January - February 2017 CI by Cornerstone Association Management

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2017

CONTROLLING INTEREST NEWSLETTER OF THE NEW ENGLAND PEST MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. 2017 SPRING TRAINING SEMINAR & EXPO On March 2 and 3, the Crowne Plaza BostonWoburn and NEPMA’s Spring Training Seminar & Expo is the place to be for some of the best pest management training anywhere in New England and to earn valuable credits for licensing requirements at the same time!

of the Select Insurance Agency will speak about Termite Jobs Gone Bad and Kevin Moran, BCE of Forshaw will speak on Termite Treatments. This will be followed by Richard Berman, entomologist who will speak on Termite Best Practices.

NEPMA’s Education Committee led by Chairman Galvin C. Murphy of Yankee Pest Services have put together two days packed with great speakers and topics giving participants the ability to earn seven credit hours each day.

Everyone is encouraged to stay that afternoon and attend our dinner program. It is a great opportunity to network with other pest management professionals as well as with the representatives of the vendor companies. Make plans to join us as we welcome Dominique Stumpf, CMP, CAE, and Chief Executive Officer of Dominique Stumpf the National Pest Management Association. With her busy schedule, we are honored to have her join us as our Thursday evening dinner speaker. In her role, she has her finger on the pulse of our industry and oversees the association’s day-to-day operations and is a key player in the association’s response to news and happenings that impact what we do every day. Whether monitoring things on Capitol Hill, designing new and innovative programs and services for members, Dominique champions the cause for all of us.

Ed Freytag

On Thursday, March 2, Ed Freytag, Senior Entomologist with the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite & Rodent Control Board will make the trip north to speak about Case Studies in Termite Colony Foraging and Migration as part of Thursday morning’s termite program.

Dr. Robert Davis, Entomologist of BASF Pest Control Solutions will get down to Termite Basics (and beyond) when he conducts an intensive two-hour program during the second Thursday morning session. During a special Thursday Dr. Robert Davis morning Fumigation program, Ken Kendall, V.P. Technical Services & Government Affairs for Ensystex will offer four hours of specialized instruction addressing Structural and Commodity Fumigation-Keeping It Safe and Effective. Our afternoon concurrent sessions will offer three programs on termites. Frank McDonald

On Friday, March 3rd Mark Weaver, BCE of M.D. Weaver will conduct a two-hour session, Pest Identification & Morphology, where he will cover the basics of insects and arachnids including a detailed look at insect anatomy. This will be followed up by Richard Spigler, III, BCE from FMC who will speak about Ants and Occasional Invaders during the second part of Friday morning’s structural pest control program.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Ted Brayton, ACE, Griggs & Browne Pest Control, Abington, MA President-elect: Galvin J. Murphy, Yankee Pest Control, Inc., Malden, MA Clerk: Tom Drapeau, Freedom Pest Control, Topsfield, MA Treasurer: Steve Oles, Orkin, Inc., Northwood, NH Immediate Past President: Jeffrey Weisberg, A-1 Exterminators, Inc., Lynn, MA Directors: Mike Bourdeau, FLynn Pest Control, Rehoboth, MA Doug Fleischer, Pestex, Newtonville, MA D.J. Flynn, Burgess Pest Management, West Bridgewater, MA James Merrill, F & W Pest Control, Wrentham, MA Mike Peaslee, Modern Pest Services, Brunswick, ME Kevin Vaughn, General Environmental Services, Inc., Malden, MA

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Awards: Maria Richmond, Ransford Environmental Solutions, Inc., Worcester, MA By-laws: James Merrill, F & W Pest Control, Wrentham, MA Controlling Interest: Tom Drapeau, Freedom Pest Control Co., Inc., Topsfield, MA and Doug Fleischer, Pestex, Newtonville, MA Education/WDI Program: Galvin C. Murphy, ACE, Yankee Pest Control, Inc., Malden, MA Ethics: Jonathan Boyar, Ecologic Entomology, LLC, Boston, MA and Bob Leon, General Environmental Services, Malden, MA Financial Review: Bob Leon, General Environmental Services, Inc., Malden, MA and D.J. Flynn, Burgess Pest Management, W. Bridgewater, MA Fundraising: Marillian Missiti, Buono Pest Control Co., Inc., Belmont, MA and Galvin J. Murphy, Yankee Pest Control, Malden, MA General Environmental Services, Malden, MA Nominating Committee: Bob Leon, General Environmental Services, Inc., Malden, MA and George Williams, ACE, Univar, Woburn, MA NPMA/QualityPro: Bill Siegel, Orkin, Inc., Ipswich, MA Membership: Tom Drapeau, Freedom Pest Control Co., Inc., Topsfield, MA and Doug Fleischer, Pestex, Newtonville, MA Public Policy: Ted Burgess, Burgess Pest Management, W. Bridgewater, MA and Mike Peaslee, Modern Pest Services, Brunswick, ME Public Relations: Marillian Missiti, Buono Pest Control Co., Inc., Belmont, MA and George Williams, ACE, Univar, Woburn, MA Scholarship: Matt Kreimeyer Best Pest Control Services, Inc., Somerville, MA Social Media: Kevin Vaughn, General Environmental Services, Inc., Malden, MA and Mike Bourdeau, Flynn Pest Control, Rehoboth, MA Vendor Relations: Kelley Altland, Bell Laboratories, Manchester, CT and Kevin Moran, BCE, Forshaw, Inc., Canton, MA Executive Director: Walter Perry (wperry@cornerstoneam.com)

