DECEMBER BACKTALK

TREAT EMPLOYEES WELL

Another short-minded owner has missed the point on how important his or her employees are to their business. Rod Kreimeyer really has missed it. He wrote in PCT’s August "BackTalk" that his employees will leave his business when a better job comes along. He feels that he is the only one that counts in his business. You can’t grow a business without your employees wanting to help you grow. Employees will only be employees if that is how you treat them.

When you decide that your employees are your business, you will stop losing them. Include their thoughts and ideas in your business plan. When you do this, your employees will stop looking at their jobs as just a job. They will feel that they are part of your business. When it comes time for you to sell your business, be open and fair. Tell your employees about your plans and ask them how they can help. You will realize how making the decision to sell will be easier with their support. All employees want to feel that hey have been an important part of the business.

Joseph Wilson
Ehrlich Pest Control
Flemington, N.J.
Bait Verification

Recently I received a letter from Dow AgroSciences criticizing some remarks made by Dr. Roger Gold of Texas A&M University about the efficacy of termite baits. I did not hear his presentation, but I believe that the effectiveness of all baits needs independent assessment and publication.

Certainly we have had success with baits when none was possible, but we hear little about the circumstances of failures. Can a city building surrounded with concrete or other structures be effectively baited with only in-ground stations? What about homes with a crawlspace and joists in the ground or the home that was previously treated with a liquid product? What about the home with small amounts of termite activity?

I have seen no comparison study of bait systems like there are in the Forest Service trials for liquid termiticides. A simple field test to see which of the competing systems is most likely to first have termites in the "bait" station after installation would be helpful. The much harder question is which of the various products is going to stop the termites eating the door frame in the middle of a slab house? Another question is that if a company treats a home with the least expensive bait system to meet minimum state guidelines and then "spot treats" the problem area with Termidor or Premise is that program going to be more effective than the best "stand-alone" bait system?

I realize that none of these are easy questions, but none are as hard as the questions a customer asks when there is a new termite problem!

Chris Snow
President
First Choice Pest Control
Amelia, Ohio

CLARIFICATION

The DEC would like to bring to your attention a concern we have regarding an article in the August edition of PCT.

The article, "Selecting Stations," included the statement, "The other thing to keep in mind is that there is no law that says that bait must be put in a rodent bait station," at the beginning of the article. As you know, pesticide label directions (the law) do require the placement of bait in tamper-resistant bait stations when rodenticide is placed in areas accessible to children, domestic animals and wildlife. Despite aggressive outreach and enforcement efforts, our department still finds applicators who fail to follow label directions relating to the use of bait stations.

We note that a passing reference is made to not violating the pesticide label at the end of the article but we request that you print a correction to avoid any misunderstanding on the part of your readers. PCOs may want to refer to EPA’s Pesticide Regulation Notice 94-7, Label Improvement Program for the Revision of Use Directions for Commensal Rodenticides.

Thomas Lynch
Chief, Pesticide
Compliance Section
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Albany, N.Y.

Thank You

I wanted to thank PCT and Aventis Environmental Science for inviting me to their recent Public Health Symposium in Utah (see this month’s supplement on the symposium, page 35). It was one of the best meetings I have attended in some time. It was great to come away with a feeling that our industry has a purpose! It felt terrific to feel good about yourself and what you do. PCT and Aventis should be proud of their participation in benefiting the pest control industry.

Edward Bradbury
Viking Termite and Pest Control Inc.
Bound Brook, N.J.

Thank You Number 2

Iwanted to thank PCT magazine and Aventis Environmental Science for the opportunity to be part of the Public Health Symposium. It was most insightful and a gorgeous place to be. I truly appreciate all that Aventis and PCT does for our industry. Your leadership and direction does not go unnoticed.

Pat King
Lester Humphrey Pest Control
Abilene, Texas

Readers with comments are invited to write to PCT Letters, 4012 Bridge Ave., Cleveland OH 44113. Letters also can be e-mailed to jdorsch@pctonline.com. Letters may be edited for space or clarity.