How to Steer Clear of Common Pesticide Compliance Issues

How to Steer Clear of

Common Pesticide By Arthur Watkins and Jason Williams, NCDA&CS

Compliance Issues

As pesticide inspectors with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), we are tasked with enforcing the North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971, as well as regulations set forth by our state and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In essence, our jobs involve being as helpful as possible in bringing pesticide applicators into compliance and helping them stay there. Although we continually provide updates and continuing education opportunities to our applicators, both commercial and private, information does occasionally fall through the cracks — so we’re here to help fill in the gaps and keep applicators on track.

What is a Pesticide Applicator?

According to the North Carolina Pesticide Law of 1971 and EPA regulations, a pesticide applicator is defined as any person who owns or operates a pesticide application business or who provides, for compensation, a service that includes the application of pesticides upon the lands or properties

of another; any public operator; any golf course operator; any seed treater; any person engaged in demonstration or research pest control; and any other person who applies pesticides for compensation and is not exempt from this definition.

The classification does not include the following: • Any person who uses or supervises the use of a pesticide (i) only for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him or his employer, or (ii) only (if applied without compensation other than trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities) on the property of another person, or (iii) only for the purposes set forth in (i) and (ii) above. • Any person who applies pesticides for structural pest control, as defined in the North Carolina

Structural Pest Control Law (G.S.

Chapter 106, Article 4C). • Any person certified by the Water

Treatment Facility Operators

Board of Certification under

Article 2 of Chapter 90A of the

General Statutes or by the Wastewater Treatment Operators Plant

Certification Commission under

Article 3 of Chapter 90A of the

General Statutes who applies pesticides labeled for the treatment of water or wastewater. • Any person who applies antimicrobial pesticides that are not classified for restricted use and are not being used for agricultural, horticultural or forestry purposes. • Any person who applies a general-use pesticide to the property of another as a volunteer, without compensation. • Any person who is employed by a licensed pesticide applicator.

Watch Out for Common Pesticide Compliance Issues

One basic issue we come across when doing inspections is — believe it or not — many applicators don’t realize they need a pesticide license to perform their duties. In fact, the law requires there to be at least one licensee at each business location, and a commercial pesticide license can be obtained by passing a series of exams, which are offered in person and online.

Another issue we spend a lot of time on relates to Worker Protection Standards (WPS) inspections with farmers, nurseries, and vineyards. Developed by the EPA and regulated here in North Carolina by the Pesticides Section of the Department of Agriculture, WPS procedures and protocols were implemented to help ensure worker safety. In my experience, most organizations are very attentive to WPS requirements, but we do occasionally see compliance issues related to worker training completion, display of application records and pesticide storage issues. Workers are required to be trained on WPS safety material every 12 months, so our division provides training DVDs to applicators to help them meet this regulation. The video also can be found, along with other WPS information, online at www.pesticideresources.org.

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ISSUES WE COME ACROSS WITH LANDSCAPERS HAS TO DO WITH NONLABELED PESTICIDE CONTAINERS.

Once workers have viewed the WPS training video, they are required to confirm their participation by signing a document. These documents, along with other key items, must be on display in an easily accessible and visible location at the relevant place of business. Other items that must be kept on display include records of pesticides applied within the last 30 days, safety data sheets and a WPS safety poster. During our inspections, it is common to find one or two of these items not properly displayed — so be sure your documentation is both updated and visible.

Another problem we come across frequently is the failure to comply with storage requirements. For instance, no flammable items — including fuel and small-engine equipment — should be stored with pesticides. Don’t wait for an inspection to take this important safety precaution!

One of the most common issues we come across with landscapers has to do with nonlabeled pesticide containers. As pesticide inspectors, we understand that labels sometimes fall off of pesticide containers. However, in such cases, it is the responsibility of the pesticide applicator either to put a new label on the container or write the minimum five label requirements directly on the jug in permanent marker. Each container must display the following information: • Brand name of pesticide • Percentage of each active ingredient • EPA registration number • Signal word • Use classification

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is another violation I run across frequently during inspections. All pesticides require a certain amount of PPE to be worn during applications, and a list of the relevant required PPE generally can be found on the first page of the pesticide label. The pesticide applicator is responsible for reading and following all label requirements.

