Considerable discussion has been ongoing regarding the risk/benefits of pesticides since the mid-60s. The debate will not be concluded in the near future, even though we have learned a lot about the long-term effects of pesticides and continue to add to the database every day. I do not want to use this forum to debate the pros and cons of pesticides in our society but to provide an example of the University and state agencies working together to help assure the safety of our agricultural workers, as well as protecting our food supply.

The Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) program in Illinois continues to be a model for the rest of the nation. I have been involved with the program since coming to Illinois in 1973 and presently serve as the coordinator for the educational content provided by the U of I. It is impossible to measure the complete impact of the program, but it has significantly changed the attitudes of many pesticide applicators in improving the safety and efficiency of using pesticides.

Since 1966, University of Illinois Extension, in collaboration with the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA), has conducted training schools for farmers (private applicators) and commercial agricultural and urban operators and applicators. The purpose is to train applicators and operators in the proper and safe use of pesticides to prevent misuse and to avoid accidents. In addition to keeping applicators up-to-date on new developments in both chemical and nonchemical pest control methods, the training sessions prepare applicants to pass examinations verifying they are competent to apply pesticides properly. This education and certification is vital to Illinois residents in terms of public health protection and environmental stewardship.

The program has matured greatly from the early days and now includes education for 17 separate categories of pesticide application–ranging from aerial application to plant management in shopping malls. The 1998–1999 season recently concluded, with 29 commercial clinics and about 60 meetings for farmers and other private applicators. This summer, representatives from the College of ACES will meet with representatives from the IDOA to plan the clinics and training sessions for 1999–2000. It is anticipated that 11,500 farmers and 9,500 commercial operators and applicators will require certification to apply pesticides. Funds for the program are provided by the University of Illinois, IDOA, USEPA (through the USDA Federal Extension Service), and a grant from the State Pesticide Control Fund. Over $500,000 is required annually to carry out the educational program.

Extension Pesticide Safety Educators provide educational and training programs to address health, the environment, pest management, and pesticide safety. In addition to the standard training sessions, the PAT team provides education on all aspects of pesticide use. They play an active role in the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) education. WPS outreach efforts continue to help producers understand the rule and its continuing changes. The methyl parathion misuse case in Chicago is a good example of Extension working closely with state and federal agencies in dealing with a major chemical misuse. Extension provided leadership in developing materials regarding temporary clean-up procedures, as well as programs on the proper management of cockroaches. The program effectively handled a very dangerous situation.

Benefits of the statewide pesticide safety educational programs have far exceeded the costs. Education improves the quality of pesticide application in Illinois by increasing the level of pesticide knowledge and safe use. In evaluations of private and commercial applicators, participants attending the sessions reported significant change in the way they handled pesticides. After training, applicators were more likely to refer to pesticide labels, use safety equipment, and calibrate application equipment.

The educational programs also help regulatory agencies with voluntary compliance by promoting a better understanding of the global effects of individual pesticide use. I am convinced that education has allowed continued use of important pesticides that would otherwise have been lost to producers.

The PAT programs have a value-added approach. Participants attend training not only because they need information to pass the licensing examination but also to obtain additional information that is important in terms of public-health protection, environmental stewardship, and plant protection. The agricultural community cannot afford to take this outreach for granted and underestimate the importance of continuous updates on the safe use of pesticides. Technology is changing so rapidly that it is difficult to stay abreast of the current practices for applying agrichemicals. The Illinois Pesticide Applicator Training program remains a vital component of our production system.

(Loren Bode, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences)

The National Pesticide Applicator Certification and Training Workshop was held on August 8 to 11, 1999, in Portland, ME. Patty Bingaman, Bruce Paulsrud, Phil Nixon, Rhonda Ferree, Dennis Epplin, David Robson, Marshal McGlamery, and Don Kuhlman represented the University of Illinois at this meeting. The participants attended many educational sessions that supplied information that will be used to enhance the PAT program in Illinois. Several attendees provided comments and take-home messages regarding the meeting:

Dennis Epplin, Crop Systems Educator, Mt. Vernon Extension Center: The National Pesticide Applicator Certification and Training Workshop was an interesting experience. The Portland, ME, location was a nice change of climate as well. I was impressed with the diversity of participants: university extension, state departments of agriculture, EPA, and agri-industry, but also health services and food safety representatives. There were numerous timely scientific presentations. I thought that a series of presentations by Vince Covello, director of the Center for Risk Communication in New York City, NY, was of special value. Covello explained the importance not just of what we say but of the manner in which we say it and the words that are selected. I appreciated the opportunity to participate in the C & T workshop.

