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Since 1893,

Providing Peace of Mind
to New England & Upstate
New York Residents and Businesses

Organic

To maintain organic food standards with our pest management, Waltham Services’ focuses on inspection, sanitation, structural maintenance, and mechanical control measures to minimize pest activity. Pesticides approved for use in organic food producing facilities may be applied when warranted on a very limited basis, and on a last resort basis. When pesticide materials are applied, Waltham Services does so in compliance with the National Organic Program (NOP), adhering to product labeling and pesticide regulations.

The following Pest Management Protocol is based on the Nation Organic Program (NOP) and the NOP Standards. Waltham Services uses this outline as an essential guide in the prevention and control of pests at organic facilities.

Step 1: Pest Prevention Philosophy

  • Inspect and make recommendations on environmental factors that will help minimize pest entry, such as the installation of appropriate exterior lighting, humidity control, and maintaining positive indoor air pressure.
  • Identify and report structural deficiencies that may be conducive to pest entry and/or promote pest development and distribution.
  • Maintain a focus on interior and exterior housekeeping in effort to prevent pest harborage, specifically looking for spillage, refuse, and other debris that may contribute to pest activity.

Step 2: Mechanical and Physical Pest Protocol

  • Physical Pest Removal: Advise that vacuuming is the preferred method of removing dead insects and pest debris such as webbing, frass, droppings and cast skins from floors, walls, and equipment.
  • Mechanical Pest Removal: Install and maintain mechanical trapping devices for rodent and insect control to minimize the need of pesticide application. Examples include snap traps, multiple-catch mouse traps, insect light traps, and sticky traps (rodent/insect glue boards).
  • Lures and Repellents: Monitoring the activity of certain pests can be accomplished with the installation of specific pheromone lures and Waltham Watchman™ insect monitors. Based on inspection findings and previous problems, Waltham Services may recommend continuous use of monitors for certain pest activity, such as stored product pest, or to help pinpoint areas and products that may have become infested. Exterior bird repellents and physical exclusion devices may also be recommended to exclude birds.
  • Temperature Control: When conditions are applicable and the product integrity and quality will not be adversely affected, temperature manipulation (heat or cold) sufficient to ensure pest mortality may be recommended.

Step 3: Cooperative Effort

  • Should “first-line” defense efforts (as described above) prove to insufficiently control pests, consideration will be given to limited pesticide application.
  • Materials of choice include pyrethrum, boric acid, essential plant oils, desiccant dusts, and vitamin D for rodent control.
  • Waltham Services will ensure that any material applied in this step of the process is authorized for use on the “List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances” published in the OMRI list of NOP approved materials and is in compliance with the USDA approved certifying agency recommendations.

Step 4: Application of Material not on the National Organic Program

  • Should satisfactory control of a pest infestation be unachievable by means of prevention, mechanical control, or through use of approved materials, Waltham Services may recommend the use of materials not listed on the National List of Allowed substances to treat an infested area.
  • Should this final control method become necessary, Waltham Services will outline the recommended procedure in advance of any treatment and follow the specific steps outlined during the treatment to ensure that no organic product comes in contact in any way with the material used.

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