CONTROLLING INTEREST Controlling Interest is published six (6) times per year by the New England Pest Management Association and is distributed free to its members. Readers are encouraged to submit articles, announcements, reviews of products, or letters. To submit articles or to inquire about advertising rates and information, contact NEPMA at 53 Regional Drive, Suite 1, Concord, NH 03301, call toll-free at (866) 386-3762, or email info@nepma.org. The New England Pest Management Association believes that the information in this publication is accurate as of its publication date but is not responsible for inadvertent errors. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any fashion without the written consent of the editor.

www.NEPMA.org

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During a special Problem Animal Control program track on Friday morning, Kelley Altand of Bell Laboratories will cover Vole and Mole Control. Mike Bourdeau of Flynn Pest Control will address Bird Control and Exclusion Techniques will be covered by Dan Rao, ACE of M.D. Weaver. Our afternoon concurrent sessions will offer two programs on Rodents including Burrow Baiting of Rodents conducted by Shelia Haddad of Bell Laboratories and Rodents as Economic Pests and the Use of Chemicals by John Murphy of Liphatech. Joe Barile, BCE of Bayer will present during a third concurrent on Cockroaches. For further information on the Spring Training Seminar & Expo go to our website www.nepma.org. Last minute registrations can be made online through the website until February 27.

MA PESTICIDE APPLICATOR CORE EXAM COACHING PROGRAM NEPMA offers an intensive coaching program designed to assist you as you prepare your pest control professionals to take the MA CORE Exam. Two programs are scheduled for this spring all held close to expected Core exam dates. We know how important it is for you as an employer to make sure that your employees are well-prepared to take the exam and earn their Core license. This program is designed to supplement your own in-house exam prep training. Our program will focus on: the exam process and what one should expect to see on the exam and how best to focus study efforts; a review of key rules and regulations and an overview of information contained in the Core Manual. While our program cannot guarantee participants will pass the exam, it is intended to offer pointers and tips to help exam takers better position themselves to take the exam. The two dates and locations to choose from are: Monday, April 17, 2017 at the Moose Family Center in Marlborough, MA

Connect with your colleagues. Join us on

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CONTROLLING INTEREST Monday, May 22, 2017 at the Univar Offices in Woburn, MA Richard Berman, entomologist, pest industry consultant and trainer will be the instructor for these two programs. The following study materials should be secured to both prepare for the exam and to participate in our program. Links are given on our website to order or download the materials. Exam study and preparation should be in process before our sessions. Attendees should bring their study materials to the session, along with note paper and something to write with. •

Core Manual (3rd Ed.) with MA Core Supplement (2014)

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Chapter 132B (MA Pesticide Control Act) This is the pesticide law and includes the amendments referred to as The Children & Families Protection Act (Sections C-6K)

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333CMR (Code of MA Regulations) These are the pesticide rules and regulations, including the school pesticide use regulations (333CMR 14)

For further information on this coaching program and to register please go to our website www.nepma.org

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Pest Management Association created the Mark Weintraub Scholarship, named after one of NEPMA’s founders. This scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving student who is planning to continue on to higher education or who is currently enrolled in higher education. This scholarship is open to all NEPMA members, their employees, and their immediate families in the New England area. The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, April 13, 2017. The application is available on the www.nepma.org website. The Mark Weintraub Scholarship has given more than $40,000 to 20-plus recipients; funds are raised through various NEPMA events.

NEPMA Political Action Committee The New England Pest Management Association’s Political Action Committee is a voluntary, nonpartisan, political committee representing the interests of the pest management industry. It is organized exclusively to raise funds for protecting and perpetuating the interests of the industry. The NEPMA-PAC was established to defend and promote the needs and desires of the New England Pest Management Association and its members interests through political action.

As reported earlier, the US EPA issued the final rule on the certification of applicators (including non-certified applicators applying restricted use products) on December 12, 2016.

Together, the Board of Directors and the Government Affairs Chair, appointed by the President of the Association organize, operate and approve all activities and actions of the NEPMA-PAC in accordance with the Massachusetts State Laws governing Election Campaign Funding. NEPMA-PAC does not participate in Federal elections.

