04/11/06 Pesticide Proposal Opposed

04/11/06 Pesticide Proposal Opposed

Pesticide proposal opposed. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. A Washington State proposed pesticide notification pilot project is being met with opposition from the tree fruit industry as unnecessary legislation. The proposal would require a 2-day notice to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, adult and child day care facilities before the application of pesticides. HAZEN: This is an unnecessary project, that's what we're saying. That is Jim Hazen, Executive Director for the Washington State Horticulture Association. HAZEN: There was a rule proposed last year by the Department of Agriculture to require a half mile spray notification areas so if a producer was within a half mile of a school, hospital or daycare center, they would have to provide 2-day notice to that facility before they applied certain categories of pesticides. According to Hazen, there are no facts that support a half mile notification zone. Especially since spray drift is already illegal from both a state and federal standpoint. Hazen says it's redundant since safe practices are already in place. HAZEN: They are already practicing what I would call good neighbor best management practices, meaning that they're not spraying during school hours. They are talking to the principal when they are applying pesticides and they're doing all of their work when it pertains to crop protection materials in the off hours. The WSHA has sent a letter to the governor addressing the opposition. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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