Using Research to Design and Evaluate Pesticide Dealer Training

Using Research to Design and Evaluate Pesticide Dealer Training http://jpse.org/v5.html Wayne Buhler, Ph.D. Pesticide Education Specialist Department of Horticultural Science NC State University

A Pesticide Dealer… “…any person who is engaged in the business of distributing, selling, or offering for sale restricted-use pesticides directly to end users” (NC Pesticide Law of 1971). Certified and licensed by NCDA&CS Possessed by the individual, not dealership Dealership must employ, or be owned, by a licensed dealer

Why Provide Dealer Training? • Principal source of pest/pesticide management information • Readily accessible to pesticide users • Familiar with their products, their customers, and local production practices

Survey Undertaken in January 2001 • Coordinated by NC CES and NCDA&CS • 8 page survey mailed to all 794 dealers • 400 were returned = 50% response rate • Dealers who returned survey received 0.5 hr credit

Survey Objectives • Characterize the dealer population • Determine dealers’ needs for information • Develop an agenda for dealer training (Dealer Day!)

Purpose of Dealer Day • Provide up-to-date information on pesticide “handling” • Increase dealers’ awareness of resources available to help themselves and their customers • Respond to NC Dealer Survey

Figure 1. Regions Represented % of respondents in each region

Figure 3. Primary Industry Served % of respondents in each region

Figure 5. Years of Experience % of respondents in each region

Figure 6. Age of Respondent % of respondents in each region

Figure 7. Level of Education Completed % of respondents in each region

Figure 9. Organizational Type % of respondents in each region

Figure 10. Number of Outlets in NC % of respondents in each region

Figure 22. Products Sold % of respondents

Figure 23. Value-Added Services Offered % of respondents

Figure 25. Technologies Used in the Organization % of respondents

Figure 26. Use of the Internet % of respondents

Figure 29. Usefulness of Information: Written Material % of respondents

Figure 32. Usefulness of Information: Websites % of respondents

The key sources of pesticide information were the NC Agricultural Chemical Manual and NCSU Extension Agents/Specialists. • Regulatory and label changes were obtained almost equally from manufacturers, regulatory agencies and distributors. • However, those who used NCDA&CS were the most satisfied with the information they had available about regulatory and label changes.

Figure 53. Effectiveness of Different Training Formats % of respondents

When asked about the length, time and location of training, the majority of dealers preferred a program that was one day or less in length and held on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in January or February.

Figure 66. Pesticide-Related Topics Desired in Training Programs % of respondents

Figure 67. Pesticide-Related Topics Wanted Accessible in Written Material % of respondents

51% of dealers indicated that “Take Home Reference Material” was important.

Dealer Day Agenda (single day) • What Inspectors Expect • Navigating the Dealer Website • Preventing Indoor Use of Ag Pesticides • Labeling and Registration (Sec. 18 and 24c) • Environmental Stewardship for Dealers • Transporting Pesticides • Pesticide Security • Pesticide Container Recycling Program • New Designs in Packaging

Dealer Day • Five regional, one-day events • Tues., Wed., Thurs. in late Jan./early Feb. • 5 hrs license credit, plus CEUs for CCA • $20 registration fee (manual, lunch, & breaks) • Support from EPA and Ag Chemical Industry

Program Evaluation • 151 attendees at the 5 programs • Pre- and Post-Training Evaluations • Reasons for attending: 1. credits, 2. topics • Overall rating = 4.3 • Top rated session: “What Inspectors Expect” • “When will you offer another ‘Dealer Day’?”

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agdealers/

Using Research to Design and Evaluate Pesticide Dealer Training http://jpse.org/v5.html http://ipm.ncsu.edu/pesticidesafety

Using Research to Design and Evaluate Pesticide Dealer Training