1 / 44

Voluntary Turf IPM Accreditation:

Voluntary Turf IPM Accreditation:. An Alternative to Municipal Pesticide Bans in Ontario, Canada. Pam Charbonneau Turfgrass Specialist. Trying to avoid this. History of Pesticide Bans.

nyla
Download Presentation

Voluntary Turf IPM Accreditation:

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Voluntary Turf IPM Accreditation: An Alternative to Municipal Pesticide Bans in Ontario, Canada Pam Charbonneau Turfgrass Specialist

  2. Trying to avoid this

  3. History of Pesticide Bans • 1993 Town of Hudson (suburb of Montreal), Quebec banned the use of pesticides on public and private green spaces - home lawns, trees and shrubs • no lawn care pesticide applications • no home owner applied pesticide applications • golf courses, forestry and agriculture are exempt

  4. History of Pesticide Bans • Halifax, Nova Scotia in 2000 - 4 year phase out of all herbicides and fungicides on private properties within a radius of 50m of municipal and other designated public places (20% of private residential properties) on ornamental plants - lawns, trees and shrubs

  5. Current Halifax Situation • Full implementation began on April 1, 2003 • Insect infestations have to be verified by a third party • City issues a permit to apply turf, tree or shrub insecticide

  6. Current Halifax Situation • permit process expected to cost the city $350,000 • 4-5 enforcement officers • endorses use of home remedies for pest control on lawns, trees and shrubs which aren’t subject to scrutiny for efficacy and safety • golf courses are exempt

  7. Current Quebec Situation • March 24, 2003 adopted new Pesticide Management Code • pesticides are banned for use outside daycare centres immediately • 23 active ingredients banned on private land by 2005 • golf courses have to present a pesticide reduction plan • fines range from $500 - 30,000

  8. Ontario Situation • 2002 survey - 42 municipalities considering a pesticide ban on private lawns • One municipality already has a by-law that came into effect in Nov. 2002 - Town of Cobalt

  9. Highlights from the Town of Cobalt • Prohibits use of pesticides everywhere • a farmer using pesticides must register in writing in March of each year the products which he stores and which he will be using during that year • and also provide in writing the schedule of application of pesticides and where they will be applied

  10. Ontario Solution? • Turf industry became pro-active • formed the IPM Council (includes all stakeholders) • develop an alternative to pesticide bans • encourage lawn care and golf course industry to adopt a strict IPM approach • done through voluntary IPM accreditation • hope is to avoid bans

  11. IPM Council of Ontario Formed-2002

  12. Why IPM Accreditation? • IPM Council has proposed this as an alternative to pesticide bans in municipalities in Ontario • Has to be a rigorous and credible program to appease environmentalists • Municipalities that are considering voluntary IPM accreditation may make it mandatory with their municipality

  13. Why IPM Accreditation? • May allow only IPM accredited lawn care companies to conduct business within the municipality • May specify that all golf courses within the municipality be IPM accredited • This is serious stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. IPM Program Components • IPM examination • CEC’s • Desk Review Audit • On-site Audit

  15. IPM Accreditation Program • Up and running March 2003 • recognizes lawn care companies, park systems, golf courses and golf superintendents • IPM agent is designated person from each company or organization responsible for insuring IPM is followed • person who writes exam and maintains CEC’s

  16. IPM Accreditation Program • IPM Accreditation program is administered by Ridgetown College of University of Guelph • responsible for delivery of IPM program on behalf of IPM Council • administer exams, track CEC’s, keep track of audits

  17. IPM Exam • The agent must demonstrate his/her knowledge in IPM • 90 minute exam (closed book) • 80 questions • must get 75% • only have to write it once • Ridgetown will offer exam every 60 days in each region of the province

  18. Continuing Education Credits • Agents must maintain and upgrade their knowledge of IPM • must obtain 8 CEC’s in IPM annually • 1 CEC is based on 45 minute contact time at an IPM related seminar • if unable to get 8 CEC’s can write an IPM exam each year • CEC committee of IPM Council determines CEC’s for seminars

  19. Program Components (cont.) • Desk Review Audit • annual must verify compliance with pesticide reduction, employee IPM training, customer education and IPM mass marketing materials • On-site Audit • all IPM accredited companies/golf courses/parks must submit to an on-site audit once every three years conducted by a Certified Environmental Auditor

  20. Desk Review Audit • Frequency -annually • must verify compliance with pesticide reduction target (50%) • verify employee IPM training • verify customer education • verify IPM mass marketing materials • supervised or approved by CEA

  21. On-site Audit • Companies and organizations must submit to an on-site audit • once every three years • conducted by a Certified Environmental Auditor through CEAA

