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Pesticide Applicator Impact Assessment
| Name | Roy T. Hollingsworth, Jr. | | Situation | The South Carolina Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) program is mandated by the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act of 1972 and the South Carolina Pesticide Control Act of 1975, as amended in 1978. It emphasizes the safe, effective, and legal use of all pesticides. Its primary goal has been the training, certification, and recertification of all sellers and users of restricted-use pesticides in South Carolina. The South Carolina Recertification Program emphasizes groundwater protection, calibration and maintenance of application equipment, new technology, worker safety, endangered species protection, and transportation and disposal. As a mandated program, and because Hampton and Allendale Counties farmers and commercial applicators need their applicator certificates to protect their livelihood, Extension must continue to vigorously carry out a high quality program. Pesticide manuals, video, and workbook modules have been distributed to these two counties in South Carolina to support this program. The success of this program is imperative, if Extension is to adequately protect the public and the environment in Hampton and Allendale Counties from pesticide misuse while insuring the availability of the pesticides needed to protect their health, food and fiber, and maintain their agricultural productivity and profitability.
| | Response | The Area County Extension agent - Pesticide Coordinator collaborated with the Hampton and Allendale Counties Environmental Services and Recycling Centers, the Clemson Extension Pesticide Education Specialist, and the SC Department of Pesticide Regulation to improve the knowledge and attitudes about pesticide use among Hampton and Allendale Counties agriculture producers. This also included the pesticide applicators in these two counties safe and environmentally sound practice use with pesticides. The agent taught (4) Pesticide Recertification Training Sessions reaching 38 pesticide applicators, conducted (2) Pesticide Plastic Container Recycling Pick-Ups reaching 56 producers, and conducted a Pesticide Private Applicator License Training reaching 7 producers. A mailing announcing a Pesticide Recertification Training was sent to 133 of 253 private applicators who had not received the required 5 CCHs to renew their license by December 31, 2004. Two hundred fifty-three private applicators received notice via letter, and the Hampton County Guardian newspaper (circulation of 46,000) about the Pesticide Plastic Container Recycling Pick-Ups. An article on the Pesticide Private Applicator License Training was submitted to The Hampton County Guardian, and a radio announcement on the same training was broadcast on WBHC and WDOG to a listening audience of over 50,000 people.
| | Impact | After participating in the three Extension Pesticide Programs, 29% of the private applicators received their 5 CCHs to renew their license by December 31, 2004. Thirty-five storage bags containing approximately 40 plastic containers were collected at the Environmental Services and Recycling Centers. Each participant received 3 CCHs. One hundred percent of the participants who took the eight-hour Pesticide Private Applicator License Training received their licenses. After participating, there was an average increase of 28% knowledge gain on the safe use of pesticides.
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Last update6/26/2007
This website is maintained by Lisa Terry.
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