Dr. Peter Ako Larbi is a Cooperative Extension Specialist in agricultural engineering with UC ANR. As part of his research and extension program, his focus is on developing and promoting best practices for safe, economical, and environmentally sound pesticide application with reduced environmental risks. He is based at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Parlier. 

Prior to joining ANR, Dr. Larbi had been an Assistant Professor of Agricultural Systems Technology in the College of Agriculture at Arkansas State University since 2014. He developed an integrated teaching and research program related to agricultural systems technology; developed and managed research in precision agriculture, agricultural machinery systems, remote sensing and sensor technology; and provided service to the university, college, local community and general scientific community. He held a joint appointment in the Division of Agriculture at University of Arkansas.

From 2012 to 2014, Dr. Larbi was a postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems at Washington State University. From 2011 to 2012, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida Citrus Research and Education Center.

Larbi earned a Ph.D. in agricultural and biological engineering from University of Florida and a M.Sc. and a B.Sc. in agricultural engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana.

Dr. Larbi invites you to kindly take the following needs assessment survey to help him assess outreach, education, and training needs in pesticide spray application to better plan and implement a program that serves the people of California well:

https://ucdavis.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0qvaddZ6Se5QIrr

Please contact him at palarbi@ucanr.edu if you need further information. Thank you very much for your assistance.

UC ANR Statewide IPM Program, Writer/Editor, (530) 750-1237

Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner. If you work in agricultural, turf, landscape, or structural settings, you are probably at your busiest. If you handle pesticides as part of your work, you most likely wear some sort of personal protective equipment (PPE). However, do you know if you are wearing the right type for the job that you do? Wearing the appropriate PPE, taking it off the right way, and correctly cleaning it prevents unnecessary pesticide exposure to yourself and others. Learn the steps so you don't expose your family members or those around you to pesticide residues by viewing a brand new online course on Proper Selection, Use, and Removal of Personal Protective Equipment from the UC Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM).

The course is approved by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) for 1.5 hours in the Laws and Regulations category. This course is designed for all pesticide handlers with the goal to provide them with information on pesticide labels and the California Code of Regulations (CCR) to help them select, wear, remove, and dispose of or store PPE.

In California, all pesticide handlers (applicators, mixers, loaders, those who transport pesticides, or those who fix application equipment) are legally required to wear PPE. However, in order to get the most protection from PPE, it must be used correctly. Violations involving the incorrect use of PPE were the second most commonly reported type of agricultural-use violation in 2017 as reported by DPR (PDF).

The new PPE online course opens with a scenario describing a real example of an accident reported to DPR that led to an incident of pesticide exposure because the correct eye protection was not worn. The content that follows is divided into six instructional modules, highlighting types of PPE, how to select it, and when certain items should be worn. Answer short questions about the different types of PPE. Open pesticide labels to learn how to select the right PPE and learn when certain items should be worn. Short how-to videos and animated sequences demonstrate the proper way to put on or remove items such as gloves, coveralls, respirators, and eyewear. You must pass a final test with 70% or higher to receive your certificate of completion and continuing education hours.

If this is the year to renew your license with DPR, get a jumpstart on it. Take this new course and all the other UC IPM online courses to refresh your knowledge and get the CEUs you need. There is a $30 fee for taking Proper Selection, Use, and Removal of Personal Protective Equipment. You are welcome to view the content for free on YouTube, but without the activities, final exam, and continuing education credit. For more information about license renewal, visit DPR.

Where sufficient habitat is available, wild native bee species often provide all of the pollination services needed for high crop yields and fruit quality. Depending on the species, native bees may nest in underground tunnels, hollow plant stems, and tunnels in wood. Bumble bee colonies favor small cavities under lodged grass, in abandoned rodent burrows, in trees, or old bird nests. These unmanaged pollinators are an on-site natural resource, and unlike honey bees, cannot be moved from the field when pesticides are used. In fact, many ground-nesting species, such as squash bees, long-horned bees, mining bees, and sweat bees, construct their nests in the midst of annual and perennial crop fields. To protect these bees, ensure that drifting pesticides never contact adjacent habitat, even when crops or wildflowers are not in bloom. Scout crop fields, and protect ground nests of solitary bees and bumble bees from insecticide spray. Learn more about managing pesticides and protecting bees at:

UC-IPM: http://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/beeprecaution/

Oregon State University Extension: https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/pnw591.pdf

Xerces Society: www.xerces.org/

Bee Book: http://www.helpabee.org/

(Español abajo)

Registration is now open for Spring 2018 Pesticide Safety Instructor Training workshops

UC IPM is partnering with AgSafe to offer up-to-date instructor training programs that are approved and partly funded by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Updates to the Federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS) that will have the most impact on California pesticide users include:

• Annual pesticide safety training for all fieldworkers
• Instructors in agriculture must attend an updated and approved Train-the-Trainer course, and
• Expanded training content for fieldworkers and pesticide handlers

Upcoming southern California training dates and locations:

Ventura
February 21, 2018

This class will be conducted in ENGLISH
 

Santa Paula
February 23, 2018

This class will be conducted in SPANISH

San Diego 
March 20, 2018
This class will be conducted in SPANISH

Participants who complete this training will become qualified to provide pesticide safety training to fieldworkers and pesticide handlers, as required by California state regulations and the revised Federal Worker Protection Standard (WPS). Visit the workshop website for specific date/location information and to register. Spring 2018 Pesticide Safety Instructor Workshops

(English above)

Se Abrió la Registración para 2018 Capacitaciones de Instructores de Seguridad de Pesticidas

UC IPM en conjunto con AgSafe ofrece un programa actualizado de capacitación para instructores que es aprobado y co-patrocinado por el Departamento de Regulaciones de Pesticidas de California (DPR). Las actualizaciones en el Estándar de Protección del Trabajador (WPS) que tendrán más impacto sobre los que se usan pesticidas en California incluyen:

• Entrenamiento anual de seguridad de pesticidas para los trabajadores
• Instructores en agricultura deben asistir a un curso actualizado y aprobado (Entrenamiento de Entrenadores), y
• Contenido de capacitación ampliado para trabajadores de campo y manipuladores de pesticidas

Próximas fechas y localidades en el sur de California:

Ventura
21 de febrero 2018

Esta clase será en INGLÉS
 

Santa Paula
23 de febrero 2018

Esta clase será en ESPAÑOL

San Diego 
20 de marzo 2018
Esta clase será en ESPAÑOL

Los participantes en este programa serán calificados para entrenar a los trabajadores de campo y a los manipuladores de pesticidas, como es requerido por las regulaciones del estado de California, he incluso el Estándar de Protección del Trabajador revisado por EPA.

Visite el sitio web de capacitaciones para obtener información sobre fechas/localidades y para inscribirse. 2018 Capacitaciones de Instructores de Seguridad de Pesticidas

Thank you, Gracias,

Pesticide Safety Education Program Team

pesticidesafety@ucanr.edu