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The goal of the PME program is to provide educational information throughout Iowa on the safe use of pesticides. The PME program, through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Pesticide Safety Education Program, assists both private and commercial pesticide applicators in meeting the initial and continuing standards of certification. In addition to conducting educational programs, providing pesticide safety information through publications and mass media, and updating training manuals for pesticide applicators, PME provides programming in integrated pest management, worker protection, water quality, agricultural health, and safety awareness for the general public.
Non-Technical Summary:<br/>
The goal of this project is to provide pesticide safety information to Iowans to protect human health and the environment. This project uses the services of the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) within Iowa State University Extension to 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 or commercially applied pesticides. The Environmental Protection Agency gives financial support to United States Department of Agriculture to pass on to the state Cooperative Extension Service who operates such training programs. Pesticide safety educational activities in this program will include: presenting educational programs in live, prerecorded video sessions, and/or webcasts; hands-on training activities; developing and updating manuals and other training materials; developing and coordinating initial and re-certification education programs; informing pesticide applicators of programs and materials through newsletters and web sites; and other educational programs that are effective in communicating pesticide safety measures. Subject matter covered in the 2012 training season will include such topics as equipment calibration, safe application techniques, drift management, pesticide labels, pesticide stewardship, and timely, pertinent pest management topics. Iowa State University PSEP will be coordinated with the Pesticide Bureau of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Approximately 16,000 private pesticide applicators and 9,000 commercial applicators across the state attend the pesticide recertification training programs each year. Training is available statewide and uses services from county extension offices.
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Approach:<br/>
Training programs and educational activities will include: live educational programs; hands-on activities to help improve understanding and retention; prerecorded training programs made available throughout the state; statewide webcasts; development and updates of manuals and other training materials; development and coordination of initial and re-certification education programs; information distribution to pesticide applicators of programs and materials though newsletter and web sites; and other educational programs that are effective in communicating pesticide safety measures. Iowa State University pesticide safety education programs will be coordinated with IDALS to ensure that all requirements are met, training programs are approved, and outreach to pesticide applicators covers pertinent topics and issues. Approximately 16,000 private pesticide applicators and 9,000 commercial applicators across the state attend the pesticide recertification training programs each year. Training is available statewide and uses services from county extension offices.