The rule has been submitted for publication. The rule is not official until published in the Federal Register. In the meantime, a prepublication version was released that is being submitted for the Federal Register. The publication is over 400 pages, but for those interested it can be viewed at https:// www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-12/ documents/prepubcopy_certifiedapplicators_frm_ fr_document_2016-12-12.pdf

To accomplish important objectives, the NEPMAPAC seeks to receive and expend contributions for the purposes of supporting candidate for public office who agree with the objectives of our interests. An analysis of many factors including the candidate’s dedication to the legislative goals of the pest management industry, voting record and political principals are used in selecting candidates to support.

The states have three years to come into compliance and submit necessary program revisions, and EPA has another two years to review and approve plans, so nothing is going to happen quickly.

Political action has no muscle without financial resources. For any individuals who would like to contribute to the NEPMA-PAC, please contact our executive director, Walter Perry at wperry@cornerstoneam.com or by calling 866-3863762.

EPA CERTIFICATION OF APPLICATORS By Richard Berman

NEPMA Scholarship In 1994 under the leadership of Rod Kreimeyer, Best Pest Control Services, Inc., the New England

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industry.”

NPMA Executive Leadership Program Class of 2017 Announced The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) announced selection of the association’s Executive Leadership Program (ELP) inaugural class of participants, marking an important strategic step toward cultivating a representative pipeline of candidates for leadership opportunities within NPMA for years to come. “The value NPMA brings to our memberships is directly correlated with the quality of diverse experiences and unique industry expertise that our members bring into the association’s leadership roles,” said NPMA Chief Executive Officer Dominique Stumpf. “The participants of the ELP’s 2017 class will play an important role in a broader plan to ensure our association maintains a pipeline of leadership candidates that are well-positioned to help our members successfully navigate an ever-evolving

The ten candidates of the ELP’s inaugural class were selected through a rigorous application process, which vetted more than 40 applications from across the country. Applicants were selected based on broad criteria, which accounted for leadership potential, industry participation and commitment to professional development, among other factors. Congratulations to David Flynn, Operations Manager, Burgess Pest Management (Bridgewater, Mass.) and NEPMA Board of Director for being selected as one of the participants in the Executive Leadership Program Class of 2017. During the two-year curriculum, candidates will participate in training sessions and courses designed to cultivate skills and knowledge essential to successful organizational leadership within NPMA and beyond. Training will encompass a comprehensive range of competencies including: the history of NPMA and its future plans, industry trends and consumer insights, inclusion and diversity training, executive etiquette, public policy and legislative issue navigation and community

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engagement, along with a suite of skills related to strategic management and planning. The Executive Leadership Program is an NPMA initiative designed to find passionate, committed, and engaged individuals from all parts of the country who want to enhance the association and the membership experience. Applications for participation will be accepted on an ongoing annual basis. Visit http://npmapestworld.org/aboutnpma/executive-leadership-program/ to learn about the program, the applicant criteria and to download the application.

What Is QualityPro NPMA

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QualityPro is an industry program designed to increase professionalism of the industry through self-regulation; stimulate consumer demand through increased confidence and a higher public perception of industry professionalism; create common sense, quality industry standards; and provide marketing opportunities to participating companies by recognizing commitment to excellence and higher performance standards. This is a company, not individual, designation. Reserved as an exclusive NPMA member benefit, this corporate program is designed to separate QualityPro companies from the competition and

Tired of the rat race? Modern Pest Services has been an industry leader for over 65 years and we’re always open to strategic acquisition opportunities, particularly in the residential market. If you’re interested in having your business become part of one of New England’s fastest-growing and most progressive companies, please contact us.

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increase the overall professionalism of the industry. As QualityPro members inform consumers about QualityPro, through the marketing tools provided, you will increase your business. In addition, this program will encourage QualityPro companies to hire smartly, train correctly, and upgrade professionalism through the training and education of service technicians and sales personnel.

a QualityPro program and determine whether this type of program would make a difference to consumers, regulators, and the media. Research included discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state pesticide officials, and national media. NPMA also conducted focus groups to discover how consumers would view this program.

QualityPro companies are environmentally responsible, and committed to providing consumers with the highest possible service. Built around the four key principles of Business Operations, Consumer Relations, Environmental Stewardship, and Technician Training, the QualityPro certification is designed to be feasible and affordable for every company in the pest management industry.

Research findings were overwhelmingly positive. Most importantly, in the focus groups, consumers replied positively to this type of program. When asked, “Imagine this national organization that we’ve been talking about would offer a Seal of Approval for their members.” Comments included:

Operators of all sizes from around the country have been involved in the program since its inception, assuring you of the highest quality program.

