The Rural Voice, 1989-02, Page 26PURE WATER FOR AMERICA
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24 THE RURAL VOICE
NEWS
FARMERS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
PESTICIDE USE THROUGH CERTIFICATION
John Hazlitt (left), one of the Grower Pesticide Safety Course instructors, will be
teaching more than 30 courses. Milton Dietz of Milton J. Dietz Ltd., Seaforth, has
scheduled four courses under his local sponsorship and is working on a fifth. At the
Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association Awards Night last month,
Dietz received a booster award for his support of pesticide courses.
Never heard of LD50, the implica-
tions of IDGA, or the value of Publica-
tion 75?
Neither had I until I "took the
course" — the Grower Pesticide Safety
Course, that is — offered to farmers
across Ontario.
(I went as a reporter to participate in
one of the day -long courses sponsored
locally by Milton J. Dietz Ltd. of Sea -
forth. Instructor John Hazlitt of R. R.4,
Goderich said it would be "interesting,
educational, and demanding." He could
have added essential.)
The Grower Pesticide Safety Course
(GPSC) evolved thanks to several
grower associations who were con-
cerned about proper pesticide use. They
formed the Ontario Agricultural Crop
Protection Committee (OACPC).
OACPC, seeking the development
of a grower education program, ap-
proached OMAF. A program was ini-
tated at Ridgetown College of Agricul-
tural Technology with input from
OACPC, various OMAF branches, and
staff at the Ministry of the Environment.
About 1,500 growers completed the
pilot project this past year. In 1988-89,
courses will be available for up to
10,000 pesticide users at a subsidized
$20 (the subsequent fee will be $40).
At the same time, OACPC has rec-
ommended to the environment minister
that all users of pesticides have manda-
tory grower certification, that they be
required to take the Grower Pesticide
Safety Course. By 1991, this could be
the case.
Course instructor Hazlitt says that
farmers are not exempt from tightened
federal regulations such as the Trans-
portation of Dangerous Goods Act
(TOGA) pertaining to transporting haz-
ardous products. "It's not just because
we are farmers," says Hazlitt, "We are
following other industry."
Hazlitt adds that those involved in