NEWS

NEW FLORIDA BUILDING CODE WILL HELP STOP PESTS, EXPERTS SAY

GAINESVILLE, FLA. — University of Florida (UF) pest control experts say a new statewide building code, which went into effect March 1, will help stop termite damage in Florida.

“Termite damage and control costs in Florida exceed $500 million annually, but that will be reduced by the new Florida Building Code, making builders more responsible for termite protection,” said Phil Koehler, professor of entomology with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Koehler said the record number of termite treatment failures in Florida is occurring because there has been no standard control method required on new homes.

“Florida counties usually require some kind of termite protection on new structures, but the methods vary from county to county. The result has been a hodgepodge of codes that leave many consumers unprotected and confused,” he said.

He said most current building codes do not require building contractors or PCOs to prevent termite infestations. It is up to local building officials to require termite protection for houses, leaving many houses without adequate termite protection.

“As a result, the pest control industry refuses to pay for repairs when building contractors either disrupt their treatments, build hidden termite access into buildings or provide moisture that allows termites to survive in buildings,” he said. “These problems usually don’t show up until the damage is done. Pest control industry warranties will not cover houses that provide termites with conditions that allow them to thrive.”

Koehler, who chaired a committee of architects, builders, building code officials, pest control operators and pesticide manufacturers that recommended the code changes, said the new code is long overdue in Florida.

“When it comes to stopping termites…we need a standardized statewide code to protect homeowners from termites,” he said.

The building code in St. Johns County, Fla., served as a model for the new state code, he said. “The county’s code prevents hidden termite access into buildings through voids behind exterior finishes that extend to the ground, such as stucco and masonry,” Koehler said. “It increases the effectiveness of chemical barrier treatments under foundations by requiring down spouts from rain gutters to discharge water away from buildings. And it eliminates termite food sources in contact with the ground such as building debris, form boards and grade stakes.”

As pest management professionals know, chemical barrier treatments under and around the foundation are effective if done correctly and at label rates, but such barriers may deteriorate over time.

As an alternative, Koehler recommends builders use borate-treated wood throughout the house. Under the new code, the sill plate in contact with the concrete slab is the only wood that must be treated.

Lumber pressure treated with chromated copper arsenate, or CCA, is the most widely used material, but it’s being phased out because arsenic is a known carcinogen. Koehler said effective alternative treatments include zinc borate or sodium borate. And while borate-treated wood costs more than untreated wood, the long-term benefits make it cost-effective for homeowners.
“For example, if the cost of using untreated wood in a typical 2,000-square-foot house is about $9,000, the cost of using borate-treated wood would be about $12,000 — a $3,000 increase,” he said. “However, the estimated $800 cost of chemical soil treatments every five years — plus the annual $100 renewal fees most pest control operators charge — totals $4,800 over 20 years. During the same period, the treated wood option saves $1,800.”
Better yet, he said, wood treated with borates resists termite damage, fungal decay, rot and fire. And, unlike CCA-treated wood, termites rarely tunnel over borate-treated wood. “Consumers need to become more aware of various termite control measures, particularly things that are cost-effective and long-lasting for their own peace of mind,” he said.

Koehler said new home buyers may be lulled into a false sense of security by builders who use unproven termite control measures, such as spraying untreated wall studs with borates. The growing practice of coating wall studs with borates to a height of about 24 inches has not been proven to prevent termite damage, he said.

But officials from Nisus Corp., which manufactures borate products for the pest management and building industries, disagree. “Bora-Care has 10 years of specific research against subterranean termites in (the) Harrison State Research Forest in Gulfport, Miss., begun by the USDA and monitored by Mississippi State University,” says Ron Schwalb, national technical services manager, and Jeff Lloyd, vice president of business development, Nisus Corporation. “Bora-Care has proven to provide protection against subterranean termite damage and tubing when applied in a 24-inch band treatment for these 10 years.”

Further, Nisus has had the product and the label application reviewed by the Southern Building Code Congress International and it has been given a product listing as a suitable alternative treatment for termite prevention in new construction.