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Why Do You Need QualityPro? The pest management industry needs to raise the bar for quality. Consumers are unsure how to choose a pest management professional. QualityPro makes it easier to select companies by more clearly identifying pest management companies that excel. As a result of these pressures on the industry to stimulate growth in the marketplace, a broad range of industry stakeholders called upon NPMA to organize a program designed to recognize professionalism in the industry. The group asked NPMA to develop a seal of approval for the pest management industry. NPMA set out to determine the feasibility of

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“That [seal] would tell me the company knows what it is doing.” “A seal would raise the bar for pest control operators.” “It means the company is more qualified and had to meet additional requirements.” “The company cares enough about doing a good job that they will go the extra mile.”

The research results provided a validation of the opportunity to influence the attitudes of consumers, the media, and regulators with regard to the pest management industry. Improving the Industry Over the last five years, NPMA has been focused on meeting the challenges facing our industry. Now NPMA is moving from a reactive mode to a proactive mode. Government affairs is shaping policy, rather than defending it, and the Professional Pest Management Alliance is taking our messages

CALENDAR OF EVENTS March 2 & 3, 2017

NEPMA Spring Training Seminar & Expo Crowne Plaza, Woburn, MA

March 12-14, 2017

NPMA Legislative Day 2017 Capital Hilton, Washington, DC

March 29, 2017

NEPMA Legislative Day Boston, MA

April 5, 2017

NEPMA Board of Director meeting Yankee Pest Services, Malden, MA

April 17, 2017

MA Pesticide Applicator Core Exam Coaching Program Moose Family Center, Marlborough, MA

May 22, 2017

MA Pesticide Applicator Core Exam Coaching Program Univar, Woburn, MA

CONTROLLING INTEREST directly to the consumer and controlling our own destiny. QualityPro is the next step in this proactive approach. How Do You Become QualityPro? A wide range of materials will be available for companies that are interested in becoming QualityPro certified. The program’s unique structure is designed to be inclusive, offering opportunities for direct industry involvement from small companies to large corporations. QualityPro isn’t designed to impose a set of standards, it is designed to raise the bar by providing every company with the tools you need to excel in this industry. Once you apply, you will receive a Resource Manual with these useful materials. Look for the TOOLBOX symbol throughout this book, which indicates which material will be included in the Resource Manual. The value of these tools alone justifies your cost. Qualifications To become QualityPro, a company must certify that it: • • • • • • • • • •

Has job applicants fill out an application Conducts interviews before hiring Checks references Conducts criminal background checks Conducts motor vehicle records checks Has a drug-free workplace policy Meets minimum insurance policy requirements Meets QualityPro company service vehicle standards Has a standard dress policy Has an on-the-job safety policy

About Waltham Services

Founded in 1893, Waltham Services has grown to the largest pest control provider in New England. Our company’s growth did not happen by chance, it’s a reflection of our commitment to long, profitable relationships with our coworkers and customers. We are proud of our reputation; built upon decades of personalized attention to solving and preventing the most stubborn pest problems. If you are considering a change and your plans include selling your company, please consider Waltham Services.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Advertises according to QualityPro standards Has a termite warranty/service agreement that meets requirements Has a customer communications policy Ensures employees are tested and trained to the highest industry standards. Provides an IPM information sheet to consumers Practices proper pesticide handling Has ensured that technicians and sales employees pass a state administered or QualityPro exam Agree to complaint-triggered audits ensuring adherence to QualityPro guidelines To support the program and QualityPro companies, NPMA will: Provide a training manual with sample materials and practice exam questions Provide support materials such as sample employment application, affinity programs, a safe driving video, and more Create marketing materials for QualityPro companies to give to consumers Offer experts to answer questions and explain requirements Create an oversight committee to run the program and handle complaints.

Application Process Any NPMA member in good standing who has been in business at least two years can apply to be QualityPro approved. Applications will be accepted automatically if all membership requirements are met. If an applicant is rejected for any reason, the

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applicant may seek reconsideration by submitting a request to QualityPro. The request should provide a detailed explanation of why the company satisfies the standards for admission. The Compliance Committee will determine the status within 90 days.

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An applicant who is rejected for membership may reapply six months after the date of the final decision. If an applicant is rejected, all application fees will be returned minus a $150 processing fee.

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The QualityPro program is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of QualityPro industry professionals. This Board also acts as a compliance committee to hear appeals or complaints. The compliance process has been designed to ensure confidentiality and to be fair and equitable to all QualityPro companies.

Mark Your Calendar for NPMA Legislative Day 2017 The National Pest Management Association will hold its annual Legislative Day on March 12-14, 2017 in Washington, DC at the Capital Hilton. For 29 years, pest management professionals have directly impacted federal public policy by visiting their Members of Congress at NPMA’s Legislative Day. In fact, it’s proven that in-person visits have the most impact on a Senator or Representative who is undecided on an issue. The fact is, nothing makes a bigger impression on your legislators than a visit from YOU. NPMA’s visits to Capitol Hill during Legislative Day this March will provide a tremendous opportunity to make an impression on your Members of Congress. Use this opportunity to establish a line of communication and develop a relationship with your Representative, Senators, and their staff. After all, they work for you. The reality is that no single voice carries more weight with your elected officials than your own. And, while NPMA provides the strength, the vision, and the infrastructure to move the industry forward in order to grow, the biggest part of this successful equation is you. This is your opportunity to make a difference.

