North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service

Volume 23, No. 4
October 2005

In this issue . . .

EPA Recognizes Ag Department Effort in Cyanide Recovery
CropLife America Disappointed With 8th Circuit Ruling 
Coordinator's Comments 
Invitation to the N.D. Section 18 Exemption and Pesticide Registration Meeting
Beulah Man Ordered to Stop Pesticide Applications
2005-06 Commercial Pesticide Certification Calendar
Worker Protection Standard Workshops
DRIFTSIM _ Predicting Drift Distances of Spray Droplets 
Certified Crop Adviser Continuing Education Units Available
Tons of Unusable Pesticides Removed From State
PBS Program on Drift and California Suburbia
The Drift Catcher 
Centers for Disease Control Reports on Chemical Exposure
Insect resistance! Nonsusceptibility! Super bugs!
Commercial Pesticide Certification Form
 

EPA Recognizes Ag Department Effort in Cyanide Recovery

BISMARCK - The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) and nine of its employees have been recognized by the federal government for their efforts in the investigation of the illegal use of sodium cyanide in the state.

Robert E. (Robbie) Roberts, Denver, Region 8 administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, presented letters of commendation Wednesday to Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson; Jeff Olson, Bismarck, plant industries program manager; Gerald Thompson, Bismarck, pesticide enforcement coordinator; Jim Gray, Bismarck, pesticide registration coordinator; inspectors Dave Harshe, Killdeer; Doug Johnston, Velva; Ken MacDonald, Hoople; Brad Meckle, Center; and Joel Owen, Valley City; and former inspector Julie O'Hara-Tronson, Crary.

"Thanks to your efforts, the source of the sodium cyanide was quickly identified, its distribution traced, and the unused sodium cyanide recovered and disposed of in a proper manner," Roberts said. "As a result of your quick and thorough investigation, a significant risk to human health was averted."

Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson also presented certificates of recognition to the nine employees.

"North Dakotans should be proud of the way their pesticide enforcement people handled this very serious situation," Johnson said. "The response was quick and efficient, and the follow-up investigation was very thorough."

The incident involved the loss of three containers of highly poisonous sodium cyanide in October 2004. After extensive ground and aerial searches, the final barrel was found in a water-filled ditch along Highway 1 near Brocket about two weeks after it was reported missing.

As a result of the investigation, 11 companies and individuals were assessed more than $108,000 in civil penalties for violations of state pesticide laws stemming from the incident, including human endangerment, transport and distribution, and improper disposal of hazardous waste containers. Beekeepers were also cited in other states in enforcement actions based on information from NDDA.

Johnson said all but one of the North Dakota cases have been resolved. A hearing is pending involving EnviroKem, Washburn, which is charged with 54 counts of illegal distribution of a pesticide. (A summary of the violations and penalties is below.)

Sodium Cyanide Enforcement Summary

Name	Address	Penalty
Maxwell, Mason	Turtle Lake	$1,500 paid; $1,500 suspended 2 years
Natwick, Ernest	Bantry	$3,000 paid; $3,000 suspended 2 years
Leiting, Joe	Fertile, Minn.	$2,000 paid; $12,500 paid over 2 years; $14,500 suspended 2 years
Roeder, John and Paul	Dixon, Neb.	$4,736 paid to Devils Lake Fire Department and Devils Lake Rural Fire Department; $14,632 paid over 2 years; $14,632 suspended 2 years
Charles, Chris	Carrington	$3,000 paid
Charles, Mitch	Bordulac	$1,000 paid
Thompson, Lonnie	New Rockford	$3,000 paid; $3,000 suspended
Gunter, Richard	Bismarck	$4,500 paid; $4,500 suspended 2 years
Ed's Honey	Dickinson	$6,000 paid over 2 years; $6,000 suspended 2 years
Perkins, Doug	Aneta	$3,500 paid over 2 years; $3,500 suspended 2 years
EnviroKem (Randy Salli)	Washburn	$54,000; hearing pending

  TOTAL           $54,632 paid
                          $50,632 suspended
                          $4,736 paid to Devils Lake Fire Department and Devils Lake Rural Fire Department for expenses incurred

CropLife America Disappointed With 8th Circuit Ruling

Washington, D.C. - In reaction to the Aug. 15 decision of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a pesticide label pre-emption issue, CropLife America, on behalf of its membership of pesticide manufacturers and distributors, is "gravely disappointed" with the ruling.

