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The MSU Pesticide Education Specialist provides a service to pesticide users across Montana. This position has a direct impact on private, commercial, and general use applicators across the state by coordinating the Montana Private Applicator program which consists of 6,800 private applicators as of July, 2010. <P>Coordination consists of offering a statewide certification program which allows users to become competent handlers of restricted use pesticides by attending approved certification courses and passing appropriate tests. In addition, recertification programs are offered annually across Montana which allows private applicators to brush up on critical concepts that may cause unnecessary pesticide risks to applicators and the public.<P> Coordination also consists of approving private applicator certification programs, updating and training pesticide educators statewide, providing new tools to use for educating applicators, releasing pesticide news reports, informal publications, and formal publications in magazines, MontGuides, and various brochures. This position serves as a resource for questions from the public on registrations, proper pesticide use, and other consumer concerns regarding pesticide safety, while serving as a lead contact at public, local, state, and regional meetings.<P> These activities are solely conducted by the MSU Pesticide Education Specialist. The Pesticide Safety Education Program Formula funds from USDA NIFA are critical to the continued functionality of this position.
Non-Technical Summary: <BR>The MSU Pesticide Education Program, PEP, provides a service to pesticide users across Montana. This program impacts commercial and general use applicators across the state, while directly supervising the certification of over 6,800 private applicators. This program ensures that certified users are competent handlers of restricted use pesticides by offering courses on pesticide safety, pesticides and the environment, calibration, pesticide laws, and integrated pest management. This allows private applicators to brush up on critical concepts, thereby minimizing pesticide risks to themselves, the environment and the public. MSU PEP also approves private applicator re-certification programs, trains county pesticide educators, provides new educational tools, releases pesticide publications, and serves as a resource for questions from the public regarding pesticide safety. Providing On-Site Trainings. The MSU Pesticide Education Specialist provided presentations on-site at 45 programs in 2010. These programs spanned across Montana in rural and urban locations. On site trainings gave audience members opportunities to see the newest data from many pesticide education studies/investigations across the US. USDA NIFA funding ensures that future travel costs can be met, and those opportunities continue. Funding is needed for the salary of the pesticide education specialist for these events. Pesticide Education Publications. The MSU PEP publishes pesticide education articles throughout the year. MSU PEP published articles in newspapers, refereed MontGuides, MSU News, or through the use of our Agricultural Alert system. Many of these publications are available online at www.pesticides.montana.edu by selecting News or References. In the last 3 years the Pesticide Education Specialist has published 7 MontGuides, 10 MSU News Releases, and over 30 Agricultural Alerts to pesticide users, applicators and dealers across the state. Serves as a Resource for the Public. The MSU Pesticide Education Specialist receives calls from general use applicators, restricted use private applicators, commercial and government applicators on a daily basis. The specialist fields questions on pesticides in the environment, pesticide toxicity, personal protective equipment, certification cycles, qualifications, pesticide recommendations, training opportunities, calibration, and pesticide poisonings. Funding will be used to secure the pesticide education specialist position, thus allowing for continuing public support. Conclusion. These activities are solely conducted by the MSU Pesticide Education Specialist. The Pesticide Safety Education Program Formula funds from USDA NIFA are critical to the continued functionality of this position. Without these funds, this position may cease to exist. <P> Approach: <BR> Funding will be used to fund the position of the Montana Pesticide Education Specialist for the MSU Pesticide Education Program. The specialist coordinates the Montana Private Applicator program and is critical to the success of the program. The Pesticide Education Specialist will continue to provide trainings, publications, administer the MSU Pesticide Education website, approve certification programs while being a general resource for the public regarding pesticide education questions. 1) Recertification Programs. The specialist will continue to provide trainings across the state. These trainings will cover a variety of core educational areas including pesticide safety, pesticides and the environment, calibration, pesticide laws, and IPM. 2) Publications. The specialist will continue to publish articles in newspapers, refereed MontGuides, MSU News, or through the use of our Agricultural Alert system. Many of these publications are available online at www.pesticides.montana.edu by selecting News or References. In the last 3 years the Pesticide Education Specialist has published 7 MontGuides, 10 MSU News Releases, and over 30 Agricultural Alerts to pesticide users, applicators and dealers across the state. 3) Resource for the Public. The MSU Pesticide Education Specialist receives calls from general use applicators, restricted use private applicators, commercial and government applicators on a daily basis. The specialist fields questions on pesticides in the environment, pesticide toxicity, personal protective equipment, certification cycles, qualifications, pesticide recommendations, training opportunities, calibration, and pesticide poisonings. Funding will be used to secure the pesticide education specialist position, thus allowing for continuing public support.