Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Grants

In September 2022, EPA awarded a total of $780,000 from the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) to six organizations that will explore the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in agriculture to reduce the risks from pests and pesticides.

While traditional pest control involves the routine application of pesticides, IPM focuses on pest prevention and only using pesticides as needed. This provides a more effective, environmentally sensitive approach that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to minimize risks associated with pests and pesticides. Furthermore, IPM has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. IPM strategies often use fewer pesticides, resulting in less fuel consumption for pesticide application.

Grant Recipients

University of Tennessee:

Creating a National Framework for Delivering and Assessing Pollinator Protection Trainings

This project will improve pollinator protection and health by developing a national framework to assess the effectiveness of pollinator protection trainings. Through targeted surveys, trainings (in English and Spanish), and evaluations of trained pesticide applicators across at least 12 states, this project will assess whether knowledge transfer is successful and impactful in affecting the behavioral practices of pesticide applicators.

The project will administer surveys to State Lead Agencies, Tribes, and Pesticide Safety Education Programs (PSEP) programs to estimate the proportion of licensed applicators who have been trained in protecting pollinators, the content of pollinator protection trainings, and current training needs as expressed by state pesticide trainers. Next, the program will survey the knowledge of previously trained pesticide applicators. This data will demonstrate knowledge retention and behavioral practices of applicators over time, providing the program with clarity about what topics need more emphasis and the most effective time periods for reinforcing those concepts. Lastly, the program will roll out the Managed Pollinator Protection Plans (MP3) Working Group's pesticide label training module with new evaluation tools on label comprehension and implementation of pollinator protection practices.

Oregon State University:

Delivering Herbicide Resistance Training Through Web-Based and In-Person Workshops to Pacific Northwest Agricultural Professionals

This project will help slow the spread of herbicide resistant weeds, preserve the useful life of current herbicides, and increase the adoption of IPM practices. Geared toward IPM consultants and field extension personnel in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the project will teach participants about herbicide resistance planning, management, and remediation, enhance understanding of herbicide resistant weeds in agricultural systems, and empower agricultural professionals to transfer herbicide resistance knowledge to growers throughout the PNW.

The project will create web-based training modules applicable to conventionally produced field crop operations on 9.7 million acres of irrigated and non-irrigated land in the PNW. The program will also host three region-specific, in-person workshops to professionals serving 1.6 million acres of agricultural land in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, 8 million acres in the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington, and 387,000 acres of under-represented agricultural land in the Treasure Valley of Oregon and Idaho.

University of Florida:

Integrating Pest and Pollinator Management Strategies for Ornamental Plant Production

This project aims to enhance the sustainability of southeastern U.S. ornamental plant production by developing integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) recommendations. The project will create a process for ornamental plant growers to produce and market their products as wildlife friendly based on compatibility with pollinators and other beneficial wildlife. This will provide a marketing opportunity for growers while also enhancing environmental quality.

This research will identify pesticides, application rates, treatment windows, and management programs that are compatible with beneficial butterfly and moth conservation but also provide control of key insect pests. Results of the research will be presented to ornamental plant industry stakeholders throughout the Southeast including greenhouse and nursery growers, landscape management professionals, and the public.

University of Vermont:

A Smart, Sensible and Sustainable Approach to Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments

The goal of this project is to reduce neonicotinoid seed treatments applied to row crops in Vermont. The University of Vermont will educate farmers on how to scout for soil pests, evaluate thresholds, and determine pest management actions in corn and soybean fields in Vermont.

Six partner farms will serve as demonstration sites where current practices are compared to IPM practices. These fields will serve as educational sites where farmers and other agricultural industry stakeholders can learn about IPM tactics for soil pests that impact corn and soybean. Thirty partner farms will be active participants in the two-year project to gain direct experience and one-on-one technical assistance with scouting, action thresholds, and management decisions. The university will also create a webinar series, crop specific scouting factsheets, and presentations for growers and stakeholders. Through these actions, the project expects to reduce neonicotinoid seed treatments on at least 1,500 acres by educating over 1,000 Northeastern growers on IPM practices and providing 250 farmers with hands-on training.

Purdue University:

Implementing Arthropod IPM on Watermelon Farms for Pollinator Protection

This project aims to increase grower adoption of IPPM practices in watermelon production. To do so, the program will implement key IPPM recommendations — scouting for arthropod pests, applying insecticide only when pest have exceeded economic thresholds, and using insecticides with low bee toxicities. IPPM implementation is expected to reduce insecticide applications by 30 percent without compromising pest control.

The program also expects increased pollination resulting in higher fruit set, and improved fruit quality with fewer pesticide residues. This project will increase grower adoption of IPPM practices and document the positive effects of this adoption, including increased pollinator visitation and decreased insecticide residues on fruits. To maximize impacts, the project will combine weekly on-farm scouting and recommendations with participation in local grower meetings. The project aims to impact 200 farmers who grow 6,000 acres of watermelon.

West Virginia University:

Improving Knowledge about Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Safety

The goal of this project is to increase the adoption of IPM strategies that are both effective and environmentally responsible for West Virginia growers, pesticide applicators, and homeowners using outreach programs already established at West Virginia University (WVU). Through meetings and events in the Hampshire County area, the program will share IPM, pest biology and pesticide safety information with fruit and vegetable growers and Master Gardeners. Fruit growers are a target audience because apples and peaches are two of the most important crops in West Virginia.

Through this project, WVU will also create educational training videos and deliver in-person workshops for commercial and private pesticide applicators about IPM and pesticide safety. The videos will be distributed to WVU county extension offices to reach applicators throughout West Virginia. Lastly, the project plans to create and host the first worker protection and IPM workshop in West Virginia developed for Spanish-speaking growers and agricultural workers.

PESP Overview

PESP is guided by the principle that partnership programs complement the standards and decisions established by regulatory and registration actions. Since 1996, this partnership has supported more than 100 grants and collaborative efforts that have promoted IPM. Topics have included: agriculture, schools, integrated vegetation management on utility rights-of-ways, information sharing on tick management strategies, and EPA Region-specific projects on sustainable pest management practices.

Today, over 400 organizations partner with EPA through PESP. EPA welcomes the opportunity to partner, through PESP, with organizations that share a commitment to environmental stewardship where we live, work, play and farm.