In the case of Wuebker v. Wilbur-Ellis Co., the appeals court ruled that a farmer who ignored pesticide label instructions to wear personal protective equipment when applying the product was not pre-empted by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) from suing the manufacturer. CLA had filed an amicus brief in the case on behalf of the manufacturer.

Doug Nelson, CropLife America's general counsel, said, "The 8th Circuit's decision takes the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Bates v. Dow AgroSciences federal pre-emption case unfortunately in a new direction. This decision essentially states that label instructions for a pesticide product can be ignored at the peril of the manufacturer, not the user who blatantly disregards the use instructions. Our industry lives by the mandate, `Follow the Label - It's the Law,' and this decision
seems oblivious to that principle."

In its eight-page decision, the three-judge panel said, "The goal of safety, moreover, may well be better served by allowing product liability suits by plaintiffs who have not followed the labels' instructions: such suits would provide manufacturers with the proper incentive to manufacture and sell safe pesticides …"

This ruling ignores the fact that the pesticide label was developed specifically by the manufacturer and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as guidance for the safe and effective use of the product. "Using the court's logic," Nelson said, "the decision begs the question: Why have personal protective equipment requirements on the label? For that matter, why have any instructions on the label at all?"

Established in 1933, CropLife America represents the developers, manufacturers, formulators and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the United States. CropLife America's member companies produce, sell and distribute virtually all the crop protection and biotechnology products used by American farmers. Contact CLA at: (202) 872-3840 or anoe@croplifeamerica.org. 

COORDINATOR'S COMMENTS

The cool winds of fall mark the beginning of the pesticide certification training season. This year is no exception, but by the time you read this issue of the Pesticide Quarterly (PQ), we already will have conducted half a dozen trainings. We are starting much earlier than in years past because we have a very aggressive calendar. This PQ is chock-full of news, notices and opportunities, so read it carefully, especially if you will need to participate in trainings this year to maintain your certificate.

Some of the high points you should take note of are:

• If your certification category expires April 1, 2006, you will need to participate in a training session, complete a home-study correspondence course (minor categories only) and/or take a monitored exam to obtain a new three-year certificate.

• Pre-registrations are required for all trainings in 2005-06. If you do not preregister, there is no guarantee you will get in the door.

• Nine worker protection standard workshops are being offered for owners and managers of businesses that apply agricultural-use pesticides.

• Certified crop adviser credits again will be offered for our commercial agricultural pest trainings.

In this issue of the PQ, you will find a small news release from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) regarding the suspension of an applicator's certificate. Nothing is special about this person; this just marks the beginning of a new NDDA policy regarding notifying the industry of these actions. From now on,
the department intends to make these suspensions public.

Elsewhere in the PQ is a response to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Wuebker v. Wilbur-Ellis Co. from Crop Life America. I could use many unkind adjectives and adverbs to describe what this three-judge panel did, but I do not want to ruin it for you. Read the article and you will understand my displeasure.

Finally, kudos to the folks at the NDDA for the job they did on the sodium cyanide incident. They have a very tough and very thankless job, but they are dedicated nonetheless. They really are the thin line that keeps the general public satisfied that we are using pesticides in an appropriate manner. Without them, the result would be chaos and serious calls for Congress to eliminate pesticides.

Best regards,
Andrew A. Thostenson
Pesticide program specialist

Invitation to the North Dakota Section 18 Exemption and Pesticide Registration Meeting

The sixth annual North Dakota Section 18 exemption and pesticide registration meeting has been scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005. As in previous years, the meeting will take place in the Brynhild Haugland Room at the North Dakota Capitol in Bismarck. This meeting is open to the public and is for anyone interested in FIFRA Section 18 emergency exemptions and pesticide registrations.

