1. Using Behavior to Change Behavior: the value of PUR data in entomology education and extension programs
David Haviland
Entomology and Pest Management Farm Advisor
UC Cooperative Extension, Kern Co.

2. Understanding how farmers view PUR data
Understanding how farmers view PUR data. Case study: imagine the types of statements that could be made if DPR employees had mandatory pesticide use reporting*
More than 94% of DPR employees endorse topical applications of pesticides to children under 6 months old.
During the last year, 82% of DPR employees have allowed their own children to bathe in pesticide-treated water while application is still ongoing. This is despite label warnings that the pesticide being used can cause substantial eye injury, be harmful if absorbed through the skin, and harmful if swallowed.
DPR employees, despite their role as part of the Environmental Protection Agency, consume more than 5 pounds of active ingredient of Prop 65 carcinogens per week.
79% of DPR employees with teenagers allow them to handle, dispense, and use explosive, carcinogenic chemicals while wearing nothing more than their school clothes.
In the past month, more than 82% of DPR employees have consumed food or a beverage purchased at a Prop 65 chemical dispensary, despite the prevalence of government-mandated safety warnings at those facilities.
* Statistics, though probably true, were fabricated for the purposes of making a point.

3. Anti-bacterial soap and baby wipes
Understanding how farmers view PUR data. Case study: imagine the types of statements that could be made if DPR employees had mandatory pesticide use reporting*
More than 94% of DPR employees endorse topical applications of pesticides to children under 6 months old.
During the last year, 82% of DPR employees have allowed their own children to bathe in pesticide-treated water while application is still ongoing. This is despite label warnings that the pesticide being used can cause substantial eye injury, be harmful if absorbed through the skin, and harmful if swallowed.
DPR employees, despite their role as part of the Environmental Protection Agency, consume more than 5 pounds of active ingredient of Prop 65 carcinogens per week.
79% of DPR employees with teenagers allow them to handle, dispense, and use explosive, carcinogenic chemicals while wearing nothing more than their school clothes.
In the past month, more than 82% of DPR employees have consumed food or a beverage purchased at a Prop 65 chemical dispensary, despite the prevalence of government-mandated safety warnings at those facilities.
Anti-bacterial soap and baby wipes
Chlorine Pool Tablets
Benzene in a tank of gas
Gasoline
Mini-Mart
* Statistics, though probably true, were fabricated for the purposes of making a point.

4. By its own nature… PUR data is damning
Examples
Hospital staff sanitize hospital beds before patients arrive
vs.
Hospital staff spray hospital beds with pesticides before patients arrive

5. Things growers appreciate
Being part of the solution, not the cause of the problem
Data that is put into context
Data that uses terms familiar to growers
Seeing industry trends without revealing individual practices
Receiving credit where they feel credit is due
When people give them options and let them decide what is best for their farm
Data that allows them to make the most informed decision

6. Put data into grower context (Apps/acre, not pounds applied)
Bad- Kern County pistachio growers applied 2.8 million pounds of active ingredient of pesticides in 2015
Good- Kern County pistachio growers applied an average of 7.4 herbicides, insecticides or fungicides during 2015

7. What is the trend? vs. Why is there a trend?
Put data into context
What is the trend? vs. Why is there a trend?

8. What is the trend? vs. Why is there a trend?
Put data into context
What is the trend? vs. Why is there a trend?
Acreage more than doubled
Loss of Guthion
Replacing one OP requires two reduced-risk insecticides
Lower NOW tolerance at huller
Scrutiny over aflatoxins
Increased crop value
Decreased cost of insecticides

9. Using farmer lingo- Convert data to applications/acre

10. Don’t get hung up on short-term trends
‘pesticides are going up/down’ vs. ‘what is influencing pesticide use’

11. Don’t get hung up on short-term trends
‘pesticides are going up/down’ vs. ‘what is influencing pesticide use’
Bad?
Good?

12. Don’t get hung up on short-term trends
‘pesticides are going up/down’ vs. ‘what is influencing pesticide use’
Up and Down?
Good or Bad?

13. Don’t get hung up on short-term trends
‘pesticides are going up/down’ vs. ‘what is influencing pesticide use’
Up and Down?
Good or Bad?
Reality-
Chlorpyrifos use goes up and down based on seasonal changes in leaffooted bug pressure.
Fluctuations show that PCAs use IPM to make treatment decisions.

14. Show positive trends... Make sure to note when increased pesticide use is a good thing
NOW Mating Disruption

15. Aspergillus flavus Strain Af36
Show positive trends… everybody’s doing it!
(Positive peer pressure)
Aspergillus flavus Strain Af36

16. Show cause and effect

17. Show relationships that imply cause and effect- promote awareness of issues
Untreated orchard
PUR data: 2013, 2014, 2015
Sixspotted thrips eat spider mites. Abamectin kills spider mites, but also kills sixspotted thrips.
Concern/question- Are growers killing sixspotted thrips by spraying abamectin?
Response- Monitor for mites and thrips. Treat for mites only if thrips are not present. If thrips are present and a miticide is still needed, use one that does not kill the thrips. Many options exist.

18. Give more credit than you take- case study

19. Give more credit than you take
Examples…
DPR report to legislature- Due to DPR’s monitoring efforts, alliance grants, regulations, and agency partnerships, less OPS are being found in California waterways.
UC Program Review- Due to local UC research, extension and education programs, less OPS are being found in California waterways.
Grower meeting- In an effort to protect California’s waterways, tree nut growers have adopted reduced-risk pest management practices that avoid dormant use of organophosphates.

20. Stay positive whenever possible
Overall pesticide use is increasing (bad)…
but the percentage of pesticides that are reduced-risk now exceeds 50% (good).

21. Influencing change means forming a partnership
As government agencies, pretend that farmers are your teenage daughter
Take time to form a relationship (team) with them
Don’t just monitor their activities and then tell them what to do
Say thank you often, even if only for an attempt at improvement.
Give credit more than you take credit
Speak in a language they understand
They are more likely to do what you if they think it is their idea
Stay positive

22. Thank you