Rhonda Ferree, Crops/Horticulture Unit Educator, Fulton County: It was interesting to attend this meeting as aUunit educator instead of a state specialist. I do tend to look at things a bit differently now. I attended this conference as an invited speaker. Phil Nixon and I were part of a break-out session titled, "Uncovering Moral Dilemmas of the Methyl Parathion Issue: Are We Hearing the Ethics of Our Work?"

Our part at this session was to present a case study–the methyl parathion problem in Chicago. I gave background information on methyl parathion, its illegal use, and the response of University of Illinois Extension to the situation. Phil expanded on our educational efforts. John Ward, USEPA in Chicago, gave additional thoughts to present this case study fully.

Dean Herzfeld and Shirley Barber from the University of Minnesota then provided some information on ethics. Practical ethics requires our understanding and resolving of the personal, professional, organizational, and public-policy aspects of the dilemmas we face. We used small-group discussions to identify the ethical dilemmas from this case study. We ran out of time, but the session was very interesting. Dilemmas uncovered included the cockroach problem, the Extension system, cultural factors, and much more. This is definitely something to think about. Do we consider ethics in our work?

Bruce Paulsrud, Extension Specialist, Pesticide Applicator Training: Although many different topics were presented and discussed, I'd like to address two related issues. First, you have probably heard about the recent action taken by the USEPA regarding the insecticides methyl parathion and azinphos methyl. Many of these actions (loss of uses, rate reductions, REI increases, etc.) will take effect next season. Second, the idea of prescriptive use of pesticides is still alive and well (discussed in this newsletter 11/98 and 3/99).

How are these two topics related? They both deal with something the USEPA calls "risk mitigation." Given the stringent standards of the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act and the mandatory reevaluation of all pesticide tolerances by 2006, when EPA evaluates the overall safety of a particular product and how and where it is used, there are some cases in which the various types of risks are too great. When this happens, the product registrant(s) and EPA work together to reduce these risks through risk mitigation.

Risk mitigation might involve one or more of the following steps: more precautionary label language, additional personal protection equipment (PPE), longer reentry intervals (REIs) after applications, longer preharvest intervals (PHIs), use of a closed handling system, reduced application rates, reduced seasonal application limits, or even deletion of certain uses that pose high risk.

Pesticide safety education and the certification process is a means of informing pesticide users about the various risk-mitigation strategies and their importance. Furthermore, it proves to the public that pesticide users are properly trained in the safe and effective use of pesticides. The USEPA has confidence in the certification process.

However, there may be cases in which certain uses of pesticides cannot be maintained due to excessive risk(s). It has been proposed that prescriptive use could be a mechanism by which certain valuable but high-risk pesticide uses could be maintained while addressing the public's concern for safe use of those products (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology [CAST] issue paper #9, 8/98).

The take-home message? It is up to pesticide users and educators to maintain confidence in our certification program. Expect and respect label changes and remember that "in the absence of common sense, legislation will soon follow".

(Dennis Epplin, Rhonda Ferree, Bruce Paulsrud, and Phil Nixon)

Don Kuhlman and Marshal McGlamery were honored for their meritorious and consistent support of the Pesticide Appli-cator Training (PAT) Program Honors were conferred upon them at the opening luncheon of the National Pesticide Applicator Certification and Training Workshop in Portland, ME, on August 8.

Dr. Kuhlman was the first PAT coordinator in Illinois, serving in that capacity from 1972 until 1989. In fact, he was very active in the Illinois Pesticide Dealer Clinics that were started in 1966. These clinics predated the national program and focused on proper pesticide safety, handling, and calibration procedures. He conducted these activities along with his duties as Extension entomologist with the University of Illinois.

Dr. McGlamery has been very active nationally in PAT. He served for several years on the national committee that formulated many of the procedures that are used today for training and obtaining licenses. His efforts helped develop a national program that has functioned well for 25 years. He was also active in the Illinois Pesticide Dealer Clinics that started in 1966 and remains active in teaching, writing, and advising in the area of pesticide-safety education. He is a long-standing and current member of the PAT advisory team that oversees and provides direction to the Illinois PAT program. He is an agronomic weed science Extension specialist in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois.

(Phil Nixon)

Raymond Cloyd is a new faculty member at the University of Illinois. He is an ornamental entomologist/Extension specialist in urban integrated pest management (IPM), which includes greenhouse, landscape, nursery, turfgrass, interiorscape, and conservatory (the green industry). His educational background includes an A.S. degree in ornamental horticulture from the Monterey Peninsula College, a B.S. in ornamental horticulture and minor degree in plant protection/pest management from the California Polytechnic State University–San Luis Obispo, and an M.S. and doctorate in entomology at Purdue University.

