September 12, 2011 – Today scientists with the Weed Science Society of
America (WSSA), the American Phytopathological Society (APS) and the Entomological Society
of America (ESA) expressed concern about the precarious state of the U.S. Pesticide Safety
Education Program (PSEP). Funding for the program has plummeted in recent years and is now
in danger of evaporating completely.
As the nation’s primary pesticide applicator training and education program, PSEP is
responsible for ensuring the safety of applicators, other workers and the public, for protecting
the environment and for providing guidance in the proper use and security of pesticides.
“In addition to certifying applicators and delivering education on the safe use of pesticides, the
program today is tasked to provide guidance on a wide range of pesticide-related topics – from
avoiding spray drift and minimizing development of pest resistance to protecting endangered
species,” says Lee Van Wychen, science policy director for WSSA.
Collectively, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) are responsible for ensuring that the nation’s pesticide training needs are
met. Since 1965, federal funds to support PSEP and its coordinators have been provided
annually by EPA through USDA’s Cooperative Extension System. In fiscal year 2000, for
example, EPA provided $1.9 million for PSEP, but in fiscal year 2011, EPA funding has been
eliminated.
The only remaining source of federal funding for PSEP is $500,000 mandated by the Pesticide
Registration Improvement Renewal Act (PRIA II), which translates to only $10,000 per state.
However, this funding will end in fiscal year 2012 when the statutory authority of PRIA II
expires. To compound the problem, most states have significantly reduced their funding for the
personnel and basic services needed to support pesticide education through the Cooperative
Extension System.
Statistics show close to 900,000 private and commercial applicators holding PSEP certification
in 2010, including more than 100,000 new certifications and more than 225,000 applicators
pursuing recertification. In addition, the program has educated more than a million other
pesticide users.
“With nearly a 75 percent reduction in federal support for PSEP over the past decade, there is
no question that states will not be able to deliver the same quality of PSEP training or to certify
the same number of individuals,” says Carol Ishimaru, APS president.
Earlier today, WSSA released a technical paper on PSEP that addresses its history, goals and
funding. The paper also discusses proposed ideas for ensuring more stable financial resources
for PSEP in the future. Examples include:
- Allocating additional dollars from federal and state pesticide product registration fees to cover education on the proper use of pesticides.
- Pursuing grants from pesticide companies, commodity groups, conservation groups and others with an interest in pesticide safety education.
- Changing policies, regulations and statutes to better support funding. For example, most states direct fines for improper use of pesticides into their general funds. These dollars would be an especially appropriate source of support for pesticide safety education.
“There is no one solution to the increasingly precarious state of the Pesticide Safety Education
Program,” Van Wychen says. “A grassroots effort is needed by stakeholders at the state and
national level to overcome policy and regulatory impediments and to ensure the program’s
sustainability and focus.”
The WSSA technical paper on pesticide safety education is available on the WSSA website:
View the technical paper.
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About the Weed Science Society of America:
The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit professional society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning
weeds and their impact on the environment. The Weed Science Society of America promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides
science-based information to the public and policy makers, and fosters awareness of weeds and their impacts on managed and natural ecosystems,
and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit
www.wssa.net.
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About the American Phytopathological Society:
The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is a nonprofit, professional scientific
organization. The research of the organization’s more than 5,000 worldwide members advances
the understanding of the science of plant pathology and its application to plant health. For
more information, visit
www.apsnet.org.
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About the Entomological Society of America:
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) is the largest organization in the world serving the
professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in
1889, ESA today has more than 6,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health
agencies, private industry and government. Members are researchers, teachers, extension
service personnel, administrators, marketing representatives, research technicians, consultants,
students and hobbyists. For more information, visit
www.entsoc.org.
