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About
RISE
RISE
Facts
Bio, RISE President Allen James
What
is RISE?
RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)® is a national
not-for-profit trade association representing producers and suppliers
of specialty pesticides and fertilizers. Established in 1991, RISE
serves as a resource and advocate on pesticides and fertilizers
and provides current and accurate information on issues and research
affecting the industry. The association also monitors legislative
and regulatory issues in Washington, D.C. and in the states.
What
are specialty pesticides?
Specialty pesticides are pest management tools used to protect health
and safety as well as enhance the quality of life and the environment.
Specialty pesticide products as well as fertilizers are used in
and around homes, businesses and public areas; on lawns, flowers
and trees; in commercial greenhouses and nurseries; on sports turf
including golf courses; and for vegetation management in water,
along roadways, railroads and utility rights-of-ways. The problems
caused by plant diseases as well as pests such as cockroaches, termites,
fire ants, mosquitoes, weeds and rodents, call for the safe and
responsible use of pesticides. Without pesticides, pests pose a
serious health and safety risk to children and adults and can cause
serious damage to homes and structures.
What
are specialty fertilizers?
Specialty fertilizers provide essential plant nutrients, including
micronutrients. These products are formulated to deliver the optimal
amount of nutrients to plants to promote healthy and vigorous growth.
Healthy plants are better able to withstand environmental stresses
like drought, insect infestations, disease, weeds, air and water
pollution and overuse. The safe and responsible use of specialty
fertilizers improves our environment by promoting the vigorous growth
of desirable plants.
Who Are RISE Members?
RISE members are basic manufacturers, formulators, distributors
and others involved with specialty pesticides and fertilizers used
for professional applications and general consumer use through retail
outlets. The industry served by RISE is comprised of seven major
segments:
1.
Structural Pest Control -pesticides used to control termites, fleas,
carpenter ants, rodents & cockroaches to lessen threats to human
health and risk of structural damage.
2.
Turf and Ornamental -pest management products and fertilizers used
to promote healthy turfgrass and landscaping.
3.
Vegetation Management -pesticides to control noxious weeds and brush
along roads, railroad rights-of-way and public utilities. Fertilization
for encouragement of desirable vegetation and turf.
4.
Nursery and Greenhouse - pesticides, sometimes used with fertilizers,
to protect and enhance commercially grown shrubs, trees and plants
from weeds and insects.
5.
Forestry - Specialty pesticides and fertilizers are used to control
undesirable vegetation and enhance tree growth, thus reducing the
chance of wildfire and improving the quality of the forest.
6. Aquatics - products used to keep weeds from choking lakes, rivers
and streams, and to protect human lives.
7.
Public Health - products that control mosquitoes and ticks as well
as other carriers or transmitters of infections, disease or human
allergens.
What
does RISE do?
RISE is a resource to the media and key influencers. RISE provides
journalists and others such as Extension agents with current and
accurate information on key pesticide and fertilizer issues. The
association provides industry viewpoints from its members, as well
as legislative viewpoints through its work with legislators and
regulators in Washington and in states. RISE has news releases,
fact sheets and other valuable information posted on its web site
at www.pestfacts.org.
RISE
communicates with legislators. Headquartered in Washington, D.C.,
RISE staff provides information to key lawmakers whose decisions
affect the entire industry. RISE educates legislators about the
benefits of specialty pesticide and fertilizer use and the risks
posed by pests, that left untreated can cause serious health and
safety threats.
RISE
works with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). RISE has an
excellent working relationship with the EPA and is a resource for
the Agency. RISE and EPA have also worked together on projects such
as the Consumer Labeling Initiative, a campaign encouraging people
to read and follow household product labels (including pesticides)
before using.
RISE
teams up with other national industry associations. RISE allies
itself with an array of groups serving the pest management and fertilizer
industry. A few include:
- Golf
Course Superintendents of America
- National
Arborist Association
- National
Pest Management Association
- Professional
Lawn Care Association of America
- National
Roadside Vegetation Management Association
- Mountain
Lakes Vegetation Management Society
- State
turf, ornamental and vegetation management associations
- State
fertilizer associations
- State
agribusiness association
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