The purpose of this meeting is to:

1) Discuss the Section 18 exemptions from the 2005 growing season, including product performance and the effectiveness of each exemption in controlling the target emergency pest problem

2) Identify new or emerging pest problems in North Dakota or the region that may require a Section 18 exemption for the following growing season

3) Prioritize and plan our Section 18 exemption requests for the 2006 growing season

4) Discuss and update meeting participants on recent and pending pesticide registration actions with an impact on North Dakota agriculture

5) Brief participants of relevant pesticide regulatory issues

As in past years, a representative from Environmental Protection Agency's Registration Division has been invited. Based on the positive feedback that I received on EPA participation in the past, I am hopeful that a representative from EPA will be able to attend to discuss Section 18 exemptions and pesticide policy issues from a national perspective and update participants of pertinent pesticide regulatory issues.

I am asking commodity group representatives and growers to come prepared with their Section 18 exemption "wish lists" for the 2006 growing season. As we have done in the past, we will discuss the effectiveness of each Section 18 exemption from 2005 in managing the target emergency pest. We also will discuss new and emerging pest problems in North Dakota that may require a Section 18 exemption next year. NDSU Extension Service personnel will be present to offer their input.

Pesticide registrant representatives have been asked to provide a short briefing on recent and pending pesticide registration actions with an impact on North Dakota agriculture. These discussions may include recent or pending Section 3 registrations, permanent tolerances that may facilitate issuance of Special Local Needs (SLN) registrations or other pertinent information. In many cases, these registration actions may preclude the need for a Section 18 exemption in 2006.

Participants are welcome and encouraged to use audiovisual equipment and/or handouts. Both overhead and LCD projectors will be available. Dress for the meeting is casual.

For planning purposes, all commodity group and industry representatives should respond to me by Wednesday, Nov. 2, if they will be able to attend.

Please note that this is a public meeting and all interested parties are welcome to attend. Therefore, feel free to forward this meeting notice to anybody who has an
interest in pesticide registrations and emergency exemptions.

I thank each of you for your participation in the fall meeting. To date, this meeting has been a big success, and the high rate of approval of our Section 18 exemption requests is directly linked to the planning that occurs each fall. I hope that this success continues. Please contact me, Jim Gray, pesticide registration coordinator, at (701) 328-1505 with any questions or concerns.

Beulah Man Ordered to Stop Pesticide Applications

BISMARCK - A Beulah pesticide applicator has been ordered to stop doing business until he can prove financial responsibility.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) suspended Jason Kusmenko's pesticide applicator's certificate on Sept. 12. NDDA also ordered Kusmenko to "cease and desist any pesticide applications."

Kusmenko does business as Kusmenko Kustom Farming.

Kusmenko's certificate is suspended indefinitely until he can prove satisfaction of all judgments against him, as well as proof of financial responsibility. Any applications made during the suspension are violations of the North Dakota Pesticide Act and subject to civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

2005-06 Commercial Pesticide Certification Calendar

Here are schedules you can use for planning your training needs in the next several months.

Preregistration is required for all trainings. If you do not preregister, there is no guarantee you will get in the door.

When you preregister, you will receive a $10 discount. A training registration/nontraining study material form is included in this issue of the PQ. Preregistration forms must be postmarked 10 days prior to the training date to receive the discount.

Online preregistration is also available on the Web through our secure server. Electronic preregistration forms for downloading and printing are at www.ndsupesticide.org. 

Initial trainings are designed for new applicators or dealers needing to prepare to take certification exams. Recertification trainings are structured to give certified applicators the information necessary to maintain or renew their certificates.

Nontraining home-study materials are available for those categories that are not on the training calendar.

