Combining Turf Management Training with the Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Certificate A Proposal for Consideration by the Fertilizer Task Force
Municipal Ordinances • Efforts to reduce N and P leaching in GW and SW have lead to local ordinances requiring: – Banning N & P applications during “rain months” – Requiring only slow release fertilizers – Specifying fertilization rates – Requiring landscape professionals receive turf management training (GIBMPs) – Certify Landscape professionals to apply fertilizers
Green Industries Best Management Practices • Approximately 5 million • • acres of home lawns in FL Approximately 1 million acres are managed by landscape professionals Management of this acreage is critical to future of FL’s GW and SW BMPs #1 goal - protect FL water resources 5 E-1. 023 recently amended to include GI BMP as interim measure
Landscape Maintenance Professionals • Estimated 50% of LMP apply pesticides – Glyphosate – Weed & Feed • The majority of these LMP • are not certified (currently 2246 LCLM licenses) Bringing LMP applying pesticides into compliance is ongoing effort
Combined Training Program • There is a need for: – Turf management training for LMP to apply fertilizers – Certify LMP for fertilizer applications (some counties) – Enhanced enforcement/regulation of LMP applying pesticides • An opportunity exists to satisfy all needs using DACS Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Certificate
Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Certificate • Chapter 482. 156, Florida Statutes – Authorizes LMPs to apply pesticides to control weeds in plant beds and exterior ornamental plants – Provides for the use of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides with signal word “Caution” – Limits the type of equipment to handheld backpack sprayers – Requires GL insurance
Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance Certificate • Requires individual to take an examination and renew annually • Requires record keeping of pesticides used, areas treated • Requires 6 hours of training prior to examination • Requires 4 hours of annual CEUs • LCLM certificate is an individual license – stays with individual who obtained, not tied to a company
Combined Training Program • Proposal – Combine requirements for Limited Commercial Landscape Maintenance with The training requirements being proposed application of fertilizer to residential and commercial turf Into a single program that can be regulated by DACS under existing statutory authority
Combined Training Program • Benefits Training program would satisfy compliance with Chapter 482. 156, F. S. and local ordinances that require training in minimizing nitrogen leaching and phosphorus runoff from fertilizer applications Program could be provided by and through IFAS, associations, private education providers
Combined Training Program • Benefits Training program would have to be approved by DACS under current authority – providing oversight on this training and a legally recognized standard for training DACS issues legally recognized certificates and maintains records of certificate holders, inspections, and compliance
Combined Training Program • Advantages to municipalities: – Requires 6 hours of training prior to examination and DACS approved continuing education – Validates training through examination – Requires record keeping of areas treated, and allows inspection of records – fertilizer application information can also be obtained - DACS can establish enforcement cooperation with municipalities
Combined Training Program • Other Advantages : – Provides another way to improve compliance with LCLM requirements – increasing protection of public and environment from improper pesticide applications – Enhances ability of DACS to enforce requirements of Urban Turf Fertilizer rule - see what products are actually in use – Uniform enforcement increases compliance across county/municipalities – single statewide policy
Combined Training Program • Other Advantages : – The training program can be extended to include pest control identification cardholders as a continuing education unit (CEU) that will comply with municipal ordinances – DACS will include turf management training objectives as part of examinations for certification in the Lawn & Ornamental Pest Control Category
Combined Training Program • What needs to be done to make it happen? – Modify existing LCLM training programs to include fertilizer BMPs – Add fertilizer BMPs and updates to required continuing education requirements – Provide information on new requirements to: • Municipalities adopting ordinances • Pest Control Industry • Landscape Maintenance Association • Fertilizer Task Force – Recommend as part of Model Ordinance
Questions? Charles H. Bronson COMMISSIONER Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
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