Stay Informed!

To help you stay in compliance with pesticide regulations and keep your workers safe, we highly recommend the following resources:

• www.pesticideresources.org — This website offers a comprehensive overview of the WPS and includes training materials and tutorials on how to stay in compliance.

• www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/

agricultural-worker-protection-standard-wps

— This resource explains the purpose of the WPS and provides clarity and resources for implementing these important safety standards.

• www.ncagr.gov/SPCAP/pesticides/ —

The site for the Pesticides Section of the

North Carolina Department of Agriculture offers information about licensing and credits, exam schedules and registration for online exams, pesticide disposal locations, pesticide container recycling opportunities, and scheduled recertification meetings.

Always keep in mind that our job as pesticide inspectors is to work closely with you to help keep you protected. If you’re not sure whether you’re in total compliance with regulations, take a few minutes today to check your procedures and make any needed adjustments.

Spotted Lanternfly IN NORTH CAROLINA

Invasive Hosts Create Appealing Habitat for These Pests

By Sara Lalk

Forest Health Research Operations Manager North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

First brought to the

United States in 2014 as an egg mass hidden in an imported decorative rock shipment, the spotted lanternfly has made its way to 12 states in the eight years since, with a population detected in North Carolina for the first time this summer.

Tree of Heaven

Although spotted lanternflies feed on more than 100 species of plants, they prefer tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima). First introduced to the continent in Philadelphia in 1784, tree of heaven was prized for its fast growth, good form, and high tolerance to physical damage and industrial pollution. A deciduous, dioecious species, tree of heaven is often seen in mass groves of smaller trees, but individual trees can reach 60-80 feet with a 1-meter diameter at breast height. This species has thin bark, thick branches, no true terminal buds and a unique sympodial branching habit. The leaves are compound, and the base of each leaflet has a gland that produces an oil with a “rancid peanut butter” smell. The bark is light yellow-gray, resembling the rind of a cantaloupe. As an invasive species, tree of heaven follows the “live fast, die young” principle: Female trees can produce more than 52 million seeds in their lifetimes, new shoots can grow up to six feet per year, and the species thrives in any disturbed site (though it is less likely to be found in excessively moist soils, areas with frigid climates, or above 5,231 feet in elevation). Although the tree had begun to show invasive traits in the late 1800s, it was still widely planted over the ensuing 120 years and was not declared invasive until about 1965. While found in

a wide swath of Southern forests, tree of heaven is also commonly found in urban settings. And although spotted lanternfly population expansion is currently tied to the range of tree of heaven, another invasive tree could potentially provide a different corridor for southward expansion.

Chinaberry

First identified in 1930 as a native host of spotted lanternflies in Asia, Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) had already been introduced to the continent more than 150 years earlier. Chinaberry can grow to 50 feet tall, producing fragrant, star-shaped, white to

lavender flowers in cascading clusters in the spring. The showy fruit develops into long-stemmed yellow globes, with doubly compound, glossy, dark-green leaves. Chinaberry bark is thick, light gray and furrowed at maturity. This species also follows the “live fast, die young” lifestyle, with some trees producing seeds within three to four years of germination. In North Carolina, Chinaberry is typically found from the eastern Piedmont to the coast, while tree of heaven is found from I-95 westward.

