2008 PRESS RELEASES
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November 5, 2008
HENRY COUNTY EXTENSION AGENT RECOGNIZED
Contact: Elaine Lidholm, 804.786.7686
Melanie Barrow, Extension agent, Henry County, with her award from the Virginia Pesticide Control Board for her outstanding participation in the 2007 Pesticide Disposal Program. With Barrow is Andres Alvarez, Director of the Division of Consumer Protection for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, sponsor of the disposal program.
On October 8, 2008, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board recognized Melanie Barrow, Extension Agent, Henry County, for her outstanding participation in the 2007 Pesticide Disposal Program sponsored by VDACS. The award cites her overall success in meeting the significant challenges of proper pesticide disposal and thereby helping to eliminate a potential threat to human health and the environment.
The 2007 Pesticide Disposal Program was held in 29 localities in south-central Virginia. Eight centrally located collection sites were selected and collections were conducted over a two week period. A total of 76,249 pounds of outdated and unwanted pesticides that had been stored by agricultural producers, licensed pest control firms, licensed pesticide dealers, golf courses and homeowners were collected at no cost to the participants.
The success of the pesticide disposal program is attributed to the cooperative efforts of a number of organizations, including Virginia Cooperative Extension which provides local program coordination. Local coordination includes site selections; notifying agricultural producers and homeowners of the availability of the pesticide disposal program, including location and the date of collection; and educating agricultural producers and homeowners on proper storage and disposal of unwanted pesticides. In addition to the above responsibilities which ensure the administrative success of a program, there is an equally important, more personal side to ensuring success. The requirements for success here include the one-on-one interactions between cooperators, the contractor and the general public, and the Board selected Barrow because of her outstanding performance in the administrative area as well as her personal interactions.
This was the tenth year for the recognition program. In addition to the Pesticide Disposal Program, the Pesticide Control Board recognized participants in Container Recycling and in Pesticide Safety Education Programs. Extension agents or district directors, Virginia Tech Pesticide Program personnel, or Office of Pesticide Services investigators interested in nominating someone for a 2008 – 2009 award should contact the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Office of Pesticide Services at 804.371.6558.