Tighter Regs Discussed At Fertilizer-Pesticide Conference
BY MARY MAXWELL
Centre Co. Correspondent
STATE COLLEGE - Over 200
fertilizer and pesticide dealers,
growers and researchers recently
bad an opportunity to learn how
new state laws will affect their
businesses. The discussions were
part of the annual Lime, Fertilizer
and Pesticide Conference held last
week in State College.
Winand Hock, professor of plant
pathalogy and extension pesticide
specialist, explained the Worker
and Community Right to Know Act
signed by Governor Thornburgh
last October.
Hock concentrated on the non
manufacturing section of the
legislation. A non-manufacturer is
defined as a business such as
agricultural crops or livestock,
agricultural services, forestry and
garden suppliers. Exempted under
the act are research facilities when
testing new products. If specific
hazardous substances are used
routinely, then information on
those chemicals must be made
available to employees.
Also exempted are consumers
buying small amounts of hazar
dous substances such as those sold
in garden supply or hardware
stores.
Hock urged everyone in
businesses involving chemicals to
be familiar with the compliance
materials in the Labor and In
dustry “Redbook.” This is
available in manufacturer and
non-manufacturer editions and can
be obtained by calling the Right to
Know Compliance Unit, Dept, of
L.&1., 717-783-2071.
The non-manufacturer book
contains a cross-reference listing
of 19,000 hazardous substances by
trade and chemical names plus the
OPEN HOUSE
Lockwashers Flat Washers
Nuts
ONLY 89* PIR POUND
> 20” Disc Blades
i List $19.75
V Only $7.80 .
Free Bolts -
„ w/Purchaseof
6-Shares, 6-Shins or
- 1-Moldboard
Open House
Feb, 18-21
necessary forms needed in the
workplace.
Materials Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) were explained, and
conference participants were told
to request forms from the
Department of Labor and Industry
well in advanced of the August,
1967 deadline for compliance.
Farmers with even a single em
ployee must have such sheets for
materials used and dealers must
have sheets for materials used and
stored.
Farmers and others who use or
store hazardous chemicals are
expected to train employees and
required to keep health and ex
posure records on their employees.
While enforcement of the new
law may be difficult, Hock
recommends that businesses keep
good records so that if a question of
compliance occurs, evidence is
available and lawful practices can
be substantiated.
John Longenecker, Bureau of
Plant Industry, Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture,
followed with a discussion on
Senate Bill 1445. One major change
is the definition of those who are
licensed to handle hazardous
substances. To be a certified ap
plicator one must pass a core exam
and, if needed, category tests. A
certified applicator is also ex
pected to attend approved training
courses for recertification.
A registered application
technician is one who has received
training by instructors qualified by
the Pesticide Advisory Board and
who works under the direction of a
certified applicator. Employees
who are not qualified in the above
categories must work under the
direction of an on-site certified
applicator.
Sneak Preview
X Group 24
5 Battery
2 Only $26.35
L Genuine Glencoe
4 Points & Moldboards
[Bl
Longenecker outlined the
changes in recertification that will
be phased in over the next three
years. There will be an increase in
required certification credits and
more agency supervision of
training sessions. A state-wide list
of training sessions will become
available and licenses will expire
in March so that applicators and
technicians will have the winter
months to complete training.
Another major change is that
now businesses instead of in
dividual applicators are liable.
Businesses must get a Pesticide
Application License by March 11.
To qualify, the business must show
that it has a certified applicator
employed at all times and be
financial responsible by having
liability insurance.
Longenecker said that hearings
are being held to further define the
bill. “We need input from persons
with a wide variety of backgrounds
and interests,” he said. He
suggested contacting pesticide and
fertilizer associations or the
Pesticide Advisory Board for
meeting times. “More work
together means more workable
results,” Longenecker added.
David R. Brubaker, executive
vice-president of PennAg In
dustries, concluded the series. He
discussed liability insurance
trends and agribusiness.
Brubaker spoke on the high cost
of liability insurance and the
importance of being covered.
“Society is not accepting the risks
it did 10 years ago from an en
vironmental point of view,” he
said. “Those in agribusiness need
to look ahead to what things are not
even mandated in laws today.
What is acceptable now may not be
true in 10 years.”
r UP TO 46% '
Discount On New
Holland Parts ■
Speekl fatifs,
Btipins ;
ihim '
i . ~ „ (t y) and John
Longenecker (right) discuss the new pesticide law with
Michael Schwarz of Mobay Corp.
With more rural lands becoming
urbanized, Brubaker sees the
composition of law-making bodies
changing. Fewer legislators will be
pro-agriculture, he feels,
legislation may severely limit
Agricultural Building
Ventilation Meeting
The Eastern Lancaster County
Adult Farmer Program will
sponsor an Agricultural Building
Ventilation session on Tuesday
evening, February 3, at the Blue
Ball Elementary School beginning
at 7:30 P.M. Dairy, beef or swine
producers who are in need of
improving ventilation in existing
buildings or considering new'
building construction would
benefit by attendance.
Topics presented will include
fundamentals of ventilation—what
is necessary to make a ventilation
system work; where to bring in
and discharge air; designing
*»<»<«» cr . - • . f j.n .
Lancastar Famine, Saturday, January 31,1957-A29
the use of pesticides and fer
tilizers. “The public is becoming
increasingly concerned about the
environment and may become
willing to pay for cost increases in
food and taxes in order to decrease
risks,” he said.
systems for new and existing
buildings; selecting proper size
equipment and costs for system
requirements; and location of
controls, maintenance, and in
sulation requirements. Mr. Nevin
Wagner, Ag Engineer for Triple H
Construction, will be assisting in
the presentation and sharing slides
of various installations.
All interested persons are in
vited. The blue Ball School is
located % mile east of Blue Ball on
Ewell Road, between routes 322
and 23. For further information
call the Adult Farmer office at 354-
4525.