WESTMINSTER, Colorado – January 31, 2022 – February is National Pesticide Safety Education Month, a time to review your pesticide safety practices. “There is no ‘downtime’ in the safe handling and use of pesticides,” notes Lee Van Wychen, Ph.D., Executive Director of Science Policy for the Weed Science Society of America.
Everyone must focus on safety to protect themselves, others, and the environment, during pesticide transport, storage, application, and disposal. The National Pesticide Safety Education Month webpage contains a quiz to assess your knowledge of basic pesticide safety at home and at work. Examples of valuable resources and educational programs produced by land-grant university Pesticide Safety Education Programs are located here as well.
We all want a safe home environment, healthy crops, successful conservation efforts, protection of agricultural workers…the list goes on, and very often requires the safe handling and use of pesticides.
The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), American Phytopathological Society (APS) and Entomological Society of America (ESA) are among the many organizations in the public and private sector that promote pesticide safety in February and throughout the year.
About the Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Society promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit www.wssa.net.
About the American Phytopathological Society
The American Phytopathological Society (APS) is a nonprofit, professional scientific organization. The research of the organization’s slightly less than 5,000 worldwide members advances the understanding of the science of plant pathology and its application to plant health. For more information, visit www.apsnet.org.
About the Entomological Society of America
The Entomological Society of America (ESA) is the largest organization in the world serving the professional and scientific needs of entomologists and people in related disciplines. Founded in 1889, ESA today has over 7,000 members affiliated with educational institutions, health agencies, private industry, and government. Members are researchers, teachers, extension services personnel, administrators, marketing representatives, research technicians, consultants, students, and hobbyists. For more information, visit www.entsoc.org.
Contact:
Lee Van Wychen
Executive Director of Science Policy
National & Regional Weed Science Societies
[email protected]
202-746-4686