PLCAA Members Provide Feedback On Loss Of Dursban

PLCAA’s poll contained three questions that provided both quantitative and qualitative data from its members. The following are the results of PLCAA’s ProPoll:

• Question 1: Will the eventual loss of Dursban affect your business? Please explain.
  Yes: 55 percent
  No: 45 percent

Bob Andrews, PLCAA advisor and author of the ProPoll report, said, "In reality, [there is a] much closer split here than what I would have expected given the widespread use of the product for so many years."

Respondents answering "Yes" had some good reasons for doing so. Many cited a lack of other insecticides as effective as Dursban. Several cited specific insects, which they felt could only be cost effectively controlled with Dursban. These insects include winter grain mites, chinch bugs, tree borers and crane fly larvae.

Those answering "Yes" frequently cited the low cost of Dursban versus other insecticides they felt were less effective and higher priced. The responses included a theme of "familiarity" and "comfort" with Dursban that the respondents did not have with other insecticides. Several also cited the possibility of lower customer satisfaction when Dursban is substituted with a less effective product.

On the other side of the coin, those members answering "No" were united in saying that they had not used Dursban for several years or had never used it at all. Some noted the odor that accompanies some forms of Dursban as a reason for not including it in their insect control program.

Both yes and no groups frequently did express concern for, as one member put it, "What’s next?" Whether they used Dursban or not, or felt the loss would affect their business, many respondents clearly understand the ramifications of the loss of any product through government intervention. The question "What’s next?" can easily become "And when?"

• Question 2: Have you experienced customer complaints, questions and confusion about the negative publicity surrounding the Dursban story? Please explain (type and number of inquiries, etc.)
  Yes: 24 percent
  No: 76 percent

"[The results were] pretty lopsided here, indicating my long-held belief that we as an industry are far more concerned about such issues than our customers ever will be," said Andrews.

Respondents answering "Yes" cited the one-sided reporting of the news media for presenting an unbalanced story of the real reasoning behind the ban. Several respondents cited calls from customers who were not really anti-Dursban but were simply concerned about the "overall" safety of lawn care products.

Those respondents answering "No," in virtually all cases, had received no questions whatsoever from either their customers or the general public. One was asked questions by employees, and a number indicated they had prepared their employees for customer questions that have not yet occurred.

Andrews said, "An observation – In reviewing the answers to this question, it was clear to me that the Dursban story either got a lot of publicity, or none at all. Some respondents had received many questions, calls and concerns, while others, some of which have a large number of customers, had zero. My experience? Our business is located in Indianapolis, the ‘home’ of Dow AgroSciences. Thus, the story got a great deal of play in every form of the media and was a top story for a couple of days. It would be fair for me to worry that our phones would go into "melt-down" since The Greenskeeper Inc. does use Dursban for a variety of applications. Calls to date? None!"

• Question 3: How are you conducting business in the face of losing this product and potentially other products due to environmental regulations? Do you have a Plan B, or do you offer service choices to offset product loss (IPM …), product choices, etc? Please explain.

Although this was not a yes or no question, it generated the strongest response of the three questions. The respondents are concerned about the fairly regular loss of effective products through government regulation. Most question the reasoning behind such decisions and whether the EPA is more politically than environmentally motivated. The respondents believe that other insecticides may be less effective, more costly and not as safe. "At the same time," said Andrews, "[PLCAA]members display that old lawn care operator resiliency that makes me so proud of them. Business will go on! No Plan B, but we already are researching the question and will find a way."

Andrews wrapped up the ProPoll sating:

"The ProPoll revealed a number of disturbing things. There is a real discrepancy in PLCAA members’ knowledge of insecticides. Many feel that the loss of Dursban is a minor issue because of all the other products available. Other responses indicated that the member did not know of any alternative products. It also is clear that some members feel that lawn care once again got ‘sacrificed’ in favor of the farmer, or even the golf course – both of which can merrily continue to buy and use Dursban.

"No matter how [respondents] answered the questions in the ProPoll, you should come away from reading this report with an increased concern about our industry’s ability to protect and defend our right to use the most effective products available to us. The loss of one product, even one as well known as Dursban, is not going to make or break us. But the constant trickle of product loss can be dangerous because it is deceptive. One here. One there. One that some of us use and others don’t. The importance of the loss gets lost in the shuffle of our everyday business life.

"Yet most of us are in the pesticide application business – it’s what we do for a living. Insecticides are a

part of it. Thus, the loss of Dursban is a loss for all of us – and a call for increased involvement by all of us in making lawn care a stronger and more active player in the game."

Bob Andrews, author of the above ProPoll report, is the owner of The Greenskeeper Inc., Carmel, Ind., with more than 20 years in the industry. Bob, a past president of PLCAA, is also an independent consultant for the association.

For more information about the Professional Lawn Care Association of America visit www.plcaa.org.

For more information about the EPA’s ban on Dursban (chlorpyrifos) please click here: BREAKING NEWS: Dow Voluntarily Withdraws Dursban Uses.