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REX LIVINGSTON OF LELAND MISSISSIPPI WINS EPA PESTICIDE STEWARDSHIP AWARD

Release Date: 10/06/1999
Contact Information: Lora Schroeder, EPA Pesticides Program, 404-562-9015 Carl Terry, EPA Media Relations, 404-562-8325

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - Rex Livingston of Leland, Mississippi is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 4 winner of the Pesticide Stewardship Award for 1999. Mr. Livingston was nominated by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture for his 10 years of work with the MS Pesticide Container Recycling Program. Because of Mr. Livingston’s continuous efforts to promote pesticide container recycling, the program serves as a model for other states.

The proper disposal of empty pesticide containers eliminates a potential source of contamination which can pollute our surface water and groundwater as well as pose a health risk to others who might come in contact with empty containers discarded in fields or gullies. Triple rinsed, chipped and recycled pesticide containers pose an optimum environmental solution to an otherwise serious disposal problem.

The Pesticide Stewardship Award recognizes outstanding stewardship activities within EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee). The winner was selected by the EPA Region 4 Pesticide Stewardship Committee, whose membership includes representatives from EPA, State pesticide regulatory officials, the Cooperative Extension Service, industry, farmers, and agricultural organizations.

The following nominees received a Pesticide Stewardship Certificate of Merit:

Joe Hall, Suwannee Farms, O’Brien, Florida - Mr. Hall voluntarily allowed state and federal agencies during the mid 1980's to collect samples on his property to show what happens to certain pesticides once they are applied to crops. The resulting data helped the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services develop plans to better manage pesticides and keep them out of groundwater. Without Mr. Hall’s example, other farmers may never have agreed to participate in similar voluntary sampling programs.

Rick Reed, Coffee County Conservation Alliance, Douglas, Georgia - Mr. Reed was responsible for organizing the Coffee County Co nservation Tillage Education Program. Thanks to his efforts, conservation tillage has increased from 200 acres in the early 1990's to more than 30,000 acres. Conservation tillage protects the soil by reducing soil erosion. During the 1997 growing season, the Natural Resources Conservation Service personnel determined that eight tons of topsoil per acre were saved through these conservation methods. Additional benefits of conservation tillage are reduced pesticide use due to increased presence of beneficial insects, reduced fertilizer use and less potential for pesticide and fertilizer contamination of ground and surface water.

Ronnie Osteen, Lincoln Farmers Cooperative (LFC), Fayetteville, Tennessee - Mr. Osteen, General Manager for the LFC, led in the development of a model site facility at their main office for dry bulk fertilizer storage and blending, The facility utilizes state-of-the-art environmental safeguards. The model site is open for visits from agrochemical dealers, farmers, educators and others. Technologies and practices being demonstrated at the model site can easily be adapted and implemented by others interested in preventing pollution

Jill Sidebottom, PhD., North Carolina State University, Fletcher, North Carolina - Dr. Sidebottom developed an integrated pest management program for North Carolina Christmas tree growers which resulted in greatly reduced use of pesticides and fertilizer. Her efforts are improving the environment and saving growers money. Growers now have the knowledge they need to scout their own fields and the ability to recognize beneficial insects which can keep undesirable pests from getting out of control.



EPA supports efforts to reduce the use of pesticides, especially those which pose high risks to humans and the environment. Through the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program and the Agricultural Initiative, EPA actively supports research for the development of reduced risk pest management options. Also, EPA has entered into formal partnership with a number of pesticide users and supporters who are committed to reducing their dependence on high-risk pesticides and finding economic alternatives.