  22. Accreditation process Register, Pay Fees Obtain CEC’s Obtain study material Write exam Submit desk audit On-site audit w/I 3 years

  23. Desk Audit Criteria • Pesticide usage records • total area of turf maintained for the previous season • area based on area of turf that received treatments including • fertilization • aeration, pesticide applications or • renovations

  24. Desk Review Audit • Total AI used per unit area • must show a 50% reduction from a baseline • baseline - takes label rates for all possible pests • ai for 2 broadcast 3 way mix applications • ai for 1 broadcast Merit application • ai for 2 broadcast curative insecticide app. • ai for 1 broadcast crabgrass prevention • total allowable active ingredient: 1098.35 grams/100 sq. m

  25. Desk Audit Criteria • List of all pesticide products used for the calendar year • product names and PCP numbers must be listed • Total amount of pesticide product used • beginning inventory + purchases - ending inventory = total use

  26. Pesticide Usage records • Herbicide usage separated by target pest • Insecticide usage separated by target pest • Approved “Pesticide Recording Form”

  27. IPM Training Documentation • Must list employee names, position held and training dates and subjects covered • field trips with supervisors “hands on” training qualifies • supervisors must list the topics covered and the employee must sign off

  28. Customer Education Material • Copies of leave behind materials must be submitted • must instruct homeowners on proper mowing (height and frequency), watering and cultural practices such as core aeration • Examples of lawn analysis forms must be submitted • must cover pests found and treated for

  29. Mass Marketing Material • Must submit examples of brochures distributed by mail • must show IPM based treatments and preventative grub control qualifying statements (ie. only applied in areas where grubs have been a problem historically) • Telemarketing scripts must be submitted. Can not sell specific pesticide applications without first examining the lawn

  30. On-site Audit • Purpose is to verify compliance through an inspection of the desk audit submissions • verification of staff training records • staff members chosen at random will be required to demonstrate knowledge and expertise in IPM

  31. On-site Audit (cont.) • Verification of IPM systems delivery • customer records • equipment use and equipment calibration • integration of IPM and service offerings • Once every three years • there will be a risk ranking • Company or golf course given 8 weeks notice • Half day audit

  32. CEC Opportunities • IPM Council CEC committee will assign CEC’s to seminars • CEC’s for upcoming events will be posted on the Landscape Ontario web site • Conferences must submit conference programs and speaker bio’s to have CEC’s assigned to their conferences

  33. Obtaining CEC’s • 1 CEC is 45 minutes of contact time in a seminar • Types of conference that qualify • OTS, CGSA, GTI Field Day, LO IPM Symposium, Turf Managers Short Course, ISA Conference , Landscape Ontario Congress, GCSAA seminars, etc. • Agent must submit CEC reporting form to Ridgetown College annually

  34. CEC’s • 8 CEC’s must be obtained per calendar year (Jan. 1- Dec. 31) • If can’t obtain CEC’s can rewrite an IPM exam

  35. Golf Course IPM Accreditation

  36. Golf Course Voluntary IPM Accreditation • Currently being rolled out by OGSA • Differences • Superintendent will obtain accreditation • write golf course IPM exam and fulfill CEC requirement • Golf course facility will also become accredited with the desk audit and on-site audit

  37. GC Voluntary IPM Accreditation • If an accredited superintendent moves - he/she keeps accreditation but must insure that the golf course they moved to becomes accredited • If a non- accredited superintendent moves to an accredited golf course - he/she has 6 months to become accredited (ie. write the IPM exam)

  38. Golf Course Specific Components • IPM accredited golf courses must monitor regularly and maintain a record of observations a minimum of once a week from course opening to course closing • Follow an IPM Code of Practice • No specific pesticide reduction targets

  39. Golf IPM Code of Practice • Focus on cultural practices to prevent pest problems and maintain healthy turf • Educate golfers on the importance of cultural practices • Monitor property for pest infestations at regular intervals and maintain a log • Document pesticide use and pesticide alternatives

  40. Golf IPM Code of Practice • Use pesticides only after examination and diagnosis • Only apply properly timed treatments • Utilize spot treatments • Implement staff IPM training • Establish buffer zones around sensitive areas

  41. Selling Voluntary IPM Accreditation • Turf industry representatives have a web site that tracks hot spots for municipal pesticide bans • also have an email list serve to communicate issues eco@landscapeontario.com • show up on mass at municipal council meetings • all have the same message

  42. Future of IPM Accreditation • Hope that it is adopted by municipalities instead of pesticide bans • For more information contact Ken Pavely, IPM Coordinator at Landscape Ontario • kpavely@sympatico.ca or • www.planthealthcare.ca • www.landscapeontario.com under lawn care button

More Related