His background and training are primarily in the area of integrated pest management of ornamental pests, with emphasis on managing insect/mite pests on greenhouse, nursery, and landscape crops. He is available to assist individuals associated with the green industry in dealing with ornamental pests. His address is

Raymond A. Cloyd
University of Illinois
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
228 ERML MC-051
1201 W. Gregory Dr.
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone, (217)244-7218; fax, (217)333-4777; e-mail, rcloyd@uiuc.edu

Mohammad Babadoost joined the faculty of Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign as an assistant professor this past June. He assumed responsibility for a plant pathology position on vegetable and fruit crops, with emphasis on problem-solving extension, outreach education, and complementary research.

Born in northwestern Iran, he practiced agriculture on his family farm for several years. His educational background includes a B.S. degree in plant protection from the University of Tabriz, Iran; an M.S. in plant pathology from Washington State University; and a Ph.D. in plant pathology from North Carolina State University.

Babadoost has a great deal of extension and research experience with a wide range of crops and plant diseases, including small grains, vegetables, and fruit crops. Most notably, he has developed several effective methods for controlling plant diseases, including Alternaria diseases of crucifer plants; seed-borne black rot bacterium (Xanthomonas campestris pv.campestris) of Brassica crops; Fusarium vascular wilt of tomato; and Rhizoctonia diseases of potato, apple scab, and barley stripe (Pyrenophora graminea). He is available to assist Illinois fruit and vegetable growers in dealing with plant disease problems. His address is

Mohammad Babadoost
University of Illinois
Department of Crop Sciences
AW-101 Turner Hall MC-046
1102 S. Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone, (217) 333-1523; e-mail: babadoos@uiuc.edu

(Phil Nixon and Bruce Paulsrud)

ACTION (fluthiacet-methyl)-Novartis-EPA has approved the application to register this new active ingredient on soybeans to control velvetleaf and certain other broadleaf weeds. (FR Vol. 64,6-30-99)

EPIC (flufenacet/isoxaflutole)-Bayer/RhonePoulenc-This new soybean herbicide will be jointly marketed by both companies. This year it will be available in IL, IN, IA, KY, NE, ND and OH.

IODOSULFURON-AgrEvo-A new herbicide to be used on cereals. It should be available by 2002.

MESOTRIONE -Zeneca-A new pre and post-emergence corn herbicide that should be available in the U.S. in 2001.

LATITUDE (MON-6500/silthiopham)-Monsanto-A new fungicide to be marketed in Europe this fall to control take?all in cereals.

MAXIM 4FS (fludioxonil)-Novartis-Added to their label the usage on canola, cotton, peanuts and sunflower. [fungicide]

RAVE (triasulfuron/dicamba)-Novartis-Received EPA registration to use on winter and spring wheat and barley, rangeland and pasture, to control over 74 broadleaf weeds as a post-emergence treatment.

Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, July and August, 1999.

ADAGE (thiamethoxam)-Novartis-Registration on this new insecticide is expected in late 1999 on canola, in January 2000 on sorghum, wheat and cotton, and on potatoes and corn in the fall of 2000.

DEFIANT WDG (thiram)-UCB Chemicals-A new formulation, recently introduced, to control turf disease and to be used as an animal repellent.

LINDANE-All the usages for this product in the U.S. have been cancelled except as a seed treatment on certain crops. Supported crops for a seed treatment are barley, corn, oats, rye, sorghum, wheat, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, lettuce, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, radishes, spinach and Swiss chard. Deleted uses as a seed treatment are on beans, lentils, peas, sudangrass, cantaloupes, carrots, cotton, cucumbers, onions, squash, safflower, sunflower and watermelons. [insecticide]

MANAGE (halosulfuron)-Monsanto-Added to their label the usage on roadsides and industrial sites for horsetail control and for use on seashore paspalum.

ORTHENE (acephate)-Valent-EPA has registered a new pelleted formulation called Orthene 97, which is easier to mix, reduces the potential of worker exposure, and is low in odor. [insecticide]

WARRIOR (lambda-cyhalothrin)-Zeneca-Received a 24(c) label to use in non crop areas to control grasshoppers.

- Michelle Wiesbrook

AGREVO-The company plans to introduce Liberty Link (glufosinate?tolerant) rice in the U.S. in 2001.

ANDERSONS-The company has bought from Cargill their wholesale fertilizer division located east of the corn belt. This includes a manufacturing plant located in Seymour, Indiana.

