NEWS

BAYER, SYNGENTA SETTLE PATENT DISPUTE

BASEL, SWITZERLAND — Syngenta AG and Bayer AG on Jan. 11 announced that the two companies have reached an agreement on their intellectual property disputes in neonicotinoid chemistry, which have been the subject of various proceedings throughout the world. Under the agreement, Syngenta will pay Bayer $120 million in return for full access to pest control, turf and ornamental (T&O) and crop protection markets worldwide.

“Thiamethoxam’s worldwide potential can now be fully realized, particularly in the major agricultural markets. We are pleased to have resolved these complex issues and to have reached this agreement with Bayer,” said John Atkin, chief operating officer of Syngenta Crop Protection.

Although there are no thiamethoxam-based products on the market in the pest control industry, Syngenta officials say that will change as new product development moves forward. There are already some applications of thiamethoxam in the T&O market, including Meridian® (turf market) and Flagship® (ornamental market). In addition, there are a number of products from Syngenta that contain thiamethoxam brands in the agricultural market.

“Reaching an agreement on this lengthy patent dispute was not easy but we are convinced that this is in the best interest of our customers,” said Jochen Wulff, president and CEO of Bayer’s crop protection division. Bayer will continue to serve all markets with its imidacloprid based insecticides.

PCT HONORS ‘BEST OF THE WEB’ WINNERS AT PESTECH2002.COM
ORLANDO, FLA. — Winners of the first-ever PCTOnline.com “Best of the Web” contest were announced Jan. 4 in Orlando, Fla. at Pestech2002.com, a technology conference co-sponsored by Aventis Environmental Science and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

Winners include: Lloyd Pest Control, San Diego, Calif., Best Overall Design category (www. lloydpest.com); Western Exterminator, Irvine, Calif., Ease of Navigation category (www.west-ext. com); and Middleton Pest Control, Orlando, Fla., Best Use of Interactive Tools/New Media category (www.middletonpest.com).

Lloyd’s Web site was cited by the contest’s judges for its visually appealing front page, effective use of art, valuable pest control information and for having its contact information prominently displayed on the opening page of the site.
Western’s Web site was chosen for its intuitive design, excellent use of graphics and color, and clean, crisp front page layout.

Middleton’s Web site was lauded for its real-time tools, including online scheduling and invoice payment capabilities and sophisticated programs.
Each of the three winners received a Palm M105, hand-held Palm Pilot computer.

More than 125 pest control industry-associated companies, including pest control companies, manufacturers and insurance providers submitted contest entries through www.pctonline.com and NPMA’s site, www.pestworld.com. Corporate sites will be reviewed in a future issue of PCT magazine.

The March issue of PCT will feature exclusive editorial coverage of Pestech2002.com in an eight-page supplement. Be sure to watch www.pctonline.com and PCT magazine for further information.

EPA RESCINDS RODENTICIDE REQUIREMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced its decision to rescind the bittering agent and indicator dye requirements from the Rodenticide Cluster and Zinc Phosphide Rereg-istration Eligibility Decision (RED).

This decision amends the rodenticide cluster (brodifacoum, broma-diolone, bromethalin, chloropha-cinone, diphacinone and pival) and zinc phosphide RED. It came about after extensive discussions, meetings, and recommendations from the Rodenticide Stakeholder Workgroup (RSW) and with agreement from the rodenticide registrants.

EPA accepted the RSW’s recommendation to rescind the requirement for indicator dyes based on lack of a suitable dye. In addition, there are issues such as lack of data on the usefulness of dyes. The decision to rescind the requirements for bittering agents requirement includes the RSW’s concern that bittering agents may reduce the effectiveness of rodenticide baits.

In addition, the inclusion of a bittering agent does not make the bait less toxic, nor does it provide absolute protection for children, EPA says.
EPA has determined that the rodenticide bait products are eligible for reregistration without indicator dyes and bittering agents.

Although indicator dyes and bittering agents may not be necessary in all cases, EPA supports voluntary incorporation of these ingredients in rodenticide formulations. The Federal Register notice with a summary of the Rodenticide Cluster and Zinc Phosphide amendment is available on EPA’s Web site at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr.

PESTWEST WINS TRAINING AWARD
LONDON, ENGLAND — PestWest Electronics Limited was voted winner in the category of “Best Use of Education and Training” in the year’s International Business Awards. The awards encourage and recognize the best of British exports.

The manufacturer of the Mantis and Nemesis® Ultima range of fly management systems, the company exports product to more than 50 countries worldwide. Pest-West has published several educational pieces for the pest control industry and is currently working on the Science of Good Fly Control, a guide to flying insect management, a comprehensive guide to flying insect management, which will be available early 2002.

James Shaffer, president of PestWest USA LLC said, “North American PestWest is dedicated to quality training and education. Re-investing in the industry and striving to continually raise the standard. This has and will continue to be a primary focus. It just makes good business sense.”

Grant Collier, a judge at the International Business Awards said, “We received an extremely high level of entries for this category and the quality of those entries was superb. PestWest Electronics is a company that is clearly committed to training in order to further market penetration and export sales.”

SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION, NORTH AMERICA NAMES WOODS PRESIDENT
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Bob Woods, chairman of Syngenta Corporation and a well-known name in the pest control industry, recently assumed responsibility for Syngenta Crop Protection in North America. Having steered Syngenta Crop Protection in North America through an intensive merger and post-merger period, Heiri Gugger, regional head and president of Syngenta Corporation, left the company at the end of November.

“We thank Heiri for his contributions over the years, and particularly for his role in the creation of Syngenta in North America,” said John Atkin, chief operating officer of Syngenta Crop Protection. “We wish him every success for the future.”

Woods started his career in 1965 with Chipman Chemicals in Canada, and then moved to the U.S. as a sales representative for agricultural products. He held progressively senior positions including regional manager of the business in North and South America and CEO of Garst Seed Company. In 1990, he was appointed president of Zeneca Ag Products.

SMITTER, McDANIEL HONORED AT PURDUE PEST CONTROL CONFERENCE
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND. — Val Smitter and Wayne McDaniel were honored with 50-Year Attendance Anniversary Awards at the 66th Annual Pest Control Conference last month.

Smitter, owner of Smitter Pest Control, Grand Rapids, Mich., has been involved in pest control for more than 60 years. He is credited with chartering the Michigan Pest Control Association (MPCA) in 1963. Smitter has held a number of positions within MPCA, including president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and director. He is also a past director of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and was instrumental in bringing Michigan into joint membership with NPMA. 

Wayne McDaniel, owner of International Exterminating Co., Inc., has been with the Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based company since 1950. Wayne and his brother, Jim McDaniel, worked together for more than 50 years before Jim passed away in September 2001. McDaniel has been a member of NPMA and the Illinois Pest Control Association (IPCA). He has held a number of positions within IPCA, including treasurer. McDaniel is also a benefactor member of the Urban Center 21 Club and has served on the Purdue Pest Control Conference Planning Committee.

NPMA SETS DATES FOR 2002 ACADEMY
DUNN LORING, VA. — The National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA) Academy 2002, lead sponsored by Syngenta Professional Products, will be held June 13-15 at the Westin La Paloma in Tucson, Ariz.

Since its inception in 1995, NPMA Academy has provided pest control professionals with a learning experience designed to enhance professionalism, develop closer relationships with industry members and create a basis for pest management innovations.

Academy 2002 participants will attend sessions that will teach them how to run their businesses more smoothly and increase profitability.

Attendees can also participate in peer networking workshops where they will be placed in groups and given an operating ratio study. Group members will be asked to provide their thoughts, perspectives and problem-solving techniques in order to reach the highest level of business efficiency.

For more information, contact NPMA at 800/678-6722.
 

INDUSTRY REMEMBERS UK ENTOMOLOGY CHAIRMAN BOBBY PASS
LEXINGTON, KY. — Bobby Pass, chairman of the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture’s entomology department, died of complications from heart disease Dec. 19. He was 70.

Pass joined UK in 1962 and was named entomology chairman in 1968. “He built one of the nation’s best entomology departments and, through the course of three decades, oversaw its work with consummate skill and ability,” said Scott Smith, dean of UK’s College of Agriculture.

Pass was a former president of the Entomological Society of America and had received an outstanding service award from the Kentucky Pest Control Association, as well as an outstanding research award from the UK Research Foundation. Pass was also the founding father of the University of Kentucky Pest Control Short Course, now in its 32nd year, and long-time chairman of the Kentucky Pest Control Advisory Board.

“Bobby was universally respected for his honesty, fairness and wisdom, and had a warm place in his heart for our industry,” said Mike Potter, extension entomologist at UK. “We will miss him in Kentucky, but will honor his legacy by dedicating 2002 in his honor.”

Contributions can be made to the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Bobby Pass Scholarship Fund.

INDUSTRY MOURNS HOWARD D. STEVENSON
AUGUSTA, MAINE — Howard D. Stevenson, 94, founder of Modern Pest Services, Inc., died Nov. 25, at Maine General Medical Center, Augusta, Maine, after a brief illness.

Stevenson operated Modern Pest Services from 1945 until 1973, when his son Richard E. Stevenson, Sr., assumed operations. Stevenson’s grandsons, Scott J. Steven-son, Richard E. Stevenson, Jr., and Douglas C. Steven-son are also active in the company.

While the company he founded is one of the largest in New England, Stevenson also found time to help several other leading pest management firms in New England get their feet on the ground.

Stevenson was a honorary lifetime member of the National Pest Management Association. He also received the Bartlett W. Eldridge Award, the highest recognition the New England Pest Management Association can bestow on a member.

INDUSTRY VETERAN LARRY CARLS DIES
CHICAGO — Larry Carls, an industry veteran who formerly worked for Velsicol Chemical Corporation and Terminix International, died in October.
“Larry Carls was the finest person I ever met in my life,” said Ben Williams, CEO of B&W Sales & Marketing, Atlanta, Ga., and an associate of Carls at Velsicol. “Larry would never knowingly hurt anybody. He was the most wonderful man you would ever want to work for.”

“He was an Irish leprechaun who had a passion for music,” said Tom Evans, Southern Mill Creek Products, Cleveland, Ohio. Carls was Evans’ boss at Velsicol where he served as director of pest control sales. “He was a very, very kind gentleman. He was a dignified man who was loved by the pest control industry.”

Carls is survived his wife, Florence; four children; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister.