1. Voluntary Turf IPM Accreditation:
An Alternative to Municipal Pesticide Bans in Ontario, Canada
Pam Charbonneau
Turfgrass Specialist

2. Trying to avoid this

3. History of Pesticide Bans
1993 Town of Hudson (suburb of Montreal), Quebec banned the use of pesticides on public and private green spaces - home lawns, trees and shrubs
no lawn care pesticide applications
no home owner applied pesticide applications
golf courses, forestry and agriculture are exempt

4. History of Pesticide Bans
Halifax, Nova Scotia in year phase out of all herbicides and fungicides on private properties within a radius of 50m of municipal and other designated public places (20% of private residential properties) on ornamental plants - lawns, trees and shrubs

5. Current Halifax Situation
Full implementation began on April 1, 2003
Insect infestations have to be verified by a third party
City issues a permit to apply turf, tree or shrub insecticide

6. Current Halifax Situation
permit process expected to cost the city $350,000
4-5 enforcement officers
endorses use of home remedies for pest control on lawns, trees and shrubs which aren’t subject to scrutiny for efficacy and safety
golf courses are exempt

7. Current Quebec Situation
March 24, 2003 adopted new Pesticide Management Code
pesticides are banned for use outside daycare centres immediately
23 active ingredients banned on private land by 2005
golf courses have to present a pesticide reduction plan
fines range from $ ,000

8. Ontario Situation
2002 survey - 42 municipalities considering a pesticide ban on private lawns
One municipality already has a by-law that came into effect in Nov Town of Cobalt

9. Highlights from the Town of Cobalt
Prohibits use of pesticides everywhere
a farmer using pesticides must register in writing in March of each year the products which he stores and which he will be using during that year
and also provide in writing the schedule of application of pesticides and where they will be applied

10. Ontario Solution? Turf industry became pro-active
formed the IPM Council (includes all stakeholders)
develop an alternative to pesticide bans
encourage lawn care and golf course industry to adopt a strict IPM approach
done through voluntary IPM accreditation
hope is to avoid bans

11. IPM Council of Ontario Formed-2002

12. Why IPM Accreditation?
IPM Council has proposed this as an alternative to pesticide bans in municipalities in Ontario
Has to be a rigorous and credible program to appease environmentalists
Municipalities that are considering voluntary IPM accreditation may make it mandatory with their municipality

13. Why IPM Accreditation?
May allow only IPM accredited lawn care companies to conduct business within the municipality
May specify that all golf courses within the municipality be IPM accredited
This is serious stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

14. IPM Program Components
IPM examination
CEC’s
Desk Review Audit
On-site Audit

15. IPM Accreditation Program
Up and running March 2003
recognizes lawn care companies, park systems, golf courses and golf superintendents
IPM agent is designated person from each company or organization responsible for insuring IPM is followed
person who writes exam and maintains CEC’s

16. IPM Accreditation Program
IPM Accreditation program is administered by Ridgetown College of University of Guelph
responsible for delivery of IPM program on behalf of IPM Council
administer exams, track CEC’s, keep track of audits

17. IPM Exam The agent must demonstrate his/her knowledge in IPM
90 minute exam (closed book)
80 questions
must get 75%
only have to write it once
Ridgetown will offer exam every 60 days in each region of the province

18. Continuing Education Credits
Agents must maintain and upgrade their knowledge of IPM
must obtain 8 CEC’s in IPM annually
1 CEC is based on 45 minute contact time at an IPM related seminar
if unable to get 8 CEC’s can write an IPM exam each year
CEC committee of IPM Council determines CEC’s for seminars

19. Program Components (cont.)
Desk Review Audit
annual must verify compliance with pesticide reduction, employee IPM training, customer education and IPM mass marketing materials
On-site Audit
all IPM accredited companies/golf courses/parks must submit to an on-site audit once every three years conducted by a Certified Environmental Auditor

20. Desk Review Audit Frequency -annually
must verify compliance with pesticide reduction target (50%)
verify employee IPM training
verify customer education
verify IPM mass marketing materials
supervised or approved by CEA

21. On-site Audit
Companies and organizations must submit to an on-site audit
once every three years
conducted by a Certified Environmental Auditor through CEAA

22. Accreditation process
Register, Pay Fees
Obtain CEC’s
Obtain study material
Write exam
Submit desk audit
On-site audit w/I 3 years