Member Benefit HR Consultant All NPMA members can call, email or text Seay Management Consultants to speak with one of their HR consultants free of charge regarding any

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Stuart Aust, President & CEO, Bug Doctor Termite and Pest Control has been working with Select Insurance for five years. The company handles insurance needs for all of Aust’s divisions, including Bird Doctor Nationwide, Mosquito Doctor, Bedbug Doctor, Animal Doctor and the original Bug Doctor.

• Select Insurance Agency is a family-owned and operated business that provides insurance products specifically tailored to meet the risk management needs of the pest management industry in over 45 States Nationwide.

“It is a privilege and an honor to work with the Select Insurance team. The owners, Phillis and Frank MacDonald, run a first class organization. What differentiates Select Insurance from the competition is that they are extremely responsive, their costs are very competitive, working with them is seamless, and they are the complete package. They only sell us what we need and never try to pressure us to buy additional insurance to enhance their bottom line.”

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— Stuart Aust, President & CEO, Bug Doctor Termite and Pest Control

“They can talk shop with us,“Aust says. “They totally understand what we’re doing. They understand all facets of pest control.”

Pictured: Frank and Phillis MacDonald, Select Insurance Agency

• Automobile & Fleet Coverages • Workers’ Compensation • Umbrella • Commercial Property • Employment Practices Liability • Commercial Crime • Canine Mortality • Mold Liability • As former pest management professionals, Select’s owners understand that every pest management professional operates his or her business differently, resulting in a variety of exposures and risks. Select considers each business individually before developing a pest management insurance program and assigning a carrier. • Select Insurance Agency is a proud member of the National Pest Management Association, and maintains many state and regional memberships as well.

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CONTROLLING INTEREST employment issue that arises in your business. There is no limit to the number of calls that a member can make, however, if you have a situation that requires more attention, such as developing an employee handbook, compensation program, or EEOC discrimination investigations, NPMA members receive a 15% discount.

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Wednesday, March 29 Hilton Garden Inn Freeport, ME

Managing Underground Safety Training

Monday, April 3 Northern Maine Community College Presque Isle, ME

Managing Underground Safety Training’s mission is to promote underground facility safety through training efforts in cooperation with Dig Safe®, underground facility owners, private locating companies, municipalities, excavators, and regulatory agencies, and to continually evaluate the New England one-call laws and underground safety best practices. Prepare your field crews for a safe excavation season ahead with a free, 3-hour breakfast seminar. Learn about the potential safety hazards of utility damage, the “Dig Safe” laws and rules, new methods of call center notification, damage prevention best practices, utility marking standards, what to do if a line is damaged, and the enforcement process. Below is a list of their scheduled safety training. Further information and registration is at their website www.must-ne.com MASSACHUSETTS Tuesday, February 28 Terrazza Ristorante The Country Club of Greenfield Greenfield, MA Wednesday, March 1 Carriage House, Eastern States Exposition Springfield, MA Thursday, March 2 Holiday Inn Taunton, MA Tuesday, March 7 Great Wolf Lodge Fitchburg, MA Wednesday, March 8 Holiday Inn Peabody, MA Thursday, March 9 DiBurro’s Function Facility Haverhill, MA

Monday, March 27 Spectacular Events Center Bangor, ME Tuesday, March 28 Calumet Club Augusta, ME

Thursday, March 30 Union Bluff – Meeting House York, ME

Tuesday, April 4 Atlantic Oceanside Bar Harbor, ME Thursday, June 1 Maine Chapter APWA - Annual Highway Congress Skowhegan, ME NEW HAMPSHIRE Tuesday, March 14 Keene State College Keene, NH Wednesday, March 15 Holiday Inn Concord, NH Thursday, March 16 Ashworth by the Sea Hampton, NH Tuesday, March 21 Puritan Conference & Event Center Manchester, NH RHODE ISLAND Wednesday, May 31 Ocean State Construction & Equipment Expo Warwick, RI VERMONT Tuesday, April 4 Hampton Inn Colchester, VT Wednesday, April 5 Elks Lodge of Montpelier Montpelier, VT Thursday, April 6 Quality Inn & Conference Center Brattleboro, VT

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CONTROLLING INTEREST

NEPMA e-Newsletter Coming To Your Inbox The New England Pest Management Association wants its news and information widely accessible by all members including employees of member companies. One of the ways we will accomplish this is that with every issue of Controlling Interest there will be an electronic version created, in addition to the print version. While members will continue to receive a printed copy of the newsletter an electronic version of the newsletter will be created and emailed out to all members. Our goal is to also email it out to all employees of member companies. To accomplish this we would like to have all member companies email us a list to info@nepma.org which would include employees names and email address that we can then email out each issue of the e-CI.

