Sam Polly, coordinator of University of Missouri Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program, wants to make Missouri a safer place that allows Missouri’s agricultural economy to continue to grow.
Polly says the program is the backbone of agricultural and commercial pest management in Missouri. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries contribute $369 million annually to the state’s economy.
MU Extension and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency observe National Pesticide Safety Education Month in February to raise awareness for pesticide safety education and share best practices for using pesticides in and around the farm and home.
In 2023, Polly and his team taught more than 3,300 people at 130 private applicator training programs and 1,600 people at 35 commercial applicator trainings statewide. In addition to teaching pesticide safety to adults, Polly and his team also taught younger groups through 4-H and FFA. To learn more, search for “pesticide safety” at https://extension.missouri.edu or visit https://www.epa.gov/pesticides.
