication. Coordinates PSEP study material activities. Co-coordinates Illinois' Worker Protection Standard Program. Jean Miles, PSEP Office Assistant, Department of Crop Sciences. Helps handle telephone queries and registration, collect registration and publication data, process orders for educational materials, facilitate monetary obligations, and assist in other operational functions within the PSEP office. TARGET AUDIENCES: Since 1966, Extension has been conducting training schools for private applicators, and commercial agricultural and urban operators and applicators. The purpose is to train applicators and operators in the proper and safe use of pesticides to prevent misuse and to avoid accidents. In addition to keeping applicators up-to-date on new developments in both chemical and nonchemical pest control methods, the training sessions help to prepare applicants to pass the certification examinations required for obtaining a license. This quality pesticide safety education is ultimately vital to Illinois residents in terms of public health protection and environmental stewardship. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Pesticide Training and Certification Clinics for commercial applicators and operators were conducted at 27 sites. Written teaching evaluations were completed at several training clinics. These evaluations focused primarily on the quality of the instruction and its content rather than planned practice changes. Practice change surveys show that 93% improve their pesticide handling and use practices after the training. Private Pesticide Certification and Training was conducted at 20 clinics. In addition to on-site evaluations conducted at many clinics, a detailed practice change survey was developed. This survey showed that 80% of Private Applicators trained improve their pesticide practices, particularly reducing pesticide exposure to themselves and storing and protecting pesticides.
Publications
- Bretthauer, Scott M., Michelle L. Wiesbrook, Philip L. Nixon, and James E. Schuster. 2011. Illinois Pesticide Applicator Training Manual 39-7, Private Applicator. University of Illinois Extension. 131 p.
- Cleveland, Travis, Michelle Wiesbrook, Scott Bretthauer, Phil Nixon, and David Robson. 2012. Illinois Pesticide Applicator Training General Standards Workbook SP39-W. University of Illinois Extension. 55 p.
- Wiesbrook, Michelle, et. al. 2012. Illinois Pesticide Review Newsletter (6 issues). University of Illinois Extension at: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/ipr/
- Nixon, Phil, Michelle Wiesbrook, Scott Bretthauer, Jim Schuster, and Tom Voigt. 2011. Pesticide Applicator Training Ornamentals and Turf Workbook. University of Illinois Extension. 41 p.
- Nixon, Phil, et. al. 2012. Pest Management for the Home Landscape. University of Illinois Extension, Urbana, IL. 181 p.
- Robson, David, Michelle Wiesbrook, Scott Bretthauer, Phil Nixon, and Travis Cleveland. 2011. Pesticide Applicator Training Private Applicator Workbook. University of Illinois Extension. 44 p.
- Wiesbrook, Michelle, Scott Bretthauer, Philip Nixon, David Robson, and Travis Cleveland. 2012. Illinois Pesticide Applicator Training Manual SP39, General Standards. University of Illinois Extension. 110 p.
- Hager, Aaron, et. al. 2012. Illinois Pest Management and Crop Development Bulletin (25 issues). University of Illinois Extension.
- Nixon, Phil, et. al. 2012. Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter (18 issues). University of Illinois Extension at: http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/
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