A BEE MOGUL CONFRONTS THE CRISIS IN HIS FIELD By Stephanie Strom, NY Times A soft light was just beginning to outline the Tejon Hills as Bret Adee counted rows of wizened almond trees under his breath. He placed a small white flag at the end of every 16th row to show his employees where they should place his beehives. Every so often, he fingered the buds on the trees. “It won’t be long,” he said. Mr. Adee (pronounced Ay-Dee) is America’s largest beekeeper, and this is his busy season. Some 92,000 hives had to be deployed before those buds burst into

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blossom so that his bees could get to the crucial work of pollination. But it is notable that he has a business at all. For the last decade, a mysterious plague has killed billions of bees every year. “Every year at this time of year, we wonder are there going to be enough bees,” said Bob Curtis, director of agricultural affairs at the Almond Board, a trade group for almond growers. Pollination services, as the bees’ work is known in the industry, has risen this year to between $180 to $200 a hive from an average of $154 a hive in 2006, Mr. Curtis said. There would be no almond crop — not to mention avocados, apples, cherries and alfalfa — without honeybees. Of the 100 crops that account for 90 percent of the food eaten around the globe, 71 rely on bee pollination, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Demand for Mr. Adee’s bees is soaring in part because a poorly understood plague, known as colony collapse, has decimated the nation’s bee population in the last decade. The cause is widely debated: Some cite climate change affecting habitat, others the proliferation of certain pesticides, but most believe the problem has multiple factors. Whatever the reason, in the year that ended in April 2016, 44 percent of the overall commercial bee population died. In a typical year before the plague, only 10 percent to 15 percent would have died, and

ASK MR. PEST CONTROL Sick Day

QUESTION: Can a crack and crevice treatment be performed with a microencapsulated product in an office while people are working? ANSWER: The answer mostly depends on the product label. Product labels normally have restrictions against applications in occupied patient rooms or classrooms. They may have an additional restriction against applications when occupants are in the immediate area or room being treated. So you should choose a product that doesn’t have this additional restriction. However, I don’t recommend spraying a liquid product in front of office employees. If possible, baits are a better option or schedule the treatment around work hours. From my experience, it’s common for at least one employee to claim that they began to feel sick after a treatment. Whether or not the claim is true is not for a PMP to decide. It’s just best to avoid this situation as much as you can. —Mr. Pest Control (Editor’s note: Articles from the Ask Mr. Pest Control series are reprinted with permission from Univar. Mr. Pest Control is answering questions supplied by PMP customers across North America. His answers are generated from industry and manufacturerprovided information. The answer may not be specific to the laws and regulations for your State, Province, Territory or Country. In addition, products mentioned may not be registered and or available in all areas. Always check with your local Univar office for specific information to your area. Always read and follow label directions.)

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PAGE 22

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CONTROLLING INTEREST Mr. Adee’s losses would have been between 3 and 7 percent. “Over the last five years, I think this small industry could easily have lost $1.2 billion worth of bees,” Mr. Adee said. To put that in context: The total United States commercial bee business had a value of only about $500 million in 2012, according to the Honey Bee Advisory Council, created by Monsanto in 2012 to study its impact on bee health. Nor is the problem limited to honeybees. The bumblebee was scheduled to be listed under the Endangered Species Act on Feb. 10, but the Trump administration put the plan aside, pending further review. The E.P.A. has not responded to requests for comment. This is pollination season for America’s almond trees. As a result, in recent weeks almost two-thirds of the country’s commercial bees have started buzzing through California’s orchards. Some of the bees have been shipped in from as far away as Florida. Adee Honey Farms has some 92,000 hives, each with roughly 40,000 bees, about 3.5 billion bees in total. Most spend the winter here in hives scattered across a 3,000-acre cattle ranch surrounded by low hills with easy access to water, a necessity for such a concentrated population. During pollination season, the bees are loaded onto a dozen flatbed trucks and nine or 10 tractor-trailers and ferried to work, starting first in the almond orchards in late January, then moving to other California crops like broccoli and avocados. About 10 percent of the Adee bees are dispatched to Oregon and Washington State, where they pollinate cherry and apple trees. They work until early May, when the trucks take them to the Midwest for the summer. Like other commercial beekeepers struggling with the population decline, Mr. Adee has stayed afloat, in part, by acquiring the colonies of other beekeepers: The number of commercial beekeepers (those with more than 300 hives) has dropped, though no one is certain by how many. He has also been forced to split his colonies to rebuild his stocks, a process that entails moving some bees out of one colony and fooling them into building colonies around new queens. Nonetheless, his losses were so high last year that he had to borrow bees to fulfill his contracts. This year, thanks in part to the acquisition another beekeeper’s business, he had bees still waiting for work as he deployed his hives across California in late January. He attributes this year’s relative good fortune to the