In addition, Nisus says that Bora-Care is listed in Florida as a new construction termite prevention treatment (along with other products) by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This list has been submitted to building officials of Florida in reference to the New Florida Building Code.

For more information about this story, and a complete response from Nisus Corp., visit www.pctonline.com/floridacodes.

FARM BILL SETBACK COULD IMPACT SEPA LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Efforts to get Congress to pass the Farm Bill — which includes the School Environment Protection Act (SEPA) — were complicated with the announcement in March by congressional budget analysts that the Farm Bill is $6.1 billion over the spending limit set by a congressional budget committee.

“It could certainly have an impact on SEPA,” said Gene Harrington, manager of government affairs, National Pest Management Association. “It increases the already existing difficulties surrounding the development of a final version of the Farm Bill.”

Had the error been discovered before the Senate voted on the bill, its Democratic authors likely would have been forced to scale back on the legislation, according to an article from the Associated Press. Otherwise, minority Republicans could have potentially blocked the bill on procedural grounds, the AP stated.

At press time, the bill was in conference committee. The budgeting error could help Republicans in their efforts to scale down the Farm Bill, Harrington said. Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean SEPA will be impacted. The U.S. Congressional Budget Office has indicated that SEPA will not be costly, Harrington said. “Technically, it is a voluntarily program. States don’t have to run their own pesticide programs — they run their programs by choice,” he said. “EPA is really the governing pesticide body and states, with EPA’s blessing, have decided to establish their own programs.”

Harrington added that although the latest budgeting problems have created another obstacle for the Farm Bill, he thinks it will ultimately pass. “I don’t think the funding decision has any direct impact on SEPA, but it signals that these will be difficult negotiations,” he said. “The house agriculture committee has a long-standing tradition of working well together and working out differences and I see no reason why they can’t do it this time.”

INSECTS LIMITED TO HOST MUSEUM PEST SEMINAR

INDIANAPOLIS — Insects Limited Inc. will host a two-day museum pest seminar titled “Pest Management in Museums, Historical Houses, and Archives,” on May 13 and 14, at the Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, Ind. The seminar will be presented in cooperation with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian & Western Art, and the Indiana Historical Society.

Topics will include an overview of integrated pest management and IPM in practice using case studies; pest management and prevention in archives; insect and pest identification and health hazards associated with them; practical use of pheromones and fumigants; the use of temperature to eradicate pest infestations; and a case study in cooperation between museums and pest managers. Topics will be presented in a lecture and workshop format.

Registration fee for the two-day session is $275 per person when registering before April 13. Registration includes lunch for both days, transportation to The Children’s Museum, and an evening reception. Registration discounts are available for organizations sending more than one participant. Discounted rates for hotel accommodations are being arranged. Early registration is encouraged, as seating is limited. To register, contact Barbara Bass at Insects Limited Inc., at 800/992-1991. For more information visit www.insectslimited.com.

BAYER CROPSCIENCE PEST CONTROL LOCATION STILL PENDING

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Bayer CropScience has designated Research Triangle Park, N.C., the headquarters of its North American business, but as of press time, the company has yet to decide where the “environmental science” side (which includes pest control) of the business will be located.

Currently, Bayer Professional Care (which includes pest control) is part of the company’s agriculture business in the U.S. and both of those businesses are located in Kansas City, Mo. When the new Bayer organization takes shape following the pending approval of Bayer’s acquisition of Aventis Environmental Science, Bayer Crop Science and Bayer Environmental Science will be established.

What will be included in Bayer Environmental Science is what is now included in Bayer Professional Care (i.e., pest control, lawn care, etc.). Bayer Crop Science, the new agriculture division, has made the announcement to stay in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Bayer Environmental Science has not made an announcement as to where that part of the company will be located yet but an announcement is expected in the near future.

