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Pesticides: Region 4 |  |
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Alphabet Soup - October 2005
Inside This Issue
Farm Worker Safety in South Carolina The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is an EPA initiative to reduce pesticide exposure in farm workers. As part of an effort to ensure WPS implementation and compliance in Region 4, Regional staff working with state personnel have made an effort to conduct concentrated WPS inspections across the region. The purpose of a concentrated inspection scheme is to target a specific commodity in a state and inspect all major farm operations in the area of the state where that commodity is grown. The first concentrated inspection area was in South Carolina. Two members of the Region 4 Pesticides Section staff along with two South Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) inspectors and the DPR WPS coordinator conducted a sweep of all major peach orchard operations around Ridge Spring, South Carolina, in April 2005. Peach farms were targeted due to the high degree of hand labor required and the high toxicity of pesticides applied which have the potential to be dangerous for workers and handlers who are not properly trained. This area is the peach growing capitol of the world. We discovered that S.C. peach growers are well informed about the WPS, largely thanks to effective compliance assistance by DPR. All inspections included an interview with the grower, a review of training records, a visit to the central posting location (where safety information must be posted), a visit to the field decontamination sites, and interviews with a pesticide handler and farm worker (usually conducted in Spanish) to ensure that these WPS requirements have been met. Workers and handlers confirmed that all safety precautions, including enforcement of restricted entry intervals, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), and availability of decontamination supplies when working were properly implemented.
All workers and handlers had received the proper training and there were no poisoning incidents reported on any of the farms visited. The concentrated inspections in South Carolina were an effective way to verify the role of WPS programs in preventing pesticide exposure. South Carolina DPR is commended for their efforts in ensuring WPS compliance in this region. For more information on WPS, please contact Christine Cairns Fortuin via email at cairns.christine@epa.gov.
Dekalb's Farmers Market
is Legendary Georgia's Dekalb Farmers Market is becoming legendary and one of the reasons is its commitment to provide consumers with the best produce around. The Farmers Market works around the clock seven days a week to make sure every shipment is accounted for and the produce is the freshest available. The Dekalb Farmers Market started out in 1977 as a small 7,500 sq. ft. produce stand in Decatur, Georgia. Now, 28 years later, the market sits on 120 acres of property and includes a complete recycling center to service environmentally aware consumers. The market has employees and products from all over the world including fresh ginger from Hawaii and garlic from Argentina. While visiting, I learned that the produce travels from distant places in many different countries to Dekalb Farmers Market. In addition to the variety of imports, the market has a very wide range of organically grown items. Some crops like butter squash, yams, white and red potatoes, brussel sprouts, blueberries, watermelons, lemons, apples, and grapefruits are grown organically and sold here. Overall, I was impressed with the market and the staff and how easily accessible they were.
National Attention for Alabama's Commissioner
Sparks Commissioner Sparks also presented awards to winners of the Department of Agriculture and Industries' first Pesticide Container Recycling Awards. Three recycling participants, Homer Tate (Tate Farms) of Meridianville, Bruce Chisenhall (Chisenhall Agricultural Services, Incorporated) of Magnolia Springs, and Reba Walker (UAP Timberland) of Auburn, received awards for their efforts to promote environmental stewardship. "These are a few of the people that have helped the Department of Agriculture surpass our goals for pesticide container recycling," stated Commissioner Sparks. "We take environmental concerns very seriously in Alabama, and it is an honor to be given this award. We wanted to give thanks to those who have helped us in our efforts. I also want to thank our Pesticide Management Division staff at the Department. Without their commitment and hard work, we could not have done such an amazing job." This year's state award recipients have participated in the pesticide container recycling program for more than ten years. They act as good stewards for the environment by protecting our groundwater and not disposing of their empty pesticide containers in landfills. Kent Kutnink said, "The industry at large is focused on being good stewards and Alabama has done an excellent job." Don Bradley added, "The success of the recycling efforts in Alabama happened because of teamwork by the Department of Agriculture, growers, commercial applicators, and the crop protection industry all working together."
