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PSEP plans for FY 2013 include continuation and improvement of the present Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP). Our on-going program goal is to provide quality pesticide safety and pest management education that will not only assist participants in meeting licensing requirements, but also provide the basic information that they need to conduct responsible pest management activities.
Non-Technical Summary:<br/>
Since 1966, The University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service has been conducting training schools for private and commercial agricultural and urban operators and applicators. The project is vital to Illinois residents in terms of public health protection and environmental stewardship. This project will continue to provide quality training regarding the safe and effective use of pesticides by all applicators in Illinois. The project will conduct 30 commercial clinics, 20 private clinics, and educational materials for 13 categories of commercial and private applicators and operators.
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Approach:<br/>
Private PSEP Training: Although we will continue to primarily rely on face-to-face training clinics, we will continue to develop the on-line training alternatives. We will rework the core training portion of the site so that its length does not exceed three hours. Some of the current program will be reformatted into options for 'Additional Information' within the training modules. Enhancements will be added to increase the usefulness of both the core training and options. The site is being translated into Spanish to assist Latino and Latina clientele. We will work with IDA to site appropriate testing only sessions to meet the needs of those who utilize this alternative training option. Commercial PSEP Training: A full schedule of Commercial General Standards and Category Clinics is being planned. A training evaluation questionnaire will continue to be distributed at Commercial PSEP Training clinics to evaluate the training and associated materials. The completion of the commercial manuals will help provide a higher quality educational effort. In addition, major category workbooks will be revised as needed. We will continue to assist IDA with exam revisions by providing necessary drafted manuals and reviewing potential exam questions. Working in cooperation with IDA helps determine priorities for the PSEP Program while staying flexible enough to respond to the need for new educational materials and programming. Worker Protection Standard Training: PSEP specialists will continue to train Extension staff on issues related to the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). PSEP Clinics will continue to train workers and handlers to meet WPS training requirements. WPS training verification cards will remain available upon request. Changes to the WPS will be monitored and communicated to affected producers and other concerned clientele. Other Educational Materials: The Illinois Pesticide Review Newsletter will continue to be published. This newsletter, published six times a year on the PSEP website, provides news about pesticide issues and label changes. We will also continue to provide timely pesticide safety and pest management advice via the Home, Yard, and Garden Pest Newsletter and the Pest management and Crop Development Bulletin for professional landscapers and field crop producers, respectively.