AgPest, Right-of-Way, Seed Treatment, and Research & Demonstration

Date	Type	Time	Location
Nov. 17, 2005	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m.; Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Williston, Research Extension Center, 14120 Hwy 2
Nov. 29-30, 2005;	Recertification	11/29-Registration 11 a.m.-1 p.m.,	Fargo, Fargodome, 1800 University Drive N.
Northern Ag Expo		Training 1 p.m.-5 p.m.;
must attend both days;		11/30 Training 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 6, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Minot, International Inn, 1505 N Broadway
Feb. 7-8, 2006	Initial	2/7-Registration 1 p.m., Training 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m.;	Minot, International Inn, 1505 N Broadway
		2/8-Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Feb. 14, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Fargo, Cass County Extension, 1010 2 Ave. S.
Feb. 14, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Fessenden, Wells County Extension, 600 Railway St. N.
Feb. 14, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Mohall, Renville County Extension, 205 Main St E.
Feb. 16, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Devils Lake, Ramsey County Courthouse, 524 4 Ave. N.E.
Feb. 16, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	LaMoure, LaMoure County Extension, 202 4 Ave. N.W.
Feb. 16, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Watford City, McKenzie County Courthouse,
			201 5 St. N.W.
Feb. 21-22, 2006;	Aerial App. ONLY;	TBA*;	Sioux Falls, SD, Sheraton Hotel, 1211 N West Ave.
NDAAA Convention	Recertification
must attend both days
Feb. 28, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Mandan, Seven Seas Hotel, 2611 Old Red Trail
March 3, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Grafton, St.John's Catholic Parish Center,
			1515 Western Ave.
March 7, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Dickinson, Holiday Inn Express, 103 14 St W
March 13-14	Initial	3/13-Registration 1 p.m., Training 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m.;	Fargo, NDSU, Memorial Union Ballroom
		3/14-Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
March 27, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Devils Lake, Ramsey County Courthouse, 524 4 Ave
March 30, 2006	Recertification	Registration 8 a.m., Training 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.	Fargo, Ramada Plaza Suites, 1636 42 St SW

Fumigation

Greenhouse and Ornamental & Turf

Home, Industrial & Institutional

Public Health

Right of Way ONLY

*TBA To be announced in a future issue of the Pesticide Quarterly newsletter.

Worker Protection Standard Workshops

The NDSU Pesticide Program and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture are sponsoring nine workshops on the worker protection standard (WPS).
The workshops are targeted toward managers and owners of businesses who custom apply agricultural-use pesticides.

These workshops are not part of the certification program, but are educational opportunities designed to help participants be in compliance with WPS. Call
the NDSU Extension Pesticide Program with any questions at (701) 231-7180.

Workshop topics will include:

WPS - what is it and why is it relevant; regulatory requirements - protecting workers and handlers; components for workers and handlers; pesticide
application notification; what inspectors have found; what inspectors are looking for; enforcement policy for noncompliance; resources

Registration 9 a.m.   •   Training 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nov. 15, 2005	Jan. 10, 2006	April 5, 2006
Bismarck	Minot	Grand Forks
Burleigh County Extension Office	Research Extension Center	Grand Forks County Extension Office
3715 Bismarck Expressway E.	5400 Highway 83 S.	151 4th St. S., Suite 302
Watford City	Fargo	Carrington
McKenzie County Courthouse	Cass County Extension Office	Research Extension Center
201 5th St. N.W.	1010 2nd Ave. S.	663 Highway 281 N.
Fargo	Cavalier	Wahpeton
Cass County Extension Service	Pembina County Extension Office	Richland County Courthouse
1010 2nd Ave. S.	301 Dakota St. W., No. 7	418 2nd Ave. N.

 Workshop Fee - $25 per person

Worker Protection Kit available at training for $70

Worker Protection Kit includes:
Training CD (containing videos, presentations and publications), EPA compliance manual, worker manual, handler manual, central posting kit, notification records, field sign, fact sheets from EPA

Please preregister 10 days before the workshop to reserve a seat.

