Introducing… The Pesticide Environmental Stewardship (PES) Web Site A central repository for - detailed, up-to-date information, - educational modules, and - self-assessment tools

PES Web Site Goals: Summarize principles of pesticide stewardship; Provide category-, pesticide-, and geography-specific stewardship principles where appropriate Identify and review key state bulletins and other resources;

PES Web Site Goals: Direct users to stewardship resources (links) by topic, category of use, pesticide, and state/locality, and, Develop educational modules (with pre- and post-testing analysis) and self- assessment tools to improve critical thinking and decision-making skills regarding pesticide/non-pesticide options and potential impacts.

Major Topics Proposed: Protection of Groundwater/Surface Water; Pesticide Resistance; Drift Management; Protection of Non-Target Organisms; Transportation;Storage; Calibration, Mixing and Application; Pesticide Disposal; Integrated Pest Management; Container Recycling; Recordkeeping. More topics may be added later

OUTPUT Fact Sheets and Resources Educational Modules Self assessments Links to federal and state regulations

Personnel and Partnerships Four coordinators representing the Midwest, Northeast, South, and West will work with Extension, government, industry, commodity associations, and environmental organizations to identify and/or develop the best resources for a holistic approach to PES. The Coordinators are associated with the national Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP). –Wayne Buhler, NC State University, National Coordinator –Ron Gardner, Cornell University –Jim Wilson, South Dakota State University –Carol Ramsay, Washington State University

Personnel and Partnerships Each Coordinator will be responsible for one major topic per year, which will enable all twelve topics to be completed in three years. The Regional Coordinator’s commitment to the project will be for at least one year. The 2006 topics are protection of groundwater, recordkeeping, drift management, and storage. The National Science Foundation’s Center for IPM will coordinate the IPM topic.

Web Site Construction and Maintenance CIPM will program and manage the Web site. Database engine will allow readers to narrow searches based on location (state), active ingredient, applicator use category, and target. Free-text querying will also be possible. The site will automatically look for dead links at predetermined time intervals (e.g., once per month).

Web Site Recruitment and Use , brochures, and presentations at meetings to promote the Web site. CIPM will advertise the site through the USDA Regional IPM Centers network, which currently receives in excess of 2 million hits per month. Organizations, businesses, and individuals answering PES questions or providing education and information will be able to direct individuals to Web site.

Web Site Recruitment and Use Educators can use this tool as a part of their educational programs. Educational modules may be used to provide continuing education credits toward the recertification of licensed applicators or to prepare the user for state certification exams. Link to eXtension (extension.org)

Financial Support and Allocations Syngenta provided startup funds as part of their membership in the CIPM. The project has been approved by the Industry Advisory Board of CIPM as a core project. CIPM will administer the project funds. Financial support has been given to each Regional Coordinator and a part-time Grad student, whose names and affiliations will appear on the PES Web site homepage.

Pesticide Storage: A PES Module “in Progress”…

HELP! Collaborators and input needed: Kilgore Hall Dept of Horticultural Science NC State University Raleigh, NC 27695