Source: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
LSU AGCENTER PSEP
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0227058
Grant No.
2011-48679-31065
Project No.
LAB04113
Proposal No.
2011-05782
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
PSEP
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2011
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2013
Grant Year
2011
Project Director
Pope, K. J.
Recipient Organization
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
202 HIMES HALL
BATON ROUGE,LA 70803-0100
Performing Department
Administration
Non Technical Summary
LSU AgCenter's Pesticide Safety Education Program is responsible for developing, organizing, and coordinating training (through parish and regional extension agents) that will lead to agricultural producers receiving training to achieve or maintain certification as licensed commercial and private pesticide applicators. The Pesticide Safety Education Program works cooperatively with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry by recommendations concerning the granting of state labels for pesticide use. The program also keeps AgCenter employees updated on pesticide rules and regulations and is available to respond to AgCenter employees' questions about pesticides and their uses.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
7235220302050%
7115220302025%
1335220302025%
Knowledge Area
133 - Pollution Prevention and Mitigation; 711 - Ensure Food Products Free of Harmful Chemicals, Including Residues from Agricultural and Other Sources; 723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
5220 - Pesticides;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the program is to certify that pesticide applicators reach a minimum level of competency to properly, safely and effectively use all pesticides. The focus of our program is to maintain and improve the quality of pesticide training and certification in Louisiana. Attention is paid to environmental protection, clean water, safe food and human health. Our program also works to enhance the economy of producers and communities. These outcomes can only be accomplished with educational programs that focus on safety for pesticide applicators, their coworkers and the general public, as well as proper use of pesticides to effectively control pests. The goal of our program is to expand each of the applicators knowledge on proper use of pesticides and to provide opportunities for new applicators to be certified. Approach: Our focus for this next year will be to develop and improve private pesticide applicator trainings and provide more training throughout Louisiana. In order the train applicators we will develop new presentations that can be used by the county agents throughout the state to provide training.
Project Methods
The focus of the LSU AgCenter's Pesticide Education Program is to offer high quality programs which allows for the certification and recertification of private and commercial pesticide applicators. In addition, instruction is offered in pesticide safety to Master Gardener classes, pest control technicians, and others interested in increasing their knowledge about the safe and proper use of pesticides. Information presented to these groups includes new and updated material regarding pesticides rules and regulations and reviewing the basics when it comes to the safe and effective use of pesticides. This material is presented in a live classroom format, in some cases in a hands-on environment, utilizing extension specialists from the LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and invited guest speakers. Instruction is also given to individuals wishing to become certified in a pesticide application category: commercial and private. This is also achieved by live classroom instruction and group discussion focusing on basic concepts of pesticide safety, pesticide formulations, equipment calibration, reading and understand the pesticide label, pesticide calculations, etc. Other methods of instruction and information dissemination include developing and updating manuals and other training materials and informing pesticide applicators and the general public of up-to-date news and materials through newsletters, the LSU AgCenter Pesticide Safety Education Website, and through social media.

Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: The LSU AgCenter Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP)provided training to pesticide applicators throughout the state of Louisiana. The target audience for this program included private pesticide applicators and commercial pesticide applicators. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Throughout the year, the LSU AgCenter provided over 100 educational opportunities to faculty and staff. The pesticide safety coordinator also attended trainings for professional development of the pesticide program, such as the National PACT meeting and the Southern Region American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators annual meeting. County agents were brought together to discuss private pesticide applicator training methods and improve the overall private pesticide program. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Over 4,000 pesticide applicators attended training throughout the year to better understandhow to use pesticides safely.Educational programs focused on safety of pesticide applicators, their coworkers and the general public, as well as proper use of pesticides tocontrol pests. Information was provided to county agents to be used during private pesticide applicator trainings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Theprogram provided training tocertify that pesticide applicators reached a minimum level of competency to properly, safely and effectively use all pesticides. The focus was to maintain and improve quality pesticide training and certification in Louisiana. Particular attention was paid to environmental protection, clean water, food safety and human health.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: During this reporting period the project focused on establishing a minimum level of competency for Louisiana's pesticide applicators. There were 358 private pesticide applicators and 579 commercial pesticide applicators trained for initial pesticide certification. There were also 2,392 private pesticide applicators and 3,274 commercial pesticide applicators trained for pesticide recertification. There were 200 hundred occupational and 150 homeowner non-certified pesticide applicators also trained. PARTICIPANTS: Kim J. Pope (PI), Karen Nix, county agents and extension specialists, LSU AgCenter; and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. TARGET AUDIENCES: This project worked to reach a minimum level of competency for our private and commercial pesticide applicators in this state. Also, this project educated non-certified pesticide applicators in Louisiana. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The original PI, Karen E. Nix on this project left in December of 2011 and the new PI, Kim J. Pope, took over in March of 2013. The change of PI caused a later start than originally planned.

    Impacts
    The LSU AgCenter's Pesticide Education Program offered high quality programs to certify and recertify private and commercial pesticide applicators. In addition, instruction was offered to Master Gardener classes, pest control technicians, and Worker Protection Standard Trainers that improved their knowledge about safe and proper use of pesticides. New and updated material regarding pesticide rules and regulations was presented to these different audiences. A review of basic, safe and effective use of pesticides was presented in a classroom setting and also in hands-on exercises. New certified applicators were instumented in basic concepts of pesticide safety, pesticide formulations, equipment calibration, interpreting and understand pesticide labels, pesticide calculations, etc.

    Publications

    • No publications reported this period