Political Defection Impacts Lawn Care Issues

Crow’s comments to the Specialty Pesticides Association Leaders Conference came just hours after Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont announced his decision to become a political independent aligned with Senate Democrats for voting purposes.

"Benedict Jeffords," as the New York Post headline screamed in Thursday’s edition, "switches everything in a single moment," Crow said.

Jeffords’ declaration results in leadership post changes in nearly 20 committees - including the Environmental and Public Works committee that Jeffords will now chair - giving him the opportunity to work his environmental agenda. Jeffords openly criticized conservative Republicans for their extreme positions on the environment.

In addition to Jeffords new chairmanship, pesticide opponents Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; Harry Reid, D-Nev.; Robert Torricelli, D-N.J. and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., will now all chair Senate committees.

The surprising news came during the one-and-a-half day conference among association leaders and specialty pesticide representatives designed to meet and exchange ideas on the future or specialty pesticides. The conference was hosted by RISE.

RISE and the specialty pesticide industry have traditionally used truth and science to fight legislation designed to eliminate or severely limit pesticide use, but these groups are now focusing on a more aggressive posture of promoting the overriding benefits of specialty pesticides, first and foremost, followed by sound science.

"Our opponents have one objective and that is to terminate the use of pesticides and fertilizers," said Allen James, RISE president. "No matter how good our products are, we need to do more. Our opponents are light years ahead of us."

James was referring to such activist groups as the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides (NCAMP) who through grassroots efforts and use of the Internet quickly mobilize supporters to rally their legislators to pass legislation against the use of pesticides, particularly in schools.

"The challenges we face today are growing, while at the same time our industry continues to expand as well," James said.

The national meeting of association leaders is the third such meeting to take place over the last three years and focused on putting the benefits of pesticides first, including the economic impact of not managing pests.

Conference attendees grappled with issues such as:

• How can we unify our approach to identify common issues?



• How can we pool our energies to be more effective in accomplishing our goals?



• How can we hold on to or retain valuable products to the industry?



• How can we mitigate competing objectives?



• How do we get out in front of legislation rather than coming in behind it?



• How can we switch the debate from pesticides to pests?



• How can we work with consumers to educate and build on their passion for gardening?

The working group of association leaders will create strategy to address these industry-wide issues.

Conference attendees included representatives from RISE, American Crop Protection Association; American Mosquito Control Association; American Nursery and Landscape Association; Associated Landscape Contractors of America; California Agricultural Production Consultants Association; Crop Protection Institute, German Crop Protection Association; Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Independent Turf and Ornamental Distributors Association, National Pest Management Association, Professional Grounds Management Society, Professional Lawn Care Association of America, Society of American Florists and the Southern Crop Protection Association.

For more information about RISE visit www.pestfacts.org.