Episodes
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Jennifer Weisbrod and Gregory Puckett from the University of Nebraska Pesticide Safety Education Program joined me in this episode to talk all pesticide issues and ideas in Nebraska. We covered what they are currently working on which is fulfilling applicators needs. They are trying to create a new consumer public outreach program, similar to our new launch of Be Pesticide Smart https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/using-pesticides-safely-starts-reading-label
A big issue they are trying to cope with is that broadband internet access is not widespread throughout the whole state so some applicators struggle with getting new information and finding the right resources because they may not have access to internet. Another big issue is that they do not have a hazardous waste disposal program so applicators really struggle with trying to correctly and safely dispose of their hazardous waste materials. Something that I have heard throughout my internship and again in meeting with them is label language confusion. As labels get longer, they are more confusing to understand which makes it hard for the applicators to follow the label and do the right thing. An overarching issue that is probably true across the board is the disconnect between the public and pesticide applicators. There is a lack of understanding of what pesticide applicators are doing, what pesticide safety educations are doing, and why the education is important. They are trying to bridge that gap, and so am I with my various communication projects.
They offer a wide range of in person and online classes, workshops, exams, etc. to try to fit and fulfill a range of people's needs. Some of their successes are their field watch and drift watch program, on farm research, pesticide container recycling program, and new emerging technologies that help applicators.
We talked about the philosophy behind pesticide safety education because it goes beyond just getting applicators certified to apply. Jennifer stated that their mission, and this may be nation wide with PSEP, is to reduce the amount and quantity of pesticides used, to increase safer applications to protect human, animal, and environmental health. Like I mentioned earlier, Greg stated that he got into this work because he wanted to bridge the gap of understanding between the public and applicators, urban and rural populations. We dove into why people should care about pesticide safety education and their response is because it safeguards your life, health, income, and the environment.
When talking about the importance of reading and understanding the pesticide label, Greg stated that they are legal documents that are based on the EPAs risk assessment. It protects you if you follow it correctly. Jennifer stated that you should never transfer pesticides out of their original containers because children continue to die from accidentally drinking them.
One of the main points about organic farming is that it does not mean pesticide free. Organic farming can still use pesticides, they just have to be natural and not synthetic. Greg emphasized that organic farming takes a lot of effort, labor, and time to do so be cautious and aware of off target drift as this can negatively affect their operations.
Overall, I learned a great deal in my conversation with Jennifer and Greg and I hope you will too! -
This episode covers genetically modified organisms, what they are, the misconceptions surrounding them, and the facts about them. GMOs are a type of breeding that uses DNA or cells to modify organisms. These organisms can be anything; plants, animals, crops, food, etc. The goal is to obtain certain desirable traits in these organisms, which can be increased size, increased yields, drought resistance, certain color, etc. There are only 11 commercially available GM crops in the US, which are needed to feed our growing population amidst climate change. GMOs are better for the environment because they can be bred with a natural form of pesticide which means farmers can use less pesticides and water on them. Distrust and misinformation in the media plays a role in why people are against GMOs despite the overwhelming amount of data from peer reviewed scientists claiming GMOs are safe. The use of GMOs and pesticides are just another tool in our toolbox in order to sustainably grow our food and feed the world.
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Missing episodes?
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Alex Carlson and I cover the basics of mosquito controls including their life cycle, repelling vs preventing, and the education aspects of mosquito control. A big takeaway is that mosquitoes spend a lot of time in water and are bred in standing water, the easiest way to control their population is preventing them from breeding. This means eliminated standing water and encouraging homeowners to check their yards for water. They have many educational resources on their website https://mmcd.org/mosquito-facts/
We also talk about preconceived ideas about mosquito controls and how they focus more on prevention than eradication. He talked about the safety and efficacy of Deet in comparison to a natural product oil of lemon eucalyptus. When looking for mosquito repelling products to purchase and put on your body, look for products that are registered with the EPA as these are widely shown to be safe and effective. Misinformation in the media plays a part in people using products that are not registered and may be less safe. MMCD handles this by putting more of their own information out there to educate more and more people. They recognize the need for effective and accessible communication to present data in a way that consumers can understand. We also touched on the misconceptions of mosquitoes in MN not carrying diseases when, in fact they do. There are new mosquito and tick research going on to find better ways at preventing and controlling the species that cause diseases and harm in humans. Overall, the MMCD is a government agency there to protect and service YOU, the consumer. If you have questions or concerns they would love to help you out. More information can be found on their website https://mmcd.org/ -
The third episode of this podcast is an interview with Michael Schmitt where we talk about our backgrounds, and he explains how he got to his career today. Mike talks about some new extension programs and opportunities for people like me who may be considering a career in Extension. A key takeaway from this is that there is a need for more people addressing climate change and working with the public to change behavior. Mike highlights some interesting points about his background being that he did not come from agriculture or farming, but had great science teachers in high school that made him passionate about agronomy and soil science. He eventually got into the agriculture field working on production farms and in industry. This led to a position in faculty at the University of Minnesota, where he worked as an associate professor, then moved to administration. He enjoys working with people and enabling his staff and faculty to be able to do their work and be successful. He leads various teams which is both tactical management and visionary to incorporate strategic leadership. He provides advice for undergraduates looking at a career in Extension to: understand what Extension is, look into internships with Extension, watch for and take advantage of mentors (whether formal or informal), and overall become familiar with what Extension is all about. Extension at the University of Minnesota is all about connecting people to resources and issues that are relevant to them. https://extension.umn.edu/
"When you fail, fail fast, fall forward, get up and go do something, learn from your mistakes and keep going." -
The second episode of this podcast covers what a pesticide is, some common pest species, and the types of pesticides. I focus on common products that are pesticides that people may use without knowing are pesticides. I give the examples of bleach, lice treatments, tick collars, and bug spray. I also bust some common myths and misconceptions about pesticides. These include the safety and necessity of them.
Source: https://realfarmlives.ca/pesticides/#_ftn3 -
https://extension.umn.edu/pesticide-safety-and-environmental-education/pesticide-safety-and-certification