Worker Protection Standard Workshop - Preregistration Form

(Please print)

Name _________________________________________________Phone _________________

Address (C/S/Z) ____________________________________________________________________

I will attend the following workshop: Date ____/____/____City ________________________

Include $25 Workshop Fee

Make checks payable to: NDSU Extension Pesticide Program
(If paying by personal check, the State of North Dakota requires your birthdate on the check)

Return to: NDSU Extension Pesticide Program, P.O. Box 5051, Fargo, ND 58105-5051

DRIFTSIM - Predicting Drift Distances of Spray Droplets

The "DRIFTSIM - Predicting Drift Distances of Spray Droplets" software is available for purchase from the Ohio State University Extension Service.

DRIFTSIM is a simplified and user-friendly version of a computer model developed to interpolate values from a large database of drift distances. DRIFTSIM can be used to determine effects of major drift-causing factors on the mean drift distances up to
656 feet from the release point for individual water droplets or classes of droplets. These factors or variables used in DRIFTSIM are listed in
Table 1, with the limiting values acceptable to DRIFTSIM.

Table 1.Variables and their ranges used in DRIFTSIM program.

 

Wind velocity	0 to 22 mph
Droplet size	10 to 2,000 Micron (ìm)
Droplet velocity	0 to 110 mph
Discharge height	0 to 6.5 feet
Temperature	50 to 86 F
Relative humidity	10 to 100 percent

Go to http://ohioline.osu.edu/b923/pdf/b923.pdf  for a PDF file of the manual for the "DRIFTSIM - Predicting Drift Distances of Spray Droplets" software.

The cost is $10, plus shipping and handling.

Out-of-state residents/customers should fax an order on letterhead to (614) 292-1248 or mail it to Ohio State University, Communications and Technology, Media Distribution, 385 Kottman Hall, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1044.

Orders from academic institutions require a purchase order mailed to the above address, a faxed purchase order, a purchase order number included on your faxed letterhead request, or your Visa or MasterCard number and expiration date.

Please be sure to include your (club/group/organization) name, street address and phone number with your order.

Certified Crop Adviser Continuing Education Units Available at Commercial Pesticide Applicator Trainings

The NDSU Extension Service Pesticide Program is offering certified crop advisers the opportunity to obtain their continuing education units (CEUs) at commercial pesticide training sessions.

Please note that you must attend 100 percent of the training to receive your CEU credits. No exceptions allowed!

Certified Crop Adviser Credits from the NDSU Extension Pesticide Program

Date	Times	Location	CEU Breakdown
Nov. 17, 2005	Registration 8 a.m.	Williston -Research Extension	Soil & Water Mgmt. - 1.5
6 Credits	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.	Center, 14120 Highway 2	Pest Mgmt. - 2
			Professional Dev. - 2.5
Nov. 29-30, 2005	Nov. 29:	Fargo - Fargodome
(must attend	Reg.11 a.m. to 1 p.m.	1800 N. University Drive	Soil & Water Mgmt - 1.5
both days)	Training 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.		Pest Mgmt - 2
6 Credits	Nov. 30:		Professional Dev. - 2.5
	Training 8 a.m. to noon
Feb. 6, 2006	Registration 8 a.m.	Minot International Inn	Soil & Water Mgmt - 1.5
6 Credits	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.	1505 N. Broadway	Pest Mgmt - 2
			3Professional Dev. - 2.5
Feb. 7-8, 2006	Feb. 7:	Minot International Inn	Soil & Water Mgmt - 2
(must attend	Registration 1 p.m.	1505 N. Broadway	Pest Mgmt - 2.5
both days)	Training 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.		Professional Dev. - 3.5
8 Credits	Feb. 8:
	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Feb. 14, 2006	Registration 8 a.m.	Fargo - Cass County Extension	Soil & Water Mgmt - 1.5
6 Credits	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.	Office, 1010 2nd Ave. S.	Pest Mgmt - 2
		Mohall - Renville County	Professional Dev. - 2.5
		Extension Office, 205 Main St. E.
		Fessenden - Wells County
		Extension Office, 600 Railway St. N.
Feb. 16, 2006	Registration 8 a.m.	Watford City - McKenzie County	Soil & Water Mgmt - 1.5
6 Credits	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.	Courthouse, 201 5th St. N.W.	Pest Mgmt - 2
		LaMoure - LaMoure County	Professional Dev. - 2.5
		Extension Office, 202 4th Ave. N.W.
		Devils Lake - Ramsey County
		Courthouse, 524 4th Ave. N.E.