EPA OFFERS PESTICIDE RESOURCES

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In honor of National Poison Prevention Week (which was March 17-23), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made a number of resources available to the public, including Web sites, brochures and children’s games. The following is available from EPA:
• “Learn About Chemicals Around Your House” is an interactive Web site (see www.epa.gov/opptintr/kids/hometour/index.htm) designed to teach children and parents about household products, including pesticides. The site also contains educational games, and tells children what to do if an accident occurs.
• “Read the Label First! Protect Your Kids,” provides information on preventing children from being exposed to pesticides and household cleaners. This document is available online at: www.epa.gov/opptintr/labeling/rtlf/kids.pdf.
• “Ten Tips to Protect Children from Pesticide and Lead Poisonings Around the Home” provides simple steps to protect children from pesticide and lead poisonings around the home, and is available in both English and Spanish. This document is available at: www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/10_tips/.
• “Pesticides and Child Safety” is a fact sheet that provides current household pesticide-related poisonings/exposure statistics from the American Association of Poison Control Centers, as well as recommendations for preventing poisonings and first aid guidelines. This document is available at: epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/childsaf.htm.

WHITMIRE MICRO-GEN  INTRODUCES E-PRESCRIPTION TREATMENT

ST. LOUIS — Whitmire Micro-Gen recently introduced e-Prescription Treatment — a Web-based software application designed to help pest management professionals improve internal productivity while offering their clients a new level of service. This program offers a sophisticated means of improving quality assurance, record keeping, as well as internal and external communications, Whitmire Micro-Gen says.

e-PT enables pest management professionals to electronically collect, transmit, analyze and store jobsite data to ensure protocol compliance and generate reports for their co-workers and clients. e-PT collects data using bar codes and hand-held computers that synchronize with pest management professionals’ desktop computers. The system can be used for many pest management services, including general pest control, lawn care and virtually any account requiring data collection and analysis. It is especially suited for food-processing and pharmaceutical accounts that have strict data requirements.

At the heart of e-PT are customized service protocols, which are loaded into the system to ensure that the proper quality of service is delivered and to decrease service errors that can result in costly callbacks. The system is also designed to alert quality assurance and pest management staffs to protocol deviations.

As account data is gathered over a span of time, the pest management professional can accurately and effectively refine existing protocols to more closely meet an account’s needs.

Once a protocol is established, PCOs create and install bar codes at checkpoints throughout the jobsite. Using the system’s hand-held computers, technicians can scan each bar code to enter and retrieve information about that particular location.

After the data is collected, the technician electronically transmits that data to the desktop computer. The e-PT system enables quick, accurate communication of service activities from the technician to the pest management staff and client. This communication keeps the key staff members aware at all times of what is happening in each account location. In addition, jobsite data can be analyzed and formally presented to the client.

The data platform used in e-PT can convert an account’s data to Excel, Word and other office applications. Reports can be printed onsite and/or made available to clients via e-mail or authorization via a Web page.

EPA CHANGES PESTICIDE PHONE NUMBERS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A nationwide pesticide information service for consumers, the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network, recently changed its name to the National Pesticide Information Center. The service, funded by EPA, will continue unaltered. The National Pesticide Information Center provides comprehensive information to the public on specific pesticide chemicals, including toxicological and medical information, via a telephone helpline and a Web site. A toll-free telephone number, 800/858-7378, is available to the public daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EST). The service’s Web address is: http://npic.orst.edu.

PRENTISS AWARDS NPMA CONVENTION PRIZE TO DENNIS JUDY

NEW ORLEANS — Dennis Judy, technical director of Allgood Services, Lawrenceville, Ga., won a Visor Personal Digital Assistant from Prentiss Inc. at the NPMA Convention, held in New Orleans, La., Oct. 28-31, 2001.
Judy was the grand-prize winner of a drawing held at the Prentiss exhibitor booth. Rob Cooper, eastern regional vice president of Prentiss, presented Judy with his prize (see photo below).

BEE EXPERTS PROVIDE ANSWERS ON WEB

BELTSVILLE MD. — Have a question about honey bees? Now you can send your questions by computer to honey bee experts at the Agricultural Research Service’s Carl Hayden Bee Research Center in Tucson, Ariz. The center’s researchers, who are international authorities on honey bees, will reply via Internet in about 24 hours, according to entomologist Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman.