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decline last summer of soy aphids, a tiny, translucent, invasive insect from Asia that devastates soybean crops in America. Fewer of the pests meant that many soybean farmers in South Dakota delivered only one application of the pesticide known as neonicotinoids, Mr. Adee said, and the spraying occurred before the arrival of his bees. (Adee bees spend the summer in North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota, and Kelvin Adee raises queen bees in Texas and Mississippi.) Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides that are widely used to kill off aphids and other bugs. Some studies tie them to the declining health of bees and a drop in the populations of birds that depend on those insects for food. In 2013, the European Union and several countries in other areas placed limits on the use of those insecticides. “The more you study it, the more obvious it becomes: the relationship between the pesticides that have been sprayed everywhere over the last 10 years and what’s happening to bees,” Mr. Adee said. Not that he blames any one thing for the problem. Rather, it is that comprehensive research is rarely done, which, he said, would implicate a variety of factors. James Frazier, a bee expert at Pennsylvania State University, agreed. The bee shortage has to do with the overall health of bees, and not one or two specific things. Bees are exposed to a variety of pesticides, all of which can affect their immune systems, he said. That in turn makes them less resistant to diseases and parasites carried by the varroa mite and enables the spread of viruses. “It’s more complicated than trying to cure cancer,” Dr. Frazier said, “because bees are outside, where you have all these uncontrollable things working on them. Bees from one keeper are mixing with those from other populations as their numbers fall. That may aid in the spread of diseases and parasites, said Ann Bartuska, the acting under secretary for research, education and economics at the Agriculture Department. “There is no smoking gun,” Dr. Bartuska said. “We still are trying to tease out what combination of factors really leads to beehive health declines.” Adee Honey Farms was started by Vernon Adee, Mr. Adee’s grandfather, during the Great Depression after he received a letter from his brother in Missouri that read: “I can’t sell chickens or hogs, but I’m doing well with honey. Be advised: Get a beehive.” Vernon Adee and his son, Richard, raised bees for honey production only. But as that business began

CONTROLLING INTEREST to suffer from competition from Chinese and Latin American honey producers, Bret Adee and his brother Kelvin, sons of Richard Adee, figured they needed to develop another business to keep the company afloat. So in 1990, Bret Adee and his wife, Connie, packed their two children (they now have four) into a truck loaded with beehives and moved to Bakersfield, Calif. Today, the pollination business provides two-thirds of the company’s revenue and all of its profits, Mr. Adee said. Because of imported honey, “There’s no money in honey any more,” he said. Nonetheless, his daughter Elizabeth has started selling the family’s honey in farmers’ markets, a tactic she hopes will help revive that portion of the business. When the Adees arrived in Bakersfield in 1990, there were 411,000 acres of farmland planted with almond trees, according to the Agriculture Department. Since then, the number of acres of almond trees has more than doubled, and growers have adopted techniques that are less bee-friendly. Growers previously flooded their orchards with warm water in the early spring to prevent frost from killing the buds. The water gave rise to grasses and weeds

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like dandelions and wild vetch between the rows of trees, giving the bees a source of pollen before the buds burst into bloom. But now, growers aim to conserve water, and because weeds and grasses can trap cool air that can lead to frost, most almond ranchers spray herbicides to keep the rows between their trees free of unwanted growth. To safeguard his bees, Mr. Adee’s employees lay a pad made of yeast, sugar and other nutrients under the lid of a hive to give the bees something to eat before the trees bloom. He also scouts out areas close to uncultivated land or grazing areas with water nearby. His bees spent last fall and early winter in hives scattered about a ranch ringed by the foothills of the Diablo Range and close to aqueducts and other water sources. “They’re far away from anything bad for them,” he said. At the ranch, cattle lazily grazed in the evening amid neatly stacked clusters of hives, looking on curiously when flatbed trucks pulled into load the bees for overnight journeys. The deployment of bees resembles a military operation, with Mr. Adee serving as its commander. Hives must be loaded onto trucks in the evening, four

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hives at a time on pallets precariously balanced on a forklift. Each truck transports 216 hives over dirt roads that, thanks to this season’s rain, were deeply rutted and thick with mud.

such problem that year. I in the documentary made that year, “The Vanishing of the Bees,” he can be heard saying,“We haven’t seen any of this colony-collapse disorder here.”

The Adee bees rent for $200 a hive. On average, Mr. Adee places two hives per acre of almond trees. A 4,500-acre almond orchard would require about 9,000 hives, although growers are free to specify the number of hives they want.

Shortly after the film came out, though, he also lost almost all the family’s bees.