 

Date	Times	Location	CEU Breakdown
Feb. 28, 2006	Registration 8 a.m.	Mandan - Seven Seas Motel	Soil & Water Mgmt - 1.5
6 Credits	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.	2611 Old Red Trail	Pest Mgmt - 2
			Professional Dev. - 2.5
March 3, 2006	Registration 8 a.m.	Grafton - St. John's Catholic	Soil & Water Mgmt - 1.5
6 Credits	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.	Parish Center, 1515 Western Ave.	Pest Mgmt - 2
			Professional Dev. - 2.5
March 7, 2006	Registration 8 a.m.	Dickinson - Holiday Inn Express,	Soil & Water Mgmt - 1.5
6 Credits	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.	103 14th St. W.	Pest Mgmt - 2
			Professional Dev. - 2.5
March 13-14, 2006	March 13:	Fargo - NDSU Memorial Union	Soil & Water Mgmt - 2
(must attend	Registration 1 p.m.	Ballroom	Pest Mgmt - 2.5
both days)	Training 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.		Professional Dev. - 3.5
8 Credits	March 14:
	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
March 27, 2006	Registration 8 a.m.	Devils Lake - Ramsey County	Soil & Water Mgmt - 1.5
6 Credits	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.	Courthouse, 524 4th Ave. N.E.	Pest Mgmt - 2
			Professional Dev. - 2.5
March 30, 2006	Registration 8 a.m.	Fargo - Ramada Plaza Suites,	Soil & Water Mgmt - 1.5
6 Credits	Training 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.	1636 42nd St. S.W.	Pest Mgmt - 2
			Professional Dev. - 2.5

Fees for attending a session are as follows:

$ 5 per credit for crop advisers who also are attending for commercial pesticide certification
$10 per credit for crop advisers who are attending for CEUs only

Please preregister 10 days before a training to ensure adequate space at each location. See schedule.
Call the NDSU Extension Pesticide Program with any questions at (701) 231-7180.

Certified Crop Adviser - CEU Preregistration 2005-06

Include Fee

(Please print)

Name ____________________________

Phone ___________________________

Address ___________________________

City ______________________________

State________Zip _______________

I will attend the following workshop -

Date ___/___/___ City ____________

Fee

Attending for CEUs only?

____ credits

x 10

Total $______

Attending for pesticide certification also?

____ credits

x 5

Total $______

Make checks payable to:  NDSU Extension Pesticide Program

(If paying by personal check, the State of North Dakota requires your birthdate on the check)

Return to:
NDSU Extension Pesticide Program
P.O. Box 5051
Fargo, ND 58105-5051

Tons of Unusable Pesticides Removed From State

BISMARCK - More than 85 tons of unusable pesticides, including DDT, mercury, arsenic and other dangerous chemicals, were collected and shipped out of state through Project Safe Send in 2005.

"This is the second largest collection in the 15-year history of Project Safe Send, both in terms of the amount of pesticides and the number of participants," said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. "More than 450 people took part in this year's collections, bringing in nearly 173,000 pounds of waste pesticides."

The 2002 collection took in the largest amount of waste pesticides - 190,759 pounds - while the 2003 program drew the largest number of participants - 460.

Project Safe Send collections were conducted in 16 communities this year, compared to eight last year, when budget considerations forced a down-scaling of the program. The 2005 Legislature restored full funding of the program.

"These numbers convincingly demonstrate the continued need for Project Safe Send," Johnson said. "I think we can all be glad the Legislature saw that need and fully funded the program for the current biennium."

