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School IPM Manual Now Included in PAT Training Packets - March 2004
March 16, 2004
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Individuals studying to become certified pesticide applicators for parks and schools now have access to a manual that specifically addresses Pennsylvania regulations, conditions and pest problems for IPM in schools.
Included for the first time in Penn State's "Parks and Schools Pest Control Pesticide Applicator Training Packet", the recently revised "Pennsylvania School IPM Manual" helps schools develop and implement an IPM program and policy.
IPM, or integrated pest management, is a safe, economical and scientific, step-wise approach to pest management. IPM integrates knowledge of pest identity and biology with pest monitoring so that actions, if any, can be taken at just the right time. In addition, IPM uses a combination of management tactics such as biological, cultural, physical and chemical that are most likely to be safe and effective.
All public schools in Pennsylvania are now required to have an IPM plan in place to manage pests in school buildings and on school grounds. The new legislation also prohibits pesticide applications when students will be present in the school building or on school grounds within seven hours after the application, and requires schools to notify parents who request it before applying pesticides.
The Pennsylvania IPM Program (PA IPM) responded to an appeal from education and school personnel and helped to develop the manual. The new edition contains sections on mosquito and tick IPM and more references. In addition, some content has been replaced with material that conforms to the new legislation.
"The manual is part of the packet that pesticide applicators may purchase in order to study for the pesticide applicator certification examination," explains Dave Scott, Bureau of Plant Industry, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). "Exam questions focus on content found in the packet such as pest identification, proper pesticide use, and laws and regulations," he says. However, the current exam does not include questions from the newly added school IPM manual.
Other materials included in the training packet include manuals on household pests, woody ornamental insects, turfgrass and information on vertebrates such as house mice and rats. According to John Ayers, director for Penn State's Pesticide Education Program, pesticide applicators only take the examination once to become certified but must renew their certification licenses by paying an annual fee and obtaining a required number of credits (by attending recertification meetings) every three years. "More information on pesticide certification exams, recertification meetings and schedules, fact sheets and publications can be found at our Web site at http://www.pested.psu.edu/," says Ayers. "In addition, applicators can check their recertification credits online at our site by entering their certification ID and last name."
For more information on School IPM, see the PA IPM Program's Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/. Under the "Schools" link find out more about the School IPM effort in Pennsylvania and links to educational material from across the country. You can also download the school IPM manual at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/166.htm
The "Parks and Schools Pest Control Pesticide Applicator Training Packet" can be obtained through Penn State's Publications Distribution Center. In addition, the "Pennsylvania School IPM Manual" can be purchased separately by contacting the center at 112 Agricultural Administration Bldg., University Park, PA. Call (877) 345-0691(toll free) to order either the training packet or manual by phone.
The PA IPM Program is collaboration between the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting IPM in both agricultural and nonagricultural situations. For more information, contact the program at (814) 865-2839, or web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/.