Voluntary Turf IPM Accreditation:

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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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