Coordinator's Comments ------------- -------- Happy New Year! I hope that your holidays were filled with fun, laughter, and joy. My hope is that 1996 will be a year that is safe and successful for you, your families, and your customers. Congratulations Dr. Alan Dexter, Extension Sugarbeet Weed Specialist, Extension Service, NDSU & U of MN on becoming the President of the North Central Weed Science Society for 1996. Dr. Patricia Berglund for becoming the new director for the Northern Crops Institute. Al Lingen, Cenex/Land O' Lakes, Mantador, ND on becoming the North Dakota dealer of the year. Orin Slettebak, Sheyenne Valley Grain, McVille, ND on becoming the North Dakota applicator of the year. North Dakota Commissioner of Agriculture Sarah Vogel presented Al and Orin their awards at the North Dakota Agricultural Association meeting in Fargo on November 30. Both Al and Orin have worked hard to make that extra effort to run operations that they can be proud of; operations that show respect for people and the environment. We each need to make an effort to improve ourselves and our operations. It is a challenge we must meet. Do you make the effort it takes to be an applicator or dealer of the year? Try hard! Maybe the 1996 applicator or dealer of the year will be YOU! Congratulations and Best Wishes to Wayne Colberg Wayne was presented with an award and a lifetime membership with the North Dakota Weed Control Association. Wayne is retiring from his position as Executive Secretary of the association. The entire state should be deeply grateful for Wayne's efforts to control noxious weeds in North Dakota. Best wishes Wayne. Randy Mehlhoff, NDSU Extension Agent for Eddy County will be assuming the NDWCA Executive Secretary responsibilities, and we wish him well, also. Best Wishes to Brendan Donnelly Dr. Brendan Donnelly has resigned as NDSU vice president of agriculture and outreach. Brendan will continue to serve NDSU in research, teaching, and public service activities. President Thomas Plough has asked Don Anderson, professor emeritus, to provide assistance and leadership on an interim part time basis until a permanent replacement is installed. Best wishes in the future, Brendan. Project Safe Send Update The Project Safe Send advisory board met on December 28. The board approved several measures concerning the program. Most important of the measures was that a waste pesticide collection program would be conducted in July 1996. The deadline for preregistration will be May 1, 1996. The cost of pesticide disposal has declined for collection programs like Project Safe Send so there should be enough funding to handle any waste pesticides that are preregistered. If you or someone you know has banned, waste, or unusable pesticides, get them preregistered with the ND Department of Agriculture (NDDA). Preregistration forms are available from the nearest NDSU Extension Service county office or from NDDA. If you have any questions contact Judy Carlson at the NDDA at 800-242-7535. EPA Ammends Worker Protection Standard EPA has ammended portions of the worker protection standard effective January 1, 1996. Please read the WPS article in the Law section. Time to get recertified Please check your certification card to make sure that your certification card will not expire on April 1, 1996. If the box next to your certification category is 96, your card will expire on April 1, 1996. Make arrangements to get recertified now. Recertification meetings that have been scheduled are listed in the training section.