VERMONT PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0230495
• Grant No.: 2012-48679-20228
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $10,000.00
• Proposal No.: 2012-03504
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2012
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2013
• Grant Year: 2012
• Program Code: [PSEP]- Pesticide Safety Education Program

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT EXTENSION
(N/A)
BURLINGTON,VT 05405

Performing Department
Cooperative Extension

Non Technical Summary
People applying pesticides in Vermont need to do it safely with regard to human health, the environment and non target organisms. The VT Pesticide Education and Safety program educates VT pesticide applicators and the general public about the safe use of pesticides to minimize environmental and human health impact. We do this through a variety of methods including a website, a Pesticide Applicator's newsletter, workshops, lectures and trainings.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
212	5220	1060	20%
211	5220	1060	20%
213	5220	1060	20%
314	5220	1060	20%
723	5220	1060	20%

Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 314 - Toxic Chemicals, Poisonous Plants, Naturally Occurring Toxins, and Other Hazards Affecting Animals; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants; 723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
5220 - Pesticides;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

pesticide safety

environmental health

human health

websites

newsletters

workshops

trainings

Goals / Objectives
The Vermont Pesticide Safety Education program (PSEP) will inform and educate Vermont pesticide users about accepted uses and other pesticide regulations made under FIFRA. The Vermont PSEP will fulfill the objective of protecting human health and the environment by providing pesticide applicators (or applicator candidates) with the information necessary to safely and properly apply restricted use pesticides. Our training programs will consist of a variety of educational activities including classroom presentations, newsletters, web-based information, hands on training, printed factsheets and video based education. Our programs will focus on certified pesticide applicators, general use pesticide applicators and the general public.The Vermont PSEP will work closely with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture (SLA) to identify the pesticide education needs and activities for the year. Our activities will include workshops and presentations in both classroom settings and hands-on environments. We will develop and update training and test materials, develop and coordinate recertification education programs, offer initial certification workshops, and inform Vermont pesticide applicators of programs and materials through our joint newsletter and the UVM PSEP website.

Project Methods
The Vermont Pesticide Safety Education Program will continue to work closely with the Vermont State Lead Agency to develop and offer a multi faceted approach for pesticide education for certified pesticide applicators, non-certified pesticide applicators and the general public. The UVM PESP will deliver pesticide education through newsletters, website materials, printed factsheets, hands on trainings and classroom education.The Vermont PSEP, with the SLA, will continue to publish a quarterly newsletter for all certified pesticide applicators in the state. This newsletter covers all aspects of pesticide safety, new pesticide chemistries, new developments in State and Federal regulations and 2 topics on pesticide safety, each with a quiz that can be filled out for a pesticide recertification credit.The Vermont PSEP will offer recertification education programs for several different commodity groups in the state including applicators for Field and Forages, Vermont Vegetable and Berry Growers Association, VT Landscape Association and Vermont Apple Producers. These workshops will be offered as both winter classroom meetings and summer field meetings.The Vermont PSEP will continue to offer a one day workshop for Initial Certification covering the materials necessary for the Core pesticide applicators license. Following the 5 hour information session we will offer the Core exam for the 50-60 attendees. This workshop attracts potential commercial and private applicators from schools, pest exterminator companies, landscape and nursery workers and vegetable and berry growers.The Vermont PSEP will continue to maintain and update a pesticide education and safety website with current educational materials, power point trainings covering the Core manual, archived newsletters and quizzes and recertification opportunities.The Vermont PSEP will continue to provide pesticide education to the general public through Master Gardener lectures (225 attendees each winter learn about pesticide basics and safety information), extension television programs and gardener workshops and talks.My SLA counterpart and I attended a 2011 Exam Writing Workshop in Indianapolis, Indiana, and are in the process of rewriting the Vermont exams for the Core test for commercial and private applicators.The Vermont PSEP will provide copies of annual reports, as requested, to the NIFA National Program leader responsible for PSEP. These reports will include quantifiable impacts which may include multi-state and/or multi-year efforts.

Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences for the UVM PSEP program include Vermont certified pesticide applicators; private, commercial and non-commercial in all crops and settings. Changes/Problems:We do not forsee any changes or problems in our approach. The amount of funding for the program is a continual concern and may limit some of our activities in the future. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Opportunities for training and professional development-Training/educational opportunities included information on our VT PSEP website, Commercial Pesticide applicator meeting for Field and Forages (large ag service providers), through information provided in the annual commodity group meetings (VT Veg and Berry assoc, Christmas Tree Growers assoc., Tri-State Greenhouse meeting, VT Nursery and Landscape meetings, through our Pesticide Applicator report newsletter, through Initial certification training and through lectures provided to Master Gardener. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results are desseminated through websites, newsletters, lectures, workshops, annual meetings, one on one conversations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The UVM PSEP program will continue our current efforts to educate certified pesticide applicators and train applicators who wish to become certified. We will continue to provide basic pesticide safey information to the community. We will continue to update our UVM PSEP website, partner with VT Agency of Ag to provide the Pesticide Applicator Report newsletter and participate with other programs in the NE to provide the most current pesticide education to Vermont.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Vermont Pesticide Safety and Education program (PSEP) offered a variety of educational opportunities to learn about the safe and judicious use of pesticides. Audiences included certified pesticide applicators in all crops and settings and included commercial, non-commercial and private applicators. Educational information was provided through our website, through the twice yearly Pesticide Applicator Report newsletter, workshops, trainings, annual meetings, on farm workshops and one on one conversations. Our website was updated with powerpoint presentations from the Core manual chapters offering a study aid for potential pesticide applicators. A twice yearly newsletter, published with VT Agency of Agriculture was mailed to all 1200 certified pesticide applicators. Each newsletter contained 2 specific pesticide core information (ie, reading a label, proper PPE, pesticides in hot weather, etc) each with a quiz that the reader could fill out and send in for a recertification credit. A meeting was offered to the Commercial Pesticide Applicators in Field and Forages for VT (our largest group of commercial applicators.) All our other annual meetings (Christmas tree growers assoc., VT Veg and Berry Growers, VT Landscape and Nursery assoc, Tri-State Greenhouse IPM meeting, etc) provide opportunities for pesticide information and recertification credits. The UVM PSEP offered a full day Initial Certification Training for new pesticide users followed by the Core pesticide test. Several lectures were provided to the home gardener audience through the UVM Master Gardener program on pesticide basics and IPM. .

Publications

Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences for the UVM PSEP program include current and prospective Vermont certified commericial, non-commercial and private pesticide applicators for all crops and settings. Other audiences include non-certified commercial growers in the state and the Master Gardener and home garden community. Changes/Problems: No major changes/problems were noted in approach. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Opportunities for training and professional development included information on our VT PSEP website, Commercial Pesticide Applicators meeting for Field and Forages (large ag service providers), through information provided in the annual commodity group and annual association meetings for recert credits, through our newsletter, through Initial Certification training and through lectures provided to home gardeners and Master Gardeners. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Information has been disseminated through newsletters, workshops, meetings, trainings, websites, and one on one conversations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Vermont Pesticide Educaton and Safety program (PSEP) offered a variety of educational opportunities to learn about the safe and judicious use of pesticides. Audiences included certified and non-certified pesticide applicators in all crops and settings and included commercial, non-commercial and private applicators. Educational information was provided through our UVM PSEP website, through the Pesticide Applicator Report newsletter, workshops, trainings, annual meetings, on-farm workshops and one on on conversations. Our website was updated with powerpoint presentations of the chapters in the Core pesticide manual to offer a study aid for those studying for the applicator test. THe twice yearly newsletter, Pesticide Applicator Report published with VT Agency of Agriculture was mailed to 1000 certifed applicators. Each newsletter had 2 articles on basic concepts in pesticide use and safety with a quiz to follow for a recertification credit. Meetings were held for Commercial Pesticide applicators in Field and Forages (our largest group of commerical applicators). All our other annual meetings (Christmas tree growers, VT Veg and berry growers assoc., VT Landscape and Nursery, Tri-State Greenhouse IPM meetings, etc) provide opportunities for pesticide information and recertification credits. THe UVM PESP offers a full day program for Initial Certification Training for new pesticide applicators followed by the Core pesticide exam. SIxty people attend each year. Several lectures were provided to the home gardener audience through the UVM Master Gardener program and other venues on pesticide basics and IPM.

Publications