PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0230814
• Grant No.: 2012-48679-20274
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $10,000.00
• Proposal No.: 2012-03492
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2012
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2013
• Grant Year: 2012
• Program Code: [PSEP]- Pesticide Safety Education Program

Recipient Organization
OKLAHOMA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
(N/A)
STILLWATER,OK 74078

Performing Department
Entomology and Plant Pathology

Non Technical Summary
Oklahoma State University PSEP provides recertification and education programs to 3,000-4,000 pesticide applicators annually, and reviews approximately 150 programs for Continuing Education credit requests. PSEP personnel provide 90-100 training programs for approximately 3,500 individuals concerning pesticide education issues. OSU PSEP develops and maintains the comprehensive certification training manuals. OSU PSEP works on pesticide applicator certification in cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry (ODAFF) concerning General Pest, Structural Pest, and Fumigation categories practical class room and field training. Six General Pest, four Structural Pest, and two Fumigation training programs are conducted annually. Additional programs target lawn care operator pe4sticide use and safety. PSEP personnel cooperate with the Oklahoma Pest Control Association, Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association, Oklahoma Agricultural Aviation Association, and Oklahoma Vegetation Management Association to develop relevant educational programs and provide initial and recertification training. Additional programs provide training and initial certification to City of Oklahoma employees in Ornamental and Turf, Right-of-Way, and Aquatic programs to county, city and state government employees. OSU PSEP provides training for Native American tribal members, and cooperates with ODAFF to assist businesses that have worker safety compliance needs. In addition, we coordinate public container collection recycling programs and cooperate with ODAFF in our joint unwanted pesticide collection programs.

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
211	2410	1130	20%
212	2410	1160	20%
213	2410	1140	20%
216	2410	1130	20%
401	3199	1130	20%

Knowledge Area
401 - Structures, Facilities, and General Purpose Farm Supplies; 212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 211 - Insects, Mites, and Other Arthropods Affecting Plants; 216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
3199 - Invertebrates, general/other; 2410 - Cross-commodity research--multiple crops;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1160 - Pathology; 1140 - Weed science;

Keywords

pesticide safety education, pesticide applicator certification, urban

and structural pest management, grain fumigation, inspection tools,

insecticides, fungicides, herbicides

Goals / Objectives
Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) personnel from Oklahoma State University work directly with the Oklahoma Pest Control Association (OPCA) members, the Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association, Oklahoma Agricultural Aviation Association, Oklahoma Vegetation Management Association, and pest management professionals to provide educational and training programs that address a broad spectrum of pesticide use and safety issues. Additionally, PSEP OSU personnel provide initial certification and recertification training for pesticide applicators statewide. OSU PSEP personnel also provide education and pesticide certification to employees of the City of Oklahoma City in Ornamental and Turf, Right-of-Way, and Aquatic pesticide applicator categories, as well as providing Right-of-Way programs to numerous State, County, and City government workers. Training is also provided to Native American Inter-Tribal Environmental Council members in cooperation with the Cherokee tribe in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Proper container rinsing and disposal educational programs are provided, and coordination and facilitation of the public pesticide container and unwanted pesticide collection program in cooperation with Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry (ODAFF) continues statewide.

Project Methods
PSEP OSU personnel provide pesticide applicator certification, recertification and educational training programs utilizing the Pesticide Education Facility (PEF) and Stored Produce Research and Education Center (SPREC) facility located on the OSU main campus. Additionally, PSEP personnel conduct numerous outreach training programs to associated industries in several counties across Oklahoma utilizing public educational and OSU extension facilities. Review and advise pesticide and pest management providers on continuing education programs allowable for Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit for over 150 programs annually. These effective programs are assessed and evaluated using pre-and post-training test scores, percentages of trainees successfully becoming certified pesticide applicators, and reduction in consumer complaints relative to associated industries. Programs include verbal-power point presentations, hands-on training, and one-on-one and group interaction with trainers and ODAFF inspectors.

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

Outputs
Target Audience: Oklahoma extension agents, scientists, pest management professionals, graduate students, scientific colleagues, home builders, private citizens, state and national government pesticide regulators, pest control industry representatives, and Oklahoma Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Forestry professionals. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Numerous education training programs were conducted to train and certify pesticide applicators in the ‘Household Structural Pests in Oklahoma, with approximately 200 applicators gaining certification in general and structural pest management and safe use of pesticides and other control products during the year. Several statewide training conferences and training sessions were conducted for approximately 1,900 pest management professionals on structural and general urban arthropod pests and their management. Approximately 301 one-hour training sessions were conducted state-wide. Training programs were conducted for pesticide applicators in the ‘General Household Pests’ and ‘Structural Pests’ in Oklahoma, as well as ‘Grain Fumigation’, resulting in more than two hundred applicators gaining certification in general, structural, and fumigation pest management and safe use of pesticides and other pest management products. The OSU Education Center for Structural and Urban Pest Management was extensively utilized for classroom and field training of pesticide applicators. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Pest management professionals, students, and private citizens seeking counsel received direct advice and publications concerning structural and urban pest management. In-service programs, conferences, and workshops provide training to state extension agents and pest management professionals. Advising public school administrators and personal on integrated pest control was also done. These interactions totaled ≈8,538 contact hours invested in outreach and training. Eight power-point video training presentations were developed or updated for use during training sessions to certify pesticide applicators and pest control operators in an the areas of general, structural, and urban pest management. These specific presentations are augmented with additional power-point presentations plus hands-on field training exercises. New fundamental knowledge of termite foraging and feeding behavior, termiticide distribution in building gravel foundation fill, and ability of termites to damage commercial wire insulation was discovered and published or accepted for publication. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Field and laboratory experiments that elucidate taxonomy, biology, distribution and management of native subterranean termites in Oklahoma continued to be conducted. Training of several hundred pest management professionals in the correct identification of potential invasive termite species was conducted. Ongoing studies of habitat preferences, social behavior, foraging behavior, brood allocation, nutrient preferences, termite density in a colony, caste ratios, termite-resistant building materials, new termiticide formulations and application techniques, and distribution of termiticides in gravel foundation fill materials continue to be conducted. Research emphasis is directed at finding environmentally acceptable, effective chemical termiticides and baits in addition to the presently registered termiticides and baits for subterranean termite control, and investigate new techniques, new formulations, and mechanical-physical barrier materials and methods for subterranean termite control. Several hundred pest management professionals, students, and private citizens received advice concerning structural and urban pest management. In-service programs, conferences, and workshops provided training to state extension agents and pest management professionals. Advising public school administrators and personal on integrated pest control was also done. Additionally, several continuing pest management professional annual programs kept Oklahoma PMPs alerted for early discovery of the exotic Formosan termite now approaching Oklahoma from the southern US.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Bowen, C. J., and B. M. Kard. 2012. Termite Aerial Colony Elimination Using Lufenuron Bait (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 85(4): 273-284.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kard, Brad, George J. Tompkins, George L. Rotramel, and Leo A. Renello. 2013. Powdered Cellulose Additive Influences Distribution of Liquid Termiticides in ABC Gravel Foundation Fill. pp. 78-81. In D. R. Suiter [ed.]. Proc. 2012 National Conference on Urban Entomology. Atlanta, Georgia. USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kard, Brad, George J. Tompkins, George L. Rotramel, and Leo A. Renello. 2013. Powdered Cellulose Additive Influences Distribution of Liquid Termiticides in ABC Gravel Foundation Fill. 2012 National Conference on Urban Entomology. Atlanta, Georgia. USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Madden, R. D., C. E. Konemann, B. M. Kard, and J. W. Dillwith. 2012. Modification of Termite Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles Increases Cuticular Permeability and Water Loss. 60th Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Little Rock, AR. USA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kard, Brad. 2013. New Technologies and Termiticides in Termite Management; Distribution of Termiticide in Gravel Fill. North Carolina 63rd Annual Pest Control Technicians School. Raleigh, NC. USA
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kard, B. M., K. T. Shelton, and C. C. Luper. 2013. Structural Pest Update and the Conehead Termite Threat. USEPA Region-VI Semi-Annual Meeting. Oklahoma City, OK.