UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State's Pesticide Education Program recently was one of four such state programs to be recognized as models by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In its publication, "Helping People Use Pesticides Safely," USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service highlighted the pesticide safety education programs at Penn State, Purdue University, North Carolina State University and Washington State University, saying that the programs "demonstrate the commitment to excellence shared by most pesticide safety education programs."

Nationally, pesticide safety education training is coordinated by USDA-CSREES at land-grant universities. Funding is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state governments and other sources.

Led by John Ayers, professor of plant pathology, the Penn State program was cited for making "great strides in addressing urban concerns about pesticide issues." The publication noted the program's outreach initiatives and its leadership of Penn State's West Nile Virus educational efforts.

The program also was lauded for producing a series of consumer fact sheets, and for creating educational materials aimed at children -- including a computer-based game -- featuring the cartoon character, D.B. Pest. Kerry Richards, manager of the program's Pest Management Information Center, developed D.B. Pest to teach such concepts as integrated pest management, alternatives to pesticide use and safe use of pesticides when necessary.

In 2002, Penn State's Pesticide Education Program trained more than 5,200 new pesticide applicators and recertified another 25,600. In addition, the program reached more than 45,000 people through educational sessions for consumer groups, 4-H youth, school children, educators, Master Gardeners and others.

For more information, visit the program's Web site at http://www.pested.psu.edu.

###

EDITORS: John Ayers can be reached at 814-865-7776.

Contact:

Chuck Gill cdg5@psu.edu 814-863-2713 814-863-9877 fax #281