- Author: Cheryl Reynolds
Summer is nearly here, and recently we've experienced warm weather following a rich rainy season. This is the perfect combination for the luscious growth we see in lawns and landscapes.
Business picks up this time of year for the many maintenance gardeners who are hired to mow lawns, clean up landscapes, or get rid of unwanted insects, diseases, or weeds. What many people may not realize is that maintenance gardeners who apply pesticides as part of their services must be certified by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Even if pesticides are not used often, such as a single herbicide application, a Qualified Applicator...
From the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)
Halloween is upon us, and what better time to resurrect some chilling stories from this year that highlight consumers misusing pesticides with disastrous results!
These cautionary tales are merely a sample of the preventable deaths, unnecessary sicknesses, hospitalizations, and serious injuries reported to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) this year.
Unfortunately, these stories are real – not fiction – and they highlight the importance of heeding warning signs, properly storing pesticides, and following pesticide label...
- Author: Cheryl Reynolds
[From the December 2016 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin]
School is already back in session for many children in districts throughout California, and several others will be starting back to school in the next couple of weeks. While students and teachers were enjoying summer break, an amendment to the Healthy Schools Act (HSA) went into effect on July 1st. It requires teachers, custodians, administrators, other staff or volunteers, and licensed pest management professionals applying any pesticide (this includes disinfectants and...
/span>- Author: Lisa A Blecker
[From the December 2015 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin]
On August 5, 2015, EPA released a proposal to revise the standards for both commercial and private certified pesticide applicators. In California this rule would affect anyone with an applicator certification or license through the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB), or the County Agricultural Commissioner's office (CAC).
Affected licenses include:
- Qualified Applicator Certificate...
- Author: Cheryl Reynolds
The UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) put together a 26-page card set in English and Spanish on understanding pesticide labels. Intended for pesticide handlers, applicators, safety trainers, and pest control advisers (PCAs), the cards explain when to read the label, describe what kind of information can be found in each section of a pesticide label, and point out specific instruction areas so that applicators can apply pesticides safely and avoid illegal pesticide residues.
Traces of pesticide residue are normal and even expected after pesticides are applied to food crops, but by the time produce is ready to be sold,...