Spotted Lanternfly

Spotted lanternflies are true bugs, more closely related to common pests like stink bugs, aphids, scales and bedbugs than they are to the moths and flies for which they are commonly mistaken. Spotted lanternflies start their lives alongside 30-50 siblings, each concealed in an individual egg that is painstakingly laid and positioned before being protected and camouflaged in a smear of waxy material. Although the egg mass is often laid on the underside of a host branch, it can actually be laid on any relatively smooth surface— which is a common way for them to hitch a ride to new locations. Egg masses are grayish-brown, roughly 1.5 inches long and ½-inch wide, and look like spots of dried mud to untrained eyes. While we don’t know exactly when egg masses will be laid in North Carolina, they may be found as soon as early August. The cold-hardy eggs begin hatching in early spring, and young lanternflies will spend the first three stages of life resembling small, white-spotted ticks. These nymphs are ravenous, readily feeding on a wide range of herbaceous, thin-barked plants, and are often spotted feeding on roses. In May, the nymphs shed their skins a third time and emerge as striking fourth instar nymphs with distinguishable, bold red-and-black coloring laced with white dots. At this stage, they are about the size of a lima bean and can feed on thicker-barked plant parts, allowing them to descend and feed on the trunk of tree of heaven. By late June, spotted lanternflies will begin to molt into their final adult form, when they take on the characteristic winged planthopper appearance. When at rest, they sit in an alert, upright position with their wings folded. The outer wing is rice paper-thin, smooth, gray with black spots and black dashes at the bottom margin,

Spotted Lanternflies Arrive in North Carolina

Originally reported in 2014 as “an unusual pest in large numbers on Ailanthus altissima,” the spotted lanternfly has quickly become a well-recognized insect. Despite a remarkable level of interorganizational cooperation among agencies, industries and landowners, this invasive pest has continued to spread across the U.S. On June 23, 2022, NCDA&CS confirmed the establishment of a spotted lanternfly population in Forsyth County and has since been working diligently to suppress the population.

and slightly transparent. The inner wing is folded beneath this outer wing and shows once the lanternfly is startled, flashing a display of red, black and white as they jump and flutter, rocketing as far as six feet at a time. Within days of transitioning to adulthood, spotted lanternflies can become gravid with eggs, and they may begin laying fresh egg masses within six weeks.

What Can I Do Now to Prevent Infestation?

Several spotted lanternfly control options are currently available, and research into additional methods is underway. The most straightforward option is host plant control: Spotted lanternfly populations can’t grow without access to preferred host plants like tree of heaven and Chinaberry. By removing these weed trees from a large area, the risk of spotted lanternfly establishment and infestation drops. Once spotted lanternfly establishes in an area, promoting the health of valued host plants will help protect them against damage from feeding. Spotted lanternflies found in any life stage should be photographed and reported. The best form of protection is proactive monitoring and removal of host trees like tree of heaven and Chinaberry to reduce the risk that any introduced spotted lanternflies will thrive and reproduce in the area.

Statewide Impacts

Although it is difficult to detect individual lanternflies and small populations, certain features of an infestation become apparent once lanternflies establish and their numbers begin to rise. Spotted lanternflies are sap feeders and cannot feed on plants unless the plant is actively photosynthesizing. They are unable to suck sap out of the plant, and instead simply divert the sap through their mouthparts as the sap naturally rises. When they process the sap, they do not use all the sugars and excrete a large amount of sugar-water waste known as “honeydew.” Under an actively feeding large population of spotted lanternflies, there will be a continual mist of falling honeydew that leaves a visible, sticky residue on leaves and items underneath the canopy, which in turn attracts stinging insects and eventually grows sooty mold. The continual feeding of spotted lanternflies causes dieback of plants that have become covered in sooty mold under trees, and sometimes the decline and even death of these host trees.

In addition to Chinaberry and tree of heaven, spotted lanternflies feed on more than 150 kinds of plants, including maples, walnuts, grapes, sycamore and roses. The most severe damage caused by spotted lanternflies can be seen in grape vineyards, where extensive feeding has been associated with reduced cold hardiness, leading to higher chances of freeze damage and vine death.

Broadly speaking, heavy spotted lanternfly feeding reduces the amount of sap and carbohydrates within a plant, forcing the plant to work harder to thrive and resulting in fewer energy stores in the roots for the following season. If plants continue to be affected by spotted lanternflies over multiple seasons, this chronic stress lowers the ability of these plants to withstand other stress factors such as drought, heat waves, transplanting shock and other pests.

