Education
UOG to host free training on safe pesticide use in agriculture
By
University of Guam January 10, 2024
Jackie Hanson, Extension Associate III, Cooperative Extension & Outreach
University of Guam January 10, 2024
()
Farmers and companies who use pesticides in agricultural settings are encouraged to attend a free training on worker safety when handling pesticides. It will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 through the Agriculture & Natural Resources program of University of Guam Cooperative Extension & Outreach.
Changes to the federal Worker Protection Standard focus on reducing exposure for those who handle and work in areas treated with pesticides. This training is the first to be held within a new three-year project titled Pesticide Safety Education for Pacific Island Educators and Stakeholders, funded through the University of Guam by Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (Western SARE).
The train-the-trainer style course will educate participants on how to teach workers safe pesticide application, how to reduce their exposure, and how to ensure compliance with the Worker Protection Standard of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
It will also cover how to properly calibrate a sprayer, which is a common problem that can lead to misapplication of pesticides and significant costs to the growers, and how to increase the effectiveness of pesticides through water pH level.
Delivering the content will be agricultural health and safety consultant Kerry Richards out of Pennsylvania and George Hamilton, an emeritus fruit and vegetable extension specialist from the University of New Hampshire.
The Jan. 17 training will take place the Farmers’ Cooperative Association of Guam located at the Route 1/Route 27A intersection in Dededo, and the Jan. 18 training will take place on the University of Guam campus, Room 124 of the Agriculture & Life Sciences Building.
Registration is free. Those interested can email Kat Perez to register at perezk10766@triton.uog.edu.