23. Desk Audit Criteria Pesticide usage records
total area of turf maintained for the previous season
area based on area of turf that received treatments including
fertilization
aeration, pesticide applications or
renovations

24. Desk Review Audit Total AI used per unit area
must show a 50% reduction from a baseline
baseline - takes label rates for all possible pests
ai for 2 broadcast 3 way mix applications
ai for 1 broadcast Merit application
ai for 2 broadcast curative insecticide app.
ai for 1 broadcast crabgrass prevention
total allowable active ingredient: grams/100 sq. m

25. Desk Audit Criteria
List of all pesticide products used for the calendar year
product names and PCP numbers must be listed
Total amount of pesticide product used
beginning inventory + purchases - ending inventory = total use

26. Pesticide Usage records
Herbicide usage separated by target pest
Insecticide usage separated by target pest
Approved “Pesticide Recording Form”

27. IPM Training Documentation
Must list employee names, position held and training dates and subjects covered
field trips with supervisors “hands on” training qualifies
supervisors must list the topics covered and the employee must sign off

28. Customer Education Material
Copies of leave behind materials must be submitted
must instruct homeowners on proper mowing (height and frequency), watering and cultural practices such as core aeration
Examples of lawn analysis forms must be submitted
must cover pests found and treated for

29. Mass Marketing Material
Must submit examples of brochures distributed by mail
must show IPM based treatments and preventative grub control qualifying statements (ie. only applied in areas where grubs have been a problem historically)
Telemarketing scripts must be submitted. Can not sell specific pesticide applications without first examining the lawn

30. On-site Audit
Purpose is to verify compliance through an inspection of the desk audit submissions
verification of staff training records
staff members chosen at random will be required to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in IPM

31. On-site Audit (cont.) Verification of IPM systems delivery
customer records
equipment use and equipment calibration
integration of IPM and service offerings
Once every three years
there will be a risk ranking
Company or golf course given 8 weeks notice
Half day audit

32. CEC Opportunities
IPM Council CEC committee will assign CEC’s to seminars
CEC’s for upcoming events will be posted on the Landscape Ontario web site
Conferences must submit conference programs and speaker bio’s to have CEC’s assigned to their conferences

33. Obtaining CEC’s 1 CEC is 45 minutes of contact time in a seminar
Types of conference that qualify
OTS, CGSA, GTI Field Day, LO IPM Symposium, Turf Managers Short Course, ISA Conference , Landscape Ontario Congress, GCSAA seminars, etc.
Agent must submit CEC reporting form to Ridgetown College annually

34. CEC’s 8 CEC’s must be obtained per calendar year (Jan. 1- Dec. 31)
If can’t obtain CEC’s can rewrite an IPM exam

35. Golf Course IPM Accreditation

36. Golf Course Voluntary IPM Accreditation
Currently being rolled out by OGSA
Differences
Superintendent will obtain accreditation
write golf course IPM exam and fulfill CEC requirement
Golf course facility will also become accredited with the desk audit and on-site audit

37. GC Voluntary IPM Accreditation
If an accredited superintendent moves - he/she keeps accreditation but must insure that the golf course they moved to becomes accredited
If a non- accredited superintendent moves to an accredited golf course - he/she has 6 months to become accredited (ie. write the IPM exam)

38. Golf Course Specific Components
IPM accredited golf courses must monitor regularly and maintain a record of observations a minimum of once a week from course opening to course closing
Follow an IPM Code of Practice
No specific pesticide reduction targets

41. Golf IPM Code of Practice
Focus on cultural practices to prevent pest problems and maintain healthy turf
Educate golfers on the importance of cultural practices
Monitor property for pest infestations at regular intervals and maintain a log
Document pesticide use and pesticide alternatives

42. Golf IPM Code of Practice
Use pesticides only after examination and diagnosis
Only apply properly timed treatments
Utilize spot treatments
Implement staff IPM training
Establish buffer zones around sensitive areas

43. Selling Voluntary IPM Accreditation
Turf industry representatives have a web site that tracks hot spots for municipal pesticide bans
also have an list serve to communicate issues
show up on mass at municipal council meetings
all have the same message

44. Future of IPM Accreditation
Hope that it is adopted by municipalities instead of pesticide bans
For more information contact Ken Pavely, IPM Coordinator at Landscape Ontario or
under lawn care button