Their misuse not only jeopardizes the registration of pesticides needed by other applicators, but also violates the publics' trust. We are concerned about the federal government's commitment to pesticide safety. Many of the problems that make the evening news or the front page of the paper are more of a media event than a genuine hazard to our food or our environment. Nonetheless, the incessant barrage of negative news creates a decidedly negative view of pesticides in the consumer's mind. Pesticides improve the quality of our food while reducing the risk of having food shortages.
Consumers benefit when foods are abundant.
Consumers need a more balanced view of the benefits and risks associated with the use of pesticides. The cost of their unbalanced view is high. These are not unreasonable wants. Ordinarily, an era of fiscal restraint is not a good time to propose a new program. At the program level EPA and USDA have indicated their willingness to work together to support applicator training and pesticide education.