Your source for fruit and vegetable news
Latest News
Blogs/Links
Features
Classifieds
Suffolk extension agent receives pesticide safety award
By Bobbie Whitehead
Two agricultural extension teams and one agent received awards this year for education programs they’ve developed on safe pesticide usage and handling.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board recognized agricultural agents and specialists for participating in the Pesticide Safety Education Program.
In Western Tidewater, Rex Cotten, Suffolk agricultural extension agent, received the third place award for what for what the state described as “high quality of training developed and provided to producers in the City of Suffolk.”
Two agricultural extension teams and one agent received awards this year for education programs they’ve developed on safe pesticide usage and handling.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board recognized agricultural agents and specialists for participating in the Pesticide Safety Education Program.
In Western Tidewater, Rex Cotten, Suffolk agricultural extension agent, received the third place award for what for what the state described as “high quality of training developed and provided to producers in the City of Suffolk.”
Cotten provides certification and recertification for farmers and lawn and turf businesses for private pesticide application.
“Recertification classes for private pesticide applicators are a key aspect of Virginia’s pesticide safety program and a significant responsibility for local Extension agents,” according to a press release by the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Cotten said the class teaches farmers and businesses the best-management practices to safeguard the environment.
“Participants are taught safety and how to apply pesticides safely and effectively,” Cotten said. “They’re also taught legal aspects of dealing with pesticides or handling pesticides.”
In providing recertification classes for farmers and lawn and turf businesses in the area, Cotten “pulled experts from across the Commonwealth to deliver high quality presentations full of many valuable take-home messages,” according to the press release.
The class Cotten teaches provides information on topics such as how to protect pollinators from the pesticides used and “best management practices and integrated pest management” for the production of both watermelons and sweet potatoes, the state Department of Agriculture said.
“Honeybees have been a big issue,” Cotten said. “We try to teach farmers how to handle pesticides for the least amount of impact on the honeybee pollinators.”
In addition, the course encourages farmers and businesses using pesticides to comply “with all requirements for drift minimization, proper use of personal protective equipment, record keeping, and worker protection,” according to the release.
` The class lasts about three hours, and the certification is good for two years, said Cotten, who conducts about four classes a year.
Art Whitener, a Suffolk grower who has received help from Cotten and has taken the class, said Cotten is a good person to work with.
“The classes, to me, are very important, and I want to make sure I’m totally in compliance since I raise a lot of vegetables that go to upscale restaurants,” Whitener said. “Mr. Cotten always manages to have the person in the area, who checks your records. I think the presentation is necessary, and he does a good job keeping the farm operators informed, so that all crops coming off are not contaminated by misuse of pesticides or are not contaminated by using the wrong pesticide.”
In the awards presentation, first place was presented to a team participating in the Worker Protection Standard training program, which included Extension agents Brad Jarvis, Madison County; Steve Hopkins, Orange County; and Carl Stafford, Culpeper County; along with Marlene Larios from the Telamon Corporation for a program entitled “Worker Protection Standard Training for Agricultural Workers and Handlers.”
The second place award went to a team from Hampton Roads for its program “Hampton Roads Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Series.” The team included Susan French, Virginia Beach; Cyndi Wyskiewicz, Portsmouth; Lynnette Swanson, Norfolk; Mike Andruczyk, Chesapeake; and Laurie Fox, Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
“Recertification classes for private pesticide applicators are a key aspect of Virginia’s pesticide safety program and a significant responsibility for local Extension agents,” according to a press release by the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Cotten said the class teaches farmers and businesses the best-management practices to safeguard the environment.
“Participants are taught safety and how to apply pesticides safely and effectively,” Cotten said. “They’re also taught legal aspects of dealing with pesticides or handling pesticides.”
In providing recertification classes for farmers and lawn and turf businesses in the area, Cotten “pulled experts from across the Commonwealth to deliver high quality presentations full of many valuable take-home messages,” according to the press release.
The class Cotten teaches provides information on topics such as how to protect pollinators from the pesticides used and “best management practices and integrated pest management” for the production of both watermelons and sweet potatoes, the state Department of Agriculture said.
“Honeybees have been a big issue,” Cotten said. “We try to teach farmers how to handle pesticides for the least amount of impact on the honeybee pollinators.”
In addition, the course encourages farmers and businesses using pesticides to comply “with all requirements for drift minimization, proper use of personal protective equipment, record keeping, and worker protection,” according to the release.
` The class lasts about three hours, and the certification is good for two years, said Cotten, who conducts about four classes a year.
Art Whitener, a Suffolk grower who has received help from Cotten and has taken the class, said Cotten is a good person to work with.
“The classes, to me, are very important, and I want to make sure I’m totally in compliance since I raise a lot of vegetables that go to upscale restaurants,” Whitener said. “Mr. Cotten always manages to have the person in the area, who checks your records. I think the presentation is necessary, and he does a good job keeping the farm operators informed, so that all crops coming off are not contaminated by misuse of pesticides or are not contaminated by using the wrong pesticide.”
In the awards presentation, first place was presented to a team participating in the Worker Protection Standard training program, which included Extension agents Brad Jarvis, Madison County; Steve Hopkins, Orange County; and Carl Stafford, Culpeper County; along with Marlene Larios from the Telamon Corporation for a program entitled “Worker Protection Standard Training for Agricultural Workers and Handlers.”
The second place award went to a team from Hampton Roads for its program “Hampton Roads Commercial Pesticide Applicator Recertification Series.” The team included Susan French, Virginia Beach; Cyndi Wyskiewicz, Portsmouth; Lynnette Swanson, Norfolk; Mike Andruczyk, Chesapeake; and Laurie Fox, Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
Rex Cotten, Suffolk agricultural extension agent, received one of three state awards for the Pesticide Safety Education Program. (Photo courtesy of Rex Cotten.)
| Seed Companies |
| NC Markets |
| VA Markets & Roadside Stands |
| Community Supported Agriculture |
| NC Markets & Roadside Stands |
| VA Markets & Roadside Stands 2 |
| Calendar |
| Market Nonproduce Products |
| Season Guide |
| Garden Tips |
| Disclosure |
| Fruit and Veggie Info |
| Events/People |
| Gardening How To |