For Release:  May 6, 2016

EPA will soon be re-issuing requests for grant applications (RFAs) for cooperative agreements to support pesticide safety activities, specifically for “Field Implementation Meeting Support” and “Funding Distribution for Pesticide Safety Education Programs.” These grants support essential elements of EPA, state regulatory agencies and state extension services activities in communication and implementation efforts related to the revised agricultural worker protection regulation and the soon-to-be revised pesticide applicator certification regulation

The first cooperative agreement will be to coordinate meetings, workshops and conferences with EPA’s partners and stakeholders to advance the safe use of pesticides and the implementation of pesticide worker safety regulations. Funding for the original RFA was $2.5 million over 5 years. The second will be to support state cooperative extension programs in their training of pesticide applicators. Funding for this effort was a maximum of $5 million over 5 years.

After successfully competing for two EPA grants, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Research Foundation (NASDARF) declined to accept the cooperative agreements to support pesticide safety activities. EPA is disappointed in NASDARF’s withdrawal but, as stated above, will issue new requests for grant proposals for both of these cooperative agreement activities in the near future, and will use existing resources for some time-sensitive projects.