Source: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA submitted to
PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0226798
Grant No.
2011-48679-31076
Project No.
FLA-AGR-005111
Proposal No.
2011-05246
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
PSEP
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2011
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2012
Grant Year
2011
Project Director
Fishel, F.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
G022 MCCARTY HALL
GAINESVILLE,FL 32611
Performing Department
Agronomy
Non Technical Summary
Pesticides and their use add to Florida's economy and improve the quality of our lives. They are proven to be efficacious and cost-effective; however, they must be handled in a judicious manner for safety reasons. Federal and Florida law require that applicators of restricted use pesticides be certified and licensed. Restricted use pesticides are those that are classified as such by the EPA because they pose a significant risk to humans or to the environment. Besides the legal requirement, some employers require their employees to become licensed, and their employment is contingent upon licensing, regardless of type of pesticide used in their lines of work. To maintain the validity of restricted use pesticide applicator certification and licensing, recertification is required. Recertification is an opportunity for applicators to increase their knowledge of the latest technology, such as new products, pest updates, and application safety, equipment, and techniques. The overall benefits will be both from both the applicator and society perspectives, including improved applicator safety, and a cleaner and more healthy environment.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
7235220302050%
7115220302025%
1335220302025%
Knowledge Area
133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation; 711 - Ensure Food Products Free of Harmful Chemicals, Including Residues from Agricultural and Other Sources; 723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
5220 - Pesticides;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Keywords
Goals / Objectives
The overall objectives and goals of this project are to educate users of pesticides in safety in order to protect themselves, others, and the environment. The project also has an overall goal of educating pesticide users in how pesticides may be used most effectively and efficiently. As outputs, it is expected that pesticide applicators will improve adoption of pesticide safety and risk management practices through certification and recertification training. The project also expects to improve adoption of safety and risk management practices through education programs for non-certification purposes. A final expectation is to conduct train-the-trainer programs of county extension agents so that they are competent in conducting training programs for their clientele at the local level.
Project Methods
The Florida Pesticide Safety Education Program is coordinated by the Pesticide Information Office (PIO) at the University of Florida. The PSEP Coordinator's salary is paid through state funding. The staff includes one full-time Extension Educator. The Florida program depends on county extension staff referred to as County Trainers to deliver much of the pesticide education programs. County extension offices administer certification examinations for 19 categories under an agreement with the State Lead Agency. The UF PIO writes the examinations. The State Lead Agency provides support for the exam development and for the exam administration. Initial certification training is offered at county extension offices based on the needs of the clientele in the county. Regional and statewide programs are also used to provide training for select high-demand categories. The PIO maintains applicator training manuals for applicator self-study. Manuals for Florida applicator categories are available for self-study by applicators to prepare for the certification exams. Manual development and revisions are coordinated by the PIO. Recertification training is provided through county, regional, and statewide programs. Several commodity or trade association programs also provide recertification opportunities. Approximately 80% of the programs offered for continuing education credits for applicators are sponsored by the Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Extension provides program opportunities for non-certified persons to obtain pesticide safety education.

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: OUTPUTS: Conference Organizer: Langeland, K.A., F.M. Fishel, and J.A. Ferrell. Southeast Herbicide Applicator Conference. Panama City Beach, FL. 10/03/2011 - 10/05/11. Conference Participant: Fishel, F.M. 2012. Proper pesticide storage. Aquatic Weed Control Short Course. Coral Springs, FL. 05/09/2012. Fishel, F.M. 2012. Toxicity categories of herbicides. Aquatic Weed Control Short Course. Coral Springs, FL. 05/09/2012. Fishel, F.M. Florida Pesticide Safety and Education Program annual report. Southern Region Pesticide Safety Education Program Annual Meeting. Biloxi, MS. 06/08/2012. Fishel, F.M. How to (and how not to) store and transport pesticides. FSU Mosquito Control Training Workshop. Panama City, FL. 03/21/2012. Fishel, F.M. How to (and how not to) store and transport pesticides. Southeast Herbicide Applicator Conference. Panama City Beach, FL. 10/04/2011. Fishel, F.M. 2012. Distance delivery for continuing education and characterizing Florida's licensed applicators. Poster 78. International IPM Symposium. Memphis, TN. 03/28/2012. Two public video conferences were organized and held for licensed pesticide applicators to earn continuing education credits to renew their licenses 07/11/2012 and 08/21/2012. TARGET AUDIENCES: Unlicensed pesticide applicators seeking intitial certification and licensing and licensed pesticide applicators seeking continuing education toward renewing their certifications and licenses. PARTICIPANTS: PARTICIPANTS: Fred Fishel, Professor of Agronomy and Director, UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office. TARGET AUDIENCES: TARGET AUDIENCES: Unlicensed pesticide applicators seeking intitial certification and licensing and licensed pesticide applicators seeking continuing education toward renewing their certifications and licenses. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Approximately 1,000 applicators have become certified through exams administered by IFAS during the past fiscal year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of those who mix or apply pesticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops was $29,650. If employment is contingent upon being licensed, then these jobs add $29,650,000 to Florida's annual economy. Some of the materials developed are also for public sale through the IFAS Extension Bookstore. During the previous year, there were more than 6,000 various publications, videos, DVDs, and CDs related to this effort sold. The total sales revenue during this period was approximately $130,000. 12,000 applicators participate annually in some form of continuing education to recertify their licenses, earning several CEUs per year. Of these people who have participated in UF/IFAS recertification programs, it is estimated that: Approximately 90% planned to adopt at least one new practice. Of these, it's estimated that more than 65% actually did adopt a new practice (perhaps a new application technique, improved safety practice, or reduced pesticide use). Recertification preserves the employment of licensed applicators. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of those who mix or apply pesticides through sprays, dusts, vapors, soil incorporation or chemical application on trees, shrubs, lawns, or botanical crops was $29,650. Because employment is contingent upon being licensed, these jobs add $355,800,000 to Florida's annual economy.

