The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance Annual Meeting February 5-7, 2013
History of pesticide safety education ◦ Purpose ◦ Funding State of pesticide safety education programs Effort to secure and sustain funding for pesticide safety education
1960s ◦ Extension agents and specialists in Land Grant Universities and Colleges began teaching farmers and professional pesticide applicators about pesticide safety ◦ Congress, through USDA, partnered with these institutions to create Pesticide Coordinator Positions 1970s ◦ EPA is established ◦ Mandatory certification and training requirements for RUPS ◦ Pesticide safety education programs became more robust ◦ EPA provides funding to support efforts USDA maintained role in managing and directing funds
*2011 CPARD Data and USDA Reports
Federal support has declined ◦ Program impact (2011 AAPSE Survey) >50% experienced significant impacts to program Reduced number of trainings Delayed development/revision of materials Shift in program focus 29% experienced dramatic impacts to program Reduction in % FTE dedicated to program Loss of Staff Vacant positions are not being filled
Note: Pesticide Registration Improvement Act funds (2007)
Other sources of program support varies and in some cases has also declined ◦ State general appropriations ◦ State Lead Agencies ◦ Training fees ◦ Sale of educational materials ◦ Third party sponsorship ◦ Project Grants
Elevate Pesticide Safety Education Program funding ◦ Federal support can be enhanced ◦ State support can be enhanced, and ◦ Industry and other support can be developed Membership open to all Stakeholders ◦ EPA & USDA ◦ State Lead Agencies ◦ University Extension ◦ Industry (registrants; professional associations) State Lead Agency & Industry - Co Leads
Pesticide safety education is important Each stakeholder group has a role Forward facing with an acknowledgment of history Conference Calls ◦ Membership List ◦ Fact Sheets ◦ Meeting Notes ◦ Press Releases
Clarify the scope of PSEP activities on which this stakeholder team will focus. Establish a permanent source of federal funding for the PSEP program in every state and territory. Determine the status of, and potential for, additional state and territory support of PSEP through pesticide product registration fees, enforcement fines and other means. Explore various processes for stakeholders to provide unrestricted gifts, grants, and endowments to support all or designated PSEP programs. Explore ways in which industry, commodity, and regulatory leadership can better understand the scope and importance of PSEP programs. Publicize the continuing PSEP funding crisis and the formation of this stakeholder team, and increase the visibility of the problem with all stakeholders.
Primary focus is pesticide users and dealers who must be certified ◦ Secondary focus – all other pesticides users Developing strategies to communicate the importance of pesticide safety education Determining how much is needed for a base program & options for distribution
Campaigns or funding drive Groups that benefit from PSEP Varying Faculty & Administrative Costs Gift/grants Endowments Restricted/unrestricted Funding sources Enabling legislation MOU/MOAs Other Initiatives PRIA Funding Penalty Dollars Incorporating into IPM Faculty & Administrative Costs Caps Other Federal Agencies / Organizations Federal Government State Government Other Non- Government
Press Releases ◦ Weed Science Society Of America Presentations ◦ The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA) ◦ Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO) Team Members
Written framework ◦ Identify potential funding sources for each stakeholder group ◦ Processes for securing potential funds Short Term Long Term ◦ Enabling legislation Interested parties, working independently or together, use the framework to attain sustainable funding