The Grand Forks collection was the largest in 2005, with 47 people bringing in 32,548 pounds of unusable pesticides. At Casselton, 41 people brought in 30,716 pounds, and in Minot, 20,415 pounds were brought in by 38 people.

Onyx Environmental Services of Blaine, Minn., collected and repackaged the waste pesticides before transporting them out of state for incineration.

Since 1992, nearly 5,000 participants have used Project Safe Send to safely get rid of almost 1.8 million pounds of unusable pesticides, including DDT, arsenic and mercury compounds.

Project Safe Send is funded through the fees paid by pesticide manufacturers to register their products in North Dakota.

		Pounds
Site	Participants	Collected
Ashley	11	3,041
Bismarck	31	5,699
Cando	24	7,142
Casselton	41	30,716
Cooperstown	29	9,005
Dickinson	26	2,930
Garrison	24	3,901
Grafton	27	12,332
Grand Forks	47	32,548
Harvey	25	12,519
Litchville	30	6,919
Medina	21	4,369
Minot	38	20,415
Mott	12	1,982
Wahpeton	29	8,093
Williston	37	11,180
Total	452	172,791

PBS Program on Drift and California Suburbia

On Aug. 19, the Pesticide Action Network of North America (PANNA) was featured on the television show "NOW," hosted by David Brancaccio on PBS. The segment focused on the perils of pesticides for people living and working in agricultural areas, and what PANNA and partner groups are doing to fight pesticide drift.

Here is how NOW describes the segment:

"As more and more homes are being built close to farmland, some Americans have found themselves living in what concerned citizens have described as a `toxic soup' of pesticides. With spraying accidents that have left children sick, and with questions about the long-term effects of pesticide exposure, some residents believe that regulators have done too little to protect them. NOW goes on the ground in California farm country, the most productive agricultural land in the world, to report on the strict pesticide regulations that officials there say are sometimes hard to enforce and to examine the efforts of local communities to protect their own backyards from pesticide drift."

The NOW segment, "Toxic Suburbs" (Item No. NOWD6133, air date: 8/19/2005), is available on DVD from http://pbs.org  for $19.99.

PANNA works to replace pesticide use with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives. As one of five PAN regional centers worldwide, we link local and international consumer, labor, health, environmental and agriculture groups into an international citizens' action network. This network challenges the global proliferation of pesticides, defends basic rights to health and environmental quality, and works to insure the transition to a just and viable society. Contact information: (415) 981-1771 or panna@panna.org 

The Drift Catcher

The Pesticide Action Network of North America (PANNA) has developed a user-friendly and accurate air monitoring device called the Drift Catcher to measure the concentration of pesticides in the air. Sampling done with the Drift Catcher follows standard National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) protocols.

The Drift Catcher can help communities learn more about the pesticides in the air at locations such as homes, workplaces, farms, schools or parks. It also can test the air inside buildings. Here are some examples of the kinds of studies the Drift Catcher can do:

• Show that pesticides are present or absent in the air in a specific location, i.e., near a school, playground or residential area or inside a building

• Document how long pesticides stay in the air after they are applied

• Document the levels of pesticides in the air and compare them to reference exposure levels (RELs) set by government agencies

• Document the relationship between the distance from the place where the pesticides are applied and the amount of pesticides in the air

PANNA's primary goal in using the Drift Catcher is to document situations in which airborne pesticide drift may be problematic. We plan to use the data collected to push for change in pesticide use laws and policies. We also will find out where airborne pesticides may not be a problem and where most of our efforts for change should be focused.

Because organized groups are most effective in making change, PANNA is prioritizing Drift Catcher projects involving groups who are willing to work for change. At this point, we do not have the resources to work with individuals.

If you think the Drift Catcher might help your group achieve its goals for local, state or national change, please fill out our Drift Catcher suitability form. We will review it and let you know if your proposed project is a good fit for the Drift Catcher and if we or one of our partner groups can fit your project into our schedules.

Download our Drift Catcher planning packet to find out more.

www.panna.org/campaigns/docsDrift/DCPPTechnicalEng.pdf 

Contact information

If you would like more information about the Drift Catcher, contact us at driftcatcher@panna.org. 