Commercial beekeepers are a tight-knit group, and most new contracts come as referrals from other beekeepers and clients. “It’s kind of like a grapevine,” Mr. Adee said. “If you have to advertise, then you’re not much of a beekeeper.” During pollination season, he typically leaves home at 5:30 a.m. and heads for an orchard or field to map the day’s plan. He relies on two thermoses of coffee to keep him going. Placing flags to mark the spots in orchards where hives are to be placed gives Mr. Adee a chance to survey the terrain. If a row of trees happens to have a low spot, he will place a flag a few rows away to ensure the hives do not stand in water. If his pickup slips in the mud, he makes a call to warn drivers not to take their much heavier equipment down the same path. Mr. Adee marks plot maps with neon Sharpies, using a different color to indicate which crew is to deliver which bees to a particular spot. After setting his crews in action — roughly 100 employees during pollination season, Mr. Adee then makes a second and sometimes a third round of deliveries to orchards, stopping occasionally to right a hive or gently squeeze the tips of branches to gauge when they might bud. He then has an idea when his bees might need to be fed again. Between stops, he talks on the phone — when his cell gets a signal, that is. In one call, he spoke to his foreman about two trucks needing repair. Then he called an independent trucker to see if he could move bees that night, diplomatically sidestepping the man’s request that he also hire a friend. “Well, I won’t know until tonight what’s needed,” Mr. Adee said.

“Still, I was convinced my problem was a virus, not what David had,” Mr. Adee said. “I thought it would take three years for it to run its course, and then we’d be done with it.” But the losses stretched on, into a fourth and then fifth year. Last year, after having lost roughly half of his 90,000 hives, he joined Mr. Hackenberg, other beekeepers and environmental groups in a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency. The suit contends that the E.P.A. broke the law by failing to require registration of seeds coated in pesticides, as many genetically engineered seeds are. “E.P.A.’s actions and inactions have caused both acute honeybee kills and chronic effects leading to excess bee colony mortality, excess bird mortality, nationwide water and soil contamination, and other environmental and economic harms,” the plaintiffs argued. There is no federal insurance program to cover beekeepers. The federal 2008 Farm Bill did allocate $50 million in emergency assistance to cover losses in livestock, farm-raised fish and honeybees, but only through 2011. A year later, the Agriculture Department estimated that beekeepers had spent $2 billion to replace the 10 million hives they had lost in the six years since bee colonies first began experiencing declines. Here, the almond trees are just beginning to bloom. Mr. Adee’s bees work alongside their boss, who is working the phones. Someone on the phone asked him to address a matter that had nothing to do with his bees. “I don’t know that I have time for that,” Mr. Adee said. “Or rather, I know I don’t have time.”

SAVE THE DATE!

After that, he called a lawyer, seeking counsel for a beekeeper who had lost his bees after the ranch across the street sprayed an organic phosphate. “It was an illegal application, and the county knows it,” he said. “But the county is dragging its feet. He needs some help.”

NEW ENGLAND PEST MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

In 2006, David Hackenberg, another beekeeper with a large bee collection, lost 90 percent of them and coined the term colony collapse. Mr. Adee had no

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 29, 2017

LEGISLATIVE DAY

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Dear NEPMA Members, Many of you already know me, but some of you may not know that I am the NPMA State Policy Affairs Representative (SPAR) for NEPMA. What is the SPAR program? The SPAR is the official lead point of contact between our state association and NPMA on federal, state and local public policy issues (e.g. legislation, regulation, local/municipal issues, etc.). NPMA’s Policy Staff consistently monitor state legislative and regulatory activity through their tracking software and share relevant issues, legislation, regulations, and objective analysis with the state association board of directors and the SPAR. It is my job to share the NEPMA position with NPMA and/or request assistance if needed, from the NPMA Public Policy Team. How can I serve you? When it comes to public policy, these decisions will greatly affect each of our businesses, so please use me as a resource. If there is an ordinance, bill, regulation, or anything that affects how you do business, positive or negative—let me know. And I’ll notify our state board and NPMA. Then, we can organize, unify, and use the vast amount resources available to us to advocate for pro-pest management policies. If you have a stance on an issue, please share it with me. It is important that you make your voice heard because without a unified industry, we can’t effectively fight for issues important to the structural pest management industry in the New England states. Can I count on you? Last but not least, I need you. The industry needs you. Your business needs—YOU. When it comes to NPMA’s grassroots campaigns and advocating for the industry—very little gets accomplished without the participation of our membership. And when NEPMA, NPMA or myself asks you to participate in a grassroots campaign, please follow through. These grassroots campaigns can be the difference between a tax break, a tax increase, or a product ban. The SPAR program has stopped a rodenticide ban in California, a huge tax increase in North Carolina, helped pass federal Zika funding, and countless other pro-pest management policies at the federal, state, and local levels. Pest management professionals aren’t people who sit on the sidelines. We know that those who are involved in politics the least, lose the most. In conclusion, if we disengage from the policymaking process at any point, we put everything at risk. So please, make your voice heard, and join me. Because together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.

Sincerely,

Ted Brayton NEPMA SPAR

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