Alabama Bulletin No. AL190-7-2

Date: January 24, 2007

Subject:  ECS – Pest Management

Purpose:  To notify employees about change in state policy.

Expiration Date:  September 30, 2007.

For many years we have required our conservation planners to receive a pesticide permit from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) to make recommendations in the planning process and pest management technical assistance to landowners. This was not required by national policy, but was a good training opportunity and added some credibility to our technical expertise. Every three years these permits expire and we have to pay over $5,000 to renew these for a significant number of our employees. There are additional costs for new employees as well. In light of the tight budgets and the fact that this is not required, we have decided not to renew these permits.

The ADAI will notify each permit holder whether or not there have been enough points accumulated for recertification. Letters from ADAI will be mailed February 1, 2007. Some of you may want to maintain your permit and not let it expire. If this is the case, you should plan to pay $45 to ADAI when you are contacted by them. You will need to complete a recertification form and submit it along with your fees. If you have any questions, call them at 334-240-6580, or visit their web site.

Our new policy related to pest management planning is that all planners must be NRCS Certified Conservation Planners with the Pest Management specialization, which means that you have completed the Conservation Planning Course Parts 1-3 and the Pest Management portion of the Nutrient and Pest Management Course in AgLearn or the National Employee Development Center earlier course. All employees with these certifications will also have to meet the continuing education requirements, which will include at least 10 hours of pest management related training every three years. This training will be provided as in-service training, but we also encourage you to look for opportunities to participate in similar training (field days, workshops, etc.) in pest management provided by ACES and others. New employees will still be required to study the ADAI Commercial Pesticide Applicator Study Manual and take a test administered by the state specialist in charge of pest management, which at this time is Eddie Jolley.

If you have any questions, contact Eddie Jolley at (334) 887-4564.

/s/

WILLIAM B. HUGHES
State Resource Conservationist

 

Dist: E
 

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