Building Capacities to Conduct Respirator Fit Testing for Pesticide Applicators

The 2015 revision of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) mandates requirements for medical evaluation, fit testing, and respirator training when the pesticide label requires a respirator. An ad-hoc group of Extension pesticide safety educators came together to address a lack of training and infrastructure for respirator compliance. In the ensuing years, programs of varied audiences and formats were hosted. Errors and shortcomings were realized, knowledge was gained, and lessons were learned. Those lessons are summarized here with links, resources, and suggestions for the implementation of similar efforts by Extension professionals.

Florida Rules for Direct Supervision of Unlicensed Pesticide Applicators

In the state of Florida there are three statutory chapters that dictate the rules for pesticide applications. Each chapter, 388 (mosquito), 482 (structural pest control), and 487 (agriculture and other sites), differs on who needs a license to apply pesticides and what the rules are for those who oversee unlicensed applicators. This new 3-page publication will define those rules and give guidance on what is needed to supervise unlicensed applicators in the state of Florida. Written by Brett W. Bultemeier and Erin E. Harlow and published by the UF/IFAS Pesticide Information Office.

Hairy Indigo Control in Peanut

This publication provides county Extension agents, growers, and pesticide applicators with information on hairy indigo control options in peanut. Written by Jason Ferrell, Blaire Colvin, and Pratap Devkota, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised May 2021.

Abundance of Soil Insect Pests in Florida Sugarcane

This 6-page fact sheet written by Ron Cherry, Mabry McCray, Hardev Sandhu, and Michael Karounos and published by the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department is intended to inform sugarcane growers, scouts, pesticide applicators, and researchers about fluctuations of economically important sugarcane pests and implications for the management of those pests.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1313

Minimizing Honey Bee Exposure to Pesticides

To safely solve a pest problem, growers and pesticide applicators must be aware of the potential impacts of some pest-control strategies on bees, other pollinators, and beneficial arthropods. This 14-page fact sheet written by J. D. Ellis, J. Klopchin, E. Buss, and others and published by the UF/IFAS Entomology and Nematology Department explains the issue and provides strategies to protect honey bees and other beneficial insects from pesticides. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1027