Publications

  • Pesticide applicator training DVDs: Fishel, F.M. 2012. Agricultural row crop pest control manual interactive training. University of Florida / IFAS DVD SM-76. Fishel, F.M. 2012. Agricultural tree crop pest control manual interactive training. University of Florida / IFAS DVD SM-77. Fishel, F.M. 2012. Demonstration and research pest control manual interactive training. University of Florida / IFAS DVD SM-78. Fishel, F.M. 2012. Forest pest control manual interactive training. University of Florida / IFAS DVD SM-75. Fishel, F.M. 2012. Ornamental and turfgrass pest management manual interactive training. University of Florida / IFAS DVD SM-74. Fishel, F.M. 2012. Private applicator agricultural pest control manual interactive training. University of Florida / IFAS DVD SM-73. Fishel, F.M. 2011. Right-of-way pest control manual interactive training. University of Florida / IFAS DVD SM-72. Fishel, F.M. and K.A. Langeland. 2011. Natural areas weed management manual interactive training. University of Florida / IFAS DVD SM-71. PARTICIPANTS: Fred Fishel, Professor of Agronomy and Director, UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office. Electronic guidesheets produced: Applying pesticides in compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Document PI-239 (12 pages). How to report pesticide misuse in Florida. Document PI-241 (3 pages). Refillable containers and secondary containment requirements for agricultural pesticides in Florida. Document PI-240 (4 pages).
  • Fishel, F.M. 2012. A Custom Web-based Pesticide Recordkeeping System for UF/IFAS Faculty and Staff. Jour. of Pesticide Safety Education. 14:1-12.
  • Fishel, F.M. 2012. Distance delivery for continuing education and characterizing Florida licensed applicators. International IPM Symposium. Abstr. P078.
  • Fishel, F.M. 2012. Proper pesticide storage. Aquatic Weed Control Short Course. Coral Springs, FL. pp. 45-57.
  • Fishel, F.M. 2012. Toxicity categories of herbicides. Aquatic Weed Control Short Course. Coral Springs, FL. pp. 83-92.
  • Chemically Speaking. 2012. This monthly newsletter is produced to target private industry and UF/IFAS personnel, including state and county faculty. County faculty is encouraged to use its information in their local newsletters and media outreach efforts. Currently, approximately 1,400 and 1,100 subscribe to the electronic and print document, respectively.
  • Agronomy Notes. 2012. This monthly newsletter serves as an outreach of the Agronomy Department state faculty.
  • Unruh, J.B., Editor. 2012. Selected sections in University of Florida pest control guide for turfgrass managers.
  • Fishel, F., C. Asuaje, and M. Hernandez. 2012. Repaso sobre los puntos mas importantes del manual de capacitacion: aplicando pesticidas correctamente. A summary review manual for the Core pesticide certification study guide with the most important aspects of the Core certification to help Hispanics increase their English reading skills, presented in English and Spanish.
  • Fishel, F., C. Asuaje, and M. Hernandez. 2012. Repaso sobre los puntos mas importantes del manual de capacitacion: aplicador privado, control de plagas en la agricultura. A summary review manual for the Private Applicator pesticide certification study guide with the most important aspects of the Private Applicator certification to help Hispanics increase their English reading skills, presented in English and Spanish.
  • Fishel, F.M. 2011. Aerial application. University of Florida / IFAS Manual SM-41.
  • Fishel, F.M. 2012. Applying pesticides in compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Document PI-239.
  • Wells, B. and F.M. Fishel. 2012. Refillable containers and secondary containment requirements for agricultural pesticides in Florida. Document PI-240.
  • Fishel, F.M. 2011. Boom sprayer nozzle performance test. Document PI-23.
  • Fishel, F.M. 2011. Calibrating equipment for aquatic herbicide application. Document PI-236.