Source: UNIVERSITY OF MAINE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION submitted to
PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0226920
Grant No.
2011-48679-30985
Project No.
MEN-2011-05597
Proposal No.
2011-05597
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
PSEP
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2011
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2012
Grant Year
2011
Project Director
Dill, J. F.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
5741 LIBBY HALL
ORONO,ME 04469-5741
Performing Department
Cooperative Extension
Non Technical Summary
By a memorandum of understanding, University of Maine Cooperative Extension will provide educational opportunities for pesticide applicators in the state of Maine to be trained in the safe and proper use of pesticides. These educational opportunities will provide the information to allow users to pass initial certification tests required by state law through the Maine Board of Pesticides Control. Extension will provide recertification opportunities annually.
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
1335220302010%
2165220302015%
7235220302050%
7115220302025%
Goals / Objectives
Goals: Certify 100 new private and/or commercial applicators. Re-certify 1500 private and/or commercial applicators. Begin certification of 4000 new general use applicators (food production for human consumption only). Outputs: Training meetings, field days, and twilight meetings.
Project Methods
Hands-on demonstrations, especially calibration. Online training opportunities. Interactive teaching opportunities. Exams and quizzes Surveys on behavioral and knowledge changes

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

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Conducted 52 re-certification programs with 2,704 audience participants. Conducted 10 certification programs for private and commercial applicators with 160 total attendees. Conducted three programs for Agricultural Basic Pesticide Applicator's License certification (a Maine specific license requirement for general use pesticide applicators growing food for sales over $1000) with 77 people in attendance. Formatted the PDF version of the National Aerial Pesticide Applicator Pilot Certification Study Manual into PageMaker and incorporated new draft revisions for Category 11-Aerial Pest Control for Maine. Continued work on the first-draft of a complete revision for Commercial Category 3B-Outdoor Ornamentals. Added to and maintained the Pest Management Office's PAT website; distributed through email 180 PAT manuals in PDF format. Made revisions/corrections to the Core, Turf, and Small Fruit manuals and arranged for a reprint of 1,000 Core Manuals. PARTICIPANTS: James Dill, PSEP Coordinator, was the organizer and presenter at training programs. Clay Kirby, PSEP Professional, was a presenter at training programs. James Dwyer and Steve Johnson were presenters at training programs. Don Barry, Editor, edited and produced pesticide applicator training manuals. Various other Extension Educators and Specialists presented at training programs. Collaboration was done with Maine Department of Agriculture Board of Pesticides Control. Gary Fish and Henry Jennings presented at training programs. TARGET AUDIENCES: Formal programs were delivered to private and commercial pesticide applicators for re-certification credit. Formal programs were delivered to growers and individuals who wished to become private or commercial pesticide applicators. Formal educational programs were presented to growers who wished to become agricultural basic pesticide applicators (Maine only). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No applicable project modifications.

Impacts
Attendee evaluations showed that most of the respondents had learned more responsible pesticide use, realized that the label is the law, and that PPE that is stated on the label must be worn. Calibration techniques were discussed as being crucial to proper pesticide application and minimization. To many applicators, mainly the Agricultural Basic Pesticide Applicator, now realize that there are many pesticide regulations that govern pesticide application of which they were previously unaware.

Publications

  • Barry, Don. 2012 (Revision). Maine Pesticide Core Manual. University of Maine Press. Orono, Maine.
  • Barry, Don. 2012 (Revision). Small Fruit Pesticide Application Manual. University of Maine Press. Orono, Maine.
  • Barry, Don. 2012 (Revision). Turf Pesticide Application Manual. University of Maine Press. Orono, Maine.