MSU Extension/USDA RUP Record Keeping Special Project
Second Quarter Report		Situational Notes
The first half of the year was spent planning, organizing, and secureing a signed agreement between MDA and MSU Extension.  This was finalized in February and the intial funds (90%) were dispersed to MSU at the end of March.  Initial planning indicates that there will be private applicator training(s) with a RUP record component on the Flathead Indian Reservation in cooperation with the new Tribal Extension Agent, and this will carry to other reservations and counties with out county agents throughout the year.  A more detailed report can be expected at the end of the third quarter.		Recently with Reeves absence I have been working with MDA, Greg Murfitt and Rene Kittle, MSU Flathead agent, on the USDA Pesticide Record Keeping grant. The program was developed using tribal requests, USDA and MDA requirments for PAT and RUP training and record keeping and delivered to the Flathead Reservation in spring 2006. A final wrap-up meeting is being organized for this fall. A PAT R template for future reservation Pesticide record keeping training delivery was developed. See the template at <IPM.montana.edu>, under the “Pesticides and PAT” section.  To summarize previous discussions it was felt that Flathead Reservation Private applicators were intimidated and overwhelmed by PAT and record keeping requirements. A survey of Flathead meeting participants found that they do not already have private applicator licenses because they cannot afford to purchase or apply pesticides on their private lands. It was the opinion of the Flathead reservation agent, Rene Kittle and the Tribal steering committee that considerable need existed for Government license training to apply pesticides and maintain records on tribal lands. PAT licenses are available, for a nominal fee, without additional training to Government license holders. Training includes RUP record keeping instructions. Tribes are overwhelmed with initial and recertification training requirements for employees to obtain Government and Private licenses. Flathead reservation is considered a leader among Montana tribes in training programs. Before the training there were few tribal licenses holders: after the training 28 Government licenses were issued. Fort Peck reservation has a strong sovereign nation tradition. It is not known if they have any current pesticide licenses. The Cheyenne reservation does not have a Government licensed employee. The Flathead template, identification of barriers, and the development of a program that considers reservation needs has allowed us to be successful in implementing the objectives of the Pesticide Record Keeping grant and will serve as a model for subsequent tribal pesticide applicator programs. A gap exists between the USDA, MDA need for RUP Record keeping, Tribal needs and Extension resources. MDA and reservation agents are hampered in their efforts to deliver PAT RUP Record keeping training to reservation private land owners who do not perceive a need and have limited resources.   The USDA Pesticide Record Keeping grant offers Reservation agents the means to bridge this gap using a new and novel approach to delivery of Government and Private applicator training. Tribal employees motivated by job requirements become "Early Adopters", a Tribal "in house" resource of expertise and experience in the PAT process. The template imbeds PAT process expertise and experience on reservations and will facilitate a robust Private applicator RUP Record keeping tradition.  Currently our plans for 2006 include conducting similar training programs to Fort Peck and Northern Cheyenne and the Crow reservation in 2007. We plan to implement the Flathead template as part of the annual MSU, ES, IPM Pest Management Training (PMT) program to accommodate a staff shortage associated with Reeve's absence, maintain recertification cycles and enhance efficiency of the ongoing program. Funds (to be determined) in addition to those expended during the Spring Flathead meeting are requested for Reservation member survey and "Hold That Date" newsletter mailings, room rent,  retention expenses (Lunch, coffee breaks) and example safety equipment. It is hoped that Tribal and Private sector funds, as was the case during the Flathead Reservation Spring program will equal those requested from the USDA PAT Record keeping initiative. Thank you for consideration of this request.
Third Quarter Report (Draft)
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The goal of the MSU/USDA RUP Record Keeping Project is to:(1)facilitate private applicator training that includes a RUP record keeping component, for Tribal members who need to manage pests on land they rent lease or own and (2) to meet tribal committee and sovereign nation requests for training for Tribal employees who require government pesticide licenses for application on Tribal properties. It is believed that establishing a group of government applicators who have been successful in obtaining a license may facilitate efforts by additional tribal members to become Private Applicators.  An opportunity to organize and deliver resources to reach this goal occurred on the Flathead Reservation.
The new Tribal Flathead Reservation agent Rene Kittle initiated and organized a spring meeting in which 46 non-tribal, tribal and government agency personnel participated and were licensed. For details of this meeting go to http://scarab.msu.montana.edu/PAT/PATR/PATR.htm. Note the tabs at the bottom of the browser window allow navigation between Components, Time line, Agenda, Expense and Reporting pages.
To reach the MSU/USDA RUP Record Keeping Project goal of training Private applicators to keep RUP records on reservations, fall training of new agents or reservation personnel without agents is planned to increase the skills and knowledge of Flathead Reservation governmental pesticide applicators. Training will help them maintain their government license and understand the requirements of Private Applicator RUP record keeping.  Government applicators that need to manage pests on land they rent, lease or own will be informed of how to obtain a private applicators license. We expect a percentage of this group to obtain private applicator licenses and act as early adopters of the PAT training process. We believe that a successful group of early adopters will offer even more reservation members support and experience in the PAT process.
We hope to move ahead with the PAT Record Keeping Project using the template <http://scarab.msu.montana.edu/PAT/PATR/PATR.htm> developed using the Flathead Reservation experience.  It will facilitate Tribal committee, Sovereign Nation and RUP Record Keeping requirements at three additional sites in 2006. These sites are: (1) Fort Peck Reservation which is currently without an Agricultural agent, (2) Fort Belknap reservation, from which the agent Don Addy is retiring and (3) Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The template documents and lists the process used to deliver by a new reservation agents training with a RUP component. The template will reduce effort but increase the opportunities of agency personnel to offer a RUP component for county and reservation private applicators attending PAT training sessions.