Impact on North Carolina Nurseries

NCDA&CS – Plant Industry Division has been preparing for the arrival of spotted lanternfly and is geared to provide support to nurseries to ensure that the presence of this pest in our state will not impact sales, exports or interstate movement of plant material. Fortunately, many of the insecticides used for other nursery pests also control spotted lanternfly. Nurseries should be vigilant in inspecting plants, vehicles and supplies arriving from an area infested with spotted lanternfly and report any suspected spotted lanternfly to their Plant Pest Specialist or at ncagr.gov/slf. With the assistance of the North Carolina Forest Service and USDA-APHIS-PPQ, NCDA&CS – Plant Industry Division has made tremendous strides in treating the current known infestation in Kernersville. Ongoing surveys and treatments include insecticidal basal sprays on larger tree of heaven, herbicide use on smaller tree of heaven and targeted applications of insecticide to mass finds of live spotted lanternfly. Eradication efforts will be ongoing and likely span several years, but treatment teams remain optimistic that with early detection and rapid response, North Carolina can develop a slow-the-spread program that will keep this pest from establishing statewide.

See It. Snap It. Report It.

Early detection and rapid response are critical to keeping spotted lanternfly out of North Carolina. Nursery and landscape professionals can provide trained eyes to help spot this invasive pest in the landscape. The established spotted lanternfly infestation in Kernersville has been here for approximately two to three years. Since the pest is an excellent hitchhiker, additional surveying and outreach efforts may identify new pop-up locations. When spotted lanternfly began moving quickly toward North Carolina borders, NCDA&CS ramped up survey efforts statewide. With Chinaberry and tree of heaven being preferred hosts of this pest, all of North Carolina is vulnerable to establishment of this species. Citizens are encouraged to be on the lookout and report any suspected spotted lanternfly finds at ncagr.gov/slf.

Conclusion

To hold our ground against the spotted lanternfly, we need to continue to learn about this pest and its weaknesses; thus, research is ongoing. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding spotted lanternfly, NCDA&CS – Plant Industry Division can be reached at badbug@ncagr.gov or (919) 707-3735.

Soil Health

and the IMPORTANCE OF SOIL TESTING

By Nick diLorenzo

Product Manager, Horizon Distributors

Soil is one of the most important aspects of our industry. We plant in it, run irrigation through it and even place lights on it. It acts as an engineering medium that supports structures before and during construction. It serves as a habitat for soil microorganisms, a recycling system for nutrients and organic wastes, and a regulator of water for plants. Soil health also supports plant growth and other beneficial processes, so it is key to enabling green industry professionals to deliver the robust turf and plants that clients demand.

Since the importance of soil health to the green industry can’t be overstated, it’s our responsibility as leaders in our field to adhere to practices that promote conservation. By improving soil health, we can reduce problems like disease and insect infestation. In addition, healthy soil allows plants to survive with less water — an important consideration, given the widespread drought we continue to see across the United States.

So how can we make sure the soil we’re working with is healthy? Soil is changing all the time, whether naturally or due to pesticide applications, and a soil test is the best way to see what’s really going on below the surface. When performing a soil test, we analyze three primary factors: chemical, physical and biological health. Chemical analysis refers to the acidity or pH levels of the soil. Physical analysis deals with proportions of sand, silt and clay, which determine how water, air, nutrients and organisms move through the soil. Biological analysis relates to soil microbes, which are responsible for nutrient recycling, soil building and disease prevention. By analyzing these three factors, we can find the right “prescription” to help maximize soil health.

Using soil tests on a regular basis is good first step toward achieving good and lasting soil health. Most local supply houses work with a testing company that can get you analyses in less than a week. At Horizon, we have a program called Turf Triage that helps analyze soil test results and makes recommendations for products and practices to help improve the soil profile. So be sure to test soil regularly. Paying attention to what’s underneath the soil can really help landscape professionals — and their customers — see dramatic improvements above the surface.