This new Internet service, which is free, is called, “Expert Forum on Honey Bees.” It lists a wide range of frequently asked questions, along with answers from scientists. In addition, the Forum also has answers to questions about beekeeping as a hobby or profession, honey bee biology and research about bees conducted at the center.

Each question answered by center experts will be kept in a database. That way, answers to subsequent similar inquiries will be available to anyone, anytime day or night, seven days a week. What’s more, when new information becomes available, the laboratory staff will review and update old answers on the Forum.

“Expert Forum on Honey Bees” is part of the Hayden Center’s Web site. It can be found on the Internet at: http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov.

J.F. OAKES CHANGES PRODUCT NAME

YAZOO CITY, MISS. — J.F. Oakes Sales & Marketing has changed the name of Nova-Lure Pheromone Monitoring System for Stored Product Insects to XLure R.T.U. because of a name similarity to Whitmire Micro-Gen’s Nova & Super Nova Electronic Fly Traps.

The company says the new name “XLure” R.T.U. is more descriptive of the actual product because the same Pherogel matrix technology is used in both products. The original XLure is a 16-week color-coded pheromone in a polyethylene dispenser. XLure RTU uses the same Pherogel matrix technology in a ready-to-use diamond trap (8 weeks active life).

For more information regarding XLure Pheromone Monitoring Systems for Stored Product Insects and the company’s advanced Pherogel technology, call 800/844-9296 or visit www.jfoakes.com.

AVENTIS TO OFFER DELTAGARD G PROMOTION

MONTVALE, N.J. — In conjunction with the introduction of the new and improved DeltaGard G, Aventis Environmental Science will offer pest management professionals a free Scotts HandyGreen II hand-held spreader when they purchase 100 pounds of the new DeltaGard G formulation between April 1 and May 31, 2002.

“We’re really excited about the benefits that the new carrier provides,” said Chuck Cole, product manager for general pest control for Aventis Environmental Science. “This promotion is a great opportunity for pest management professionals to try the new formulation.”

PCTONLINE LAUNCHES ASSOCIATION CENTRAL!

CLEVELAND — Check out the newest addition to PCT’s Web site, the PCTOnline Association Central (http://www.pctonline.com/associations), an easy-to-navigate directory of local, state, national and international pest control industry associations.

PCOs rely on associations to keep them abreast of regulatory issues. Association Central includes contact information, Web site links and association descriptions of more than 50 associations, so users can contact the association they need with the click of a mouse.

If you’re not a member of a pest control association, now’s the time for you to get involved. Just highlight your state in the drop down menu and click on the “search” button, and the associations in your area will be in front of you in an instant. Or, if you’re looking for a national association, enter that instead of a state.

(Association leaders: If your association is not already listed, please send your contact information and logo [if available] to bharbison@pctonline.com, fax it to 216/961-0364 or contact Brad Harbison at 800/456-0707. By having your association’s contact information listed in the Association Central of PCTOnline you will greatly increase your market presence.)

THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: FEBRUARY 2002

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 5.5 percent in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported in March. Nonfarm payroll employment was up by 66,000 in February, following several months of large job losses. February gains in several industries, however, can be attributed to special factors. Manufacturing employment continued to decline, although at a slower pace. The number of unemployed persons (7.9 million) and the unemployment rate (5.5 percent) were essentially unchanged in February, following declines in both measures in January.

HELP PCT HONOR A FEW HEROES
CLEVELAND — In October, PCT magazine will publish a series of articles about the pest management industry and World War II (WWII). The articles will range from profiles of WWII veterans who worked in the pest management industry to a story detailing how the industry blossomed in the post-war era. PCT will also make a donation to the WWII Memorial Fund in the name of our industry’s veterans. If you know of a friend, relative, colleague, employer or employee, who served our nation in WWII and then went on to work in the pest management industry, please let us know. Send their name (as well as your name, address and phone number) to Steve Smith, ssmith@pctonline.com, fax: 216/961-0364, or by mail to: 4012 Bridge Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113.