While everyone would like to avoid a fire in a pesticide storage area, waiting to prepare until a fire incident occurs is too late. There are a number of steps to take to help avoid or to mitigate injury, losses,…

Pesticides are a significant investment for many ag producers, and cold weather during storage can ruin some pesticides. Pesticides also must be stored properly and in a secured place to meet regulations and to keep persons and the environment safe. …

February is National Pesticide Safety Education Month. This is a time to reinforce the core principals of safe and responsible pesticide use with many audiences. Pesticides are key tools used to manage a diverse group of pests, diseases, and weeds.…

As winter begins to wind down, growers need to get their equipment ready for the coming growing season. When it is time to begin spraying and planting, you don’t want to spend precious time fixing and repairing equipment. It is…

New laws and regulations governing the sale, use, and storage of pesticides, as well as changes to training and certification standards, were approved earlier this year and will be implemented in 2023.  This is the most significant change to the…

Across Kentucky and the United States, there is a patchwork of counties that are home to various endangered and threatened species. Some may be listed as species under ‘consideration,’ such as the monarch butterfly, or those that are in ‘recovery.’…

Applicators and their employees using pesticides and uses that fall under Worker Protection Standards (WPS) must follow OSHA respirator requirements when a respirator is listed under the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Respirators are required when it is determined that…

In December 2016, the EPA published the final rule to improve all applicator certification and training standards. While implementation of this plan has been plagued by delays at the Federal level, our new plan for Kentucky has been reviewed and…

Pesticides are not cheap and some are not always easy to come by. Pesticides represent a significant investment for those who use pesticides regularly. Generally, most pesticides are intended to have a 2- to 3-year storage life. Too much time…

On December of 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the final rule to improve pesticide applicator certification and training standards. Implementation of this plan has been plagued by delays, but a new plan for Kentucky has been reviewed and…

Most agricultural pesticide labels list use rates on a per acre basis, but this can pose an issue for many producers of specialty crