2012 Montana Pesticide Education Program

Non-Technical Summary:<br/>
The MSU Pesticide Education Program provides a service to pesticide users across Montana. This program has a direct impact on private, commercial, and general use applicators across the state. This program coordinates the Montana Private Applicator program which consists of approximately 6,600 private applicators as of June, 2012. Funding will be used to provide education and outreach to these user groups, thus facilitating Montana pesticide applicators to become competent handlers of restricted use pesticides. This should minimize poisonings and non-target injury to beneficials while maximizing profits by managing pest outbreaks in a sound fashion.
<P>
Approach:<br/>
Providing On-Site Trainings. The MSU Pesticide Education Specialist will continue to provide presentations on-site. These programs will include rural and urban locations. On site trainings give audience members opportunities to see the newest data from many pesticide education studies across the US. USDA NIFA funding ensures that future travel costs can be met, and those opportunities continue. Approval of Private Applicator Recertification programs. MSU PEP approves approximately 180 to 250 private applicator programs per year. These programs are meticulously reviewed before awarding continuing education credits or CEUs. CEUs are awarded based on meeting the 6 core pesticide education categories. Those categories are pesticide laws, Integrated Pest Management, calibration, pesticides in the environment, the private applicator license, and pesticide safety. Without available credits private applicators may choose to spray pesticides without adequate training, or to not manage noxious weeds and insect pests through the use of pesticides. Either scenario increases the odds of harm to humans or the environment, while also leading to major economic losses. Economic losses may be due to uncontrolled pests in the agricultural sector, or crop losses from improperly applied pesticides. Funding will be used to support this continued function. Trains County Pesticide Educators. The MSU Pesticide Education Program will continue to coordinate 2 Montana train the trainer programs annually. These programs train local pesticide educators across the state by providing pesticide updates, providing a forum for new educational tools, and to discuss issues relevant to the MSU Pesticide Education Program. 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 4 years MSU PEP has published 8 MontGuides, 13 MSU News Releases, and over 45 Agricultural Alerts to pesticide users, applicators and dealers across the state. Funding will be used to continue written outreach in the state. Serves as a Resource for the Public. MSU PEP 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.