The Wonderful Life of Organic Farming According to the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF), organic farming management relies on developing bio-diversity in the field to interrupt habitat for pests and to replenish the soil. In contrast to conventional farming, organic farming is an agricultural production method that does not use pesticides. In order to be efficient as an organic farmer it is essential that the farmer engages in strategic planning to avoid diminishing the soil fertility. Soils are enhanced through the use of composting, cover crops, and increased diversity of plants and microorganisms. When asked about one of the biggest down falls of sustainably managed gardens, Mr. Parson said, "The fear of the mixture between the compost, and cover crops becoming weeds and potentially contaminating a bed." Mr. Parson uses sunflowers, buckwheat, and cowpeas as cover crops to prevent soil erosion against wind and water. Cabbage, broccoli, beets, mustards, carrots, garlic, and potatoes are just some of the crops harvested at Gaia Gardens during the eight month growing season. Through a Community Support Agriculture program residents can buy a share for $525 per season from the farmer who then supplies organic vegetables for 32 weeks. Crops that are not used by the community are taken to local farmer's markets or local restaurants and sold. Gaia Gardens is well managed under the supervision of Mr. Parson. He is a dedicated organic farmer who enjoys everything about sustainable management. When asked what he likes most about organic farming, Mr. Parson replied, "The diversity of harvesting many crops and performing the many jobs that it entails ."
Professional Development for ECO Interns On June 16-17, 2005 , a group of Region 4 employees and interns traveled to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, for a two-day professional development workshop. During the stay, various discussions and trainings were held for the Environmental Career Organization (ECO) interns to develop a sense of work etiquette and professionalism. Region 4 Human Capital Management Branch staff members Diane Willis, Karen James, and Jackie Lombard designed an itinerary that had all of the interns immersed in the activities. For example, the presenters acted out different scenarios that occur in the work place and the interns evaluated the different roles. From this activity Mrs. Willis, Ms. Lombard, and Mrs. James were able to create a learning experience for the interns on work place etiquette and professionalism. Another task was the team building game, in which groups were given supplies and had to come up with an airplane that would fly the furthest. Cooperation, communication, and collaboration were the key themes that proved to be vital when working with a group.
The ECO interns also had words of inspiration from former Lithonia, Georgia, Mayor Marcia Glenn-Hunter. Ms. Glenn-Hunter gave a powerful speech on how persistence, determination, and a positive attitude can take you a long way in life.
A Special Thanks To... Edward Lockhart who joined the Pesticides Section from May through August 2005 as an Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) intern. He is a recent graduate from Clark Atlanta University (CAU) where he earned a degree in Biology. Last summer, Edward worked with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the Indoor Air Quality and Respiratory Disease divisions. This fall Edward attends CAU's Graduate School where he is pursuing a master's degree in Biological Science. He is from Decatur, GA. Thanks for your outstanding contributions to the Pesticides Section this summer and good luck, Edward! For more than 30 years, The Environmental Careers Organization (ECO)
has developed professionals for the environmental field through paid environmental
internships at government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and companies
across the United States and its territories. For more information on
the ECO internship program, please visit www.eco.org.
U.S. EPA Region 4 Lora Lee Schroeder, Editor
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Commissioner
Ron Sparks and the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries
received a National Container Recycling Program Award in April 2005 from
the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC). In 2004, Alabama's Pesticide
Management Division had a 355 percent increase in productivity for pesticide
container recycling, which was the highest improvement in the nation.
Sam Gibson, President and CEO of USAG Recycling, Don Bradley, Vice Chairman,
and Kent Kutnink, Chairman of the Agricultural Container Research Council,
presented the award to the Department. 
On
June 3, 2005 , EPA Region 4 staff visited a local one acre organic garden
in Eastlake Commons called Gaia Gardens. Daniel Parson is the garden's
caretaker. 