PANNA (Pesticide Action Network of North America) works to replace pesticide use with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives. As one of five PAN regional centers worldwide, we link local and international consumer, labor, health, environmental and agriculture groups into an international citizens' action network. This network challenges the global proliferation of pesticides, defends basic rights to health and environmental quality, and works to insure the transition to a just and viable society.

The Drift Catcher can help communities learn more about the pesticides in the air at locations such as homes, workplaces, farms, schools or parks.

Centers for Disease Control Reports on Chemical Exposure

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released its regular report on human exposure to 148 chemicals in the environment.

Overall, the findings show that exposure to certain chemicals appears to be decreasing, and a vast majority has no evidence of adverse health effects with humans. However, the report stated that exposure to pyrethroids (a common class of insecticides) and phthalates (a compound use in plastics) are areas that need more focused research.

In the area of pesticides, the report showed fewer exposures to chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides - aldrin, endrin and dieldrin - that no longer are registered for use.

The report indicates concern about exposure in children to some organophosphate insecticides (where home use has been restricted recently) and pyrethroids.

Measurable levels of DEET, widely used as mosquito repellent, were found in about 5 percent of the U.S. population, but the CDC does not see this as a health risk.

More information about the report is available at www.cdc.gov/exposurereport. 

Insect resistance! Nonsusceptibility! Super bugs!

Call it what you want, but the simple fact is, grain storage insects aren't dying the way they used to. We're starting to reap the harvest sown with the seeds of poor fumigation practices. Scientists have known for years what goes into controlling insect populations with phosphine - time, temperature and concentration.

Too often applicators have taken shortcuts that led to increased resistance among native insect populations. Inadequate sealing probably is the biggest culprit.
Once again, the scientists had it right. One of the "laws" of gases is: A gas fills its container, and its shape conforms to the shape of the container that it fills. What does that have to do with sealing, you ask? Simple: A gas continues to expand until a physical barrier, such as the walls of the structure or the plastic with which you sealed a door or window, stop its expansion.

The poorer the sealing, the more porous the barrier. The more porous the barrier, the lower the concentration. The lower the concentration, the less time the insects are exposed to a lethal fumigant concentration. If you aren't containing a lethal concentration of the fumigant within the structure for the required exposure period,
then you're fogging, not fumigating.

If inadequate sealing is the biggest culprit in the creation of resistant insects, then abbreviated exposure periods run a close second. Just because the label lists a minimum exposure period, don't assume that you can achieve 100 percent control using that time period. Governmental bodies that register pesticides generally don't look for efficacy; they determine what is necessary to use the product safely and let the marketplace determine the proper dosage and exposure constraints.
So if you're using low dosages and abbreviated exposure periods, you're helping create resistant insects.

Degesch America Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of phosphine fumigants, is offering test kits that can measure, on-site, insect resistance to phosphine. This will allow applicators to take the guesswork out of dosage calculations by accurately predicting insect susceptibility to specific phosphine concentrations. For more information, contact the company at (800) 330-2525 or info@degeschamerica.com. 

Click Here For Commercial Pesticide Certification Form

Contact:

NDSU Pesticide Training and Certification Program
Box 5051, Fargo, ND 58105-5051
Tel: (701) 231-7180
Fax: (701) 231-5907
E-mail: pesticid@ndsuext.nodak.edu 
Internet: www.ndsupesticide.org 

This newsletter may be copied for noncommercial, educational purposes in its entirety with no changes. Requests to use any portion of the document (including text, graphics or photos) should be sent toNDSU.permission@ndsu.edu.  Include exactly what is requested for use and how it will be used.

County Commissions, North Dakota State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Duane Hauck, Director, Fargo, North Dakota. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. We offer our programs and facilities to all persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability, age, veteran's status or sexual orientation; and are an equal opportunity institution. This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with disabilities upon request, (701) 231-7881.

North Dakota State University
NDSU Extension Service

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