Source: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA submitted to
FY12 ALASKA PSEP PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0230632
Grant No.
2012-48679-20196
Project No.
ALK-12-04
Proposal No.
2012-03491
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
PSEP
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2012
Project End Date
Dec 31, 2013
Grant Year
2012
Project Director
Kaspari, P.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
(N/A)
FAIRBANKS,AK 99775
Performing Department
Cooperative Extension Service
Non Technical Summary
UAF Cooperative Extension Service PSEP uses a variety of sources for training materials. The National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual is the basic text, in addition to several adapted for Alaska, Washington State University Cooperative Extension Service PSEP training manuals. We also use some other WSU PSEP manuals. We utilize other training materials from several other states and the federal government. We regularly review training materials searching for the best materials for PSEP. The manual for category #7 was developed specifically for Alaska structural pest control. New to this year a large number of math questions were included in the training sessions to improve student comprehension.
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%
2065220302010%
2115220302010%
2125220302010%
2135220302010%
2165220302010%
4015220302010%
4035220302010%
7115220302010%
7215220302010%
Knowledge Area
133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 403 - Waste Disposal, Recycling, and Reuse; 711 - Ensure Food Products Free of Harmful Chemicals, Including Residues from Agricultural and Other Sources; 721 - Insects and Other Pests Affecting Humans; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems; 401 - Structures, Facilities, and General Purpose Farm Supplies; 206 - Basic Plant Biology; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
5220 - Pesticides;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
Pesticide Safety Education Program provides training for people in Alaska who apply restricted use pesticides, for people who apply any pesticides on property other than their own or their employers, for people who apply pesticides on public school (K-12) grounds and facilities. All of these situations require the applicator to be a certified pesticide applicator with the Alaska DEC Pesticide Branch. The secondary purpose of PSEP is to provide consumers and the public with information on pesticide safety and pesticide hazards. The program encourages communication between pesticide safety educators, pesticide regulators, pesticide applicators and the public. PSEP is a workforce training program and an environmental conservation program. The Pesticide Safety Training Program (PSEP) is a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the USDA NIFA , the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation - Pesticide Branch (ADEC) , and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service (UAF - CES).
Project Methods
Alaska Pesticide Regulations are described in 18 AK Annotated Code Chapter 90 as amended through April 10, 2010. DEC's pesticide regulations include all aspects of EPA pesticide regulations plus additional restrictions specific to Alaska laws and regulations. Primary authority for pesticide manufacture, sale, use and distribution in the United States rests with US EPA. EPA's authority for pesticide oversight is included in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as amended. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has significant input on pesticide and food issues. Knowledge of Alaska DEC pesticide regulations is essential for anyone wishing to purchase and use pesticides in Alaska. Certified pesticide applicators must be able to read and follow label instructions and regulations. As a certified pesticide applicator you alone are responsible for safe, legal pesticide application. PSEP (a program of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service) provides workshops throughout Alaska for initial pesticide applicator certification and re-certification of existing certified pesticide applicators. Pesticide certification is provided through the State of Alaska DEC Pesticide branch. PSEP provides training materials and workshops and administers DEC pesticide applicator exams as a service to persons involved in the Cooperative Extension Service PSEP training. Workshops take one to two days depending on the particular category of use a person seeks certification in. Persons in remote locations may opt for a self paced home study of PSEP materials and arrange for a locally administered DEC pesticide certification exam. New to this year smart classroom training opportunities were added to the program reaching communities state-wide. The following are the DEC pesticide Applicator categories: Category # 1 - Regulatory Pest Control Category # 2 - Demonstration and Research Pest Control Category # 3 - Private Agriculture Pest Control Category # 4 - Ornamental and Turf Pest Control Category # 5 - Antifouling Paint Category # 6 - Aquatic Pest Control Category # 7 - Industrial, Institutional, Structural, and Health-Related Pest Control Category # 8 - Public Health Pest Control Category #9 - Right of Way Control Category # 10 - Mosquito and Biting Fly Pest Control Category #11 - Aerial Pest Control Category #12 - Forest Pest Control Category #13 - Wood Preservatives Category #14 - Restricted-Use Pesticide Dealers AK DEC Pesticide Branch "Do you need to be a certified Pesticide Applicator"

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

Outputs
Target Audience: Commercial horticulture and nursery operations, State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, UAF researchers and Integrated Pest Management, Federal agencies and private agriculture, Native Corporations and Gas, Oil and Mining Companies Changes/Problems: Implementing video conferencing has changed how extension addresses the program. This has been beneficial as stated earlier, in that the districts statewide are connected and working together to provide consistent and current pesticide safety information. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? PACT Conference in Minnesota August 2013 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? On Line access, statewide conference, fairs and workshops What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue to develop tools to improve outreach and success of test scores

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Incorporating video conferencing statewide for the second year benefited our PSEP goals with outreach to remote communities, saving on travel expenses, time away from office, and opportunities for individuals who would have challenges to attend training. This allows additional faculty and staff to coordinate and implement their knowledge, therefore enhancing the program. Individual offices work with UAF Technology to schedule video conferencing dates and sites. CES Business Office set up an on-line registration and ability to purchase training materials. District offices continue to provide training materials to clients; any remote areas are handled by the Delta or Kenai Peninsula District offices. Janice Chumley, program assistant in the Kenai Peninsula District office coordinates meetings, training, UAF Business Office support, and partnership with ADEC, assisting Phil Kaspari with details of the program. CES continues to offer an annual Certified Pesticide Applicator conference in Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, bringing in speakers that discuss a wide variety of pesticide issues. 311 individuals were certified applicators in Alaska for reporting year 2012-2013. 94 individuals participated in training with CES January-April, 2013. Providing training to a state the size of Alaska proves challenging. A vast land with natural recourses managed by state, federal, native and private entities. Providing instruction to individuals around the State allows CES the opportunity to help protect these natural resources and the health of applicators. 1) Major activities completed / experiments conducted; Continued improvements with distance education. Additional time is being devoted to pesticide math as this has been the main cause for exam failure. 2) Data collected; Per our SLA, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, there has been a definite improvement with exam pass rates since the additional math training was incorporated.

Publications