<font color=blue>INDUSTRY BUZZ</font> Defend Your Industry!

As you gear up for your busiest season, the anti-pesticide activists at Beyond Pesticides are gearing up to oppose your business. Beyond Pesticides launched its national “Pesticide-Free Lawns” campaign this month featuring a door hanger to spread its message. While I wouldn’t normally point you towards an activist site, I suggest you log on and see for yourself the door hanger your customers may see and prepare to answer their questions. Also, watch for local news coverage promoting “pesticide free” and “organic lawns” amounting to no more than free advertising for this campaign. Check our RISE Web site for “Questions & Answers About Pesticides” to help answer customer questions at: http://www.pestfacts.org/qa/RISESupplement2005Final.pdf.

Congress has been busy with budget issues related to the war in Iraq, immigration, and energy costs. Pesticide suppliers and users are waiting for federal action on Endangered Species Act modernization legislation as a way to truly protect species while also mitigating activist lawsuits that have resulted in product use restrictions and buffers around treatment areas.

In some states we have seen proposed legislation that could, if enacted, have significant impact on your product choice and freedom to operate. New York City passed an ordinance eliminating use of many/most pesticides on city-owned property, while California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Washington are currently contemplating additional pre-application notification requirements.

In several states activists are lobbying to shift regulatory oversight of pesticides from departments of agriculture and/or environment to departments of health. This would add unnecessary layers of regulation by departments with no expertise in the issue and will lead to loss of products. The escalating trend across the Northern border states and in California is toward unnecessary duplicate regulation of pesticides and the potential for loss of products for both professional and homeowner uses.

At the same time, local governments continue proposing restrictions for their municipalities – adding unnecessary, duplicative and often illegal pesticide regulations. Always remain aware of policy proposals in the communities where you live and operate and to be prepared to defend your right to choose the products you need to get the job done. Remember, local restrictions impacting “the other guys” such as pest control operators or golf courses will eventually include you as well. Anti-pesticide activists are never satisfied; we must work together, and not stand by as one segment after another is picked off.

In addition to our “normal” federal and state efforts, RISE takes local challenges to your freedom to operate seriously. This month we’re adding a grassroots manager to our team of lobbyists and communications professionals. Our grassroots manager will be on the ground in towns and cities where product availability is threatened by unnecessary local bans and restrictions. I’ll have our manager’s complete contact coordinates in my column next month – we’ll need your help to find and cover local anti-pesticide and fertilizer activity.

Frank Gasperini is director of state affairs for RISE® (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment). Contact him at fgasperini@pestfacts.org. RISE is the national trade association representing manufacturers, formulators, distributors and other industry leaders involved with specialty pesticide and fertilizer products.