AVENTIS-This is the new company that is being formed between Hoechst and Rhone?Poulenc for their agricultural and pharmaceutical business. It will be a combination of Rhone?Poulenc Agro, AgrEvo; the 60:40 joint venture between Hoechst and Schering, Rhone?Poulenc Animal Nutrition and Rhone?Poulenc's 50% share in Merial, the joint venture with Merck's animal health business.

CROMPTON & KNOWLES-This company that owns Uniroyal is forming a $3.2 billion company with Witco, called C&K Witco.

CYANAMID-The seed of a wide variety of crops will carry a "Clearfield" symbol which is a worldwide brand that means it is imidazolinone herbicide tolerant. Currently it will be applied to corn, wheat, canola, rice, sugarbeets, sugarcane, sunflowers and soybeans.

ECO SOIL-The company has acquired Agrium Inc.'s Agricultural Biological Division, who were developing bacteria to enhance plant growth.

GRIFFIN LLC-The company has formed a worldwide business alliance with Nation's Ag to develop chlorothalonil based fungicides.

MONSANTO-The company will re?design its field sales and support organization of its crop chemical and seed businesses into one. It will consist of 25 local business teams, each with about 20 members dedicated to retail and seed customers. Other changes in the company include Nutra Sweet, its food ingredient division, which has been put up for sale to finance bio?technology operations. In addition, Monsanto has extended its merger time with Delta and Pine Land Co. until 12?31?99. Also, an agreement has been made with American Cyanamid to supply them with glyphosate herbicide to be used in Cyanamid pre?mixes. Finally, RoundUp Ready rice is being developed in Japan and some marketing may be as early as next spring.

PIONEER HIBRED-The company plans to build a sorghum research center located in Manhattan, Kansas.

Michelle Buesinger, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, July and August, 1999.

ADEPT (diflubenzuron)-Uniroyal-Added to their label on ornamentals the prohibition of usage on poinsettias, hibiscus and Reiger begonia. [insecticide]

BIO?ORGANIC (natural tree oils)-Eco Smart Tech-A new insecticide based on essential oils for the homeowner and for the turf and ornamental market.

COMPASS (trifloxystrobin)-Novartis-A new fungicide being developed for usage on turf.

DECREE (fenhexamid)-SePro-Recently received EPA registration to use on ornamentals to control botrytis.

FLORAMITE (bifenazate)-Uniroyal-Received EPA registration to control mites on ornamentals in fields, shade houses, interiorscapes, landscapes, greenhouses and nurseries.

HERITAGE (azoxystrobin)-Zeneca-Added to their label on ornamentals and turf, the usage to control root diseases, leaf, tip and flower blight, leaf spots, downy mildew and rusts.

MERIT 75 (imidacloprid)-Bayer-Added to their label the control of cutworms.

OFTANOL (isofenphos)-Bayer-The company has voluntarily cancelled all registrations for this product. EPA will continue to permit the sale, distribution and use of the product that is in the hands of dealers and users. (FR Vol. 64, 5?26?99) [insecticide]

OUTRIDER (sulfosulfuron)-Monsanto-Received EPA registration to use for roadside and industrial usages. [herbicide]

- Michelle Wiesbrook

AMMO (cypermethrin)–FMC–Added to their label the control of aphids on green onions.

APOLLO (clofentezine)–AgrEvo–May now be used on apples up to 45 days prior to harvest. [insecticide]

BAYTHROID (cyfluthrin)–Bayer–Received EPA registration to use on potatoes to control leafhoppers, loopers, Colorado potato beetles, cutworms, European corn borer, flea beetle, tuberworms, psyllids, and tarnished plant bugs.

DITHANE DF RAINSHIELD NT (mancozeb)–Rohm & Haas–A new formulation designed for use on potatoes to control early and late blight with increased rainfastness.

SCHOLAR (fludioxonil)–Novartis–A new fungicide being developed to control botrytis, monilinia, and rhizopus, as a postharvest treatment on stone fruits.

SOVRAN (kresoximmethyl)–BASF–Received EPA registration to use on apples, pears, grapes, and pecans to control scab, powdery mildew, leafspots, black rot, downy mildew, and phomoposis.

SYLLIT 65 (dodine)–Rhone–Poulenc–An older compound being reintroduced to control scab on pears.

ZIRAM–UCB Chemicals–The product may now be used on grapes, blackberries, and blueberries to control black rot, downy mildew, phomopsis spot, ripe rot, botrytis, bunch rot, mummyberry, and blackberry canker.

(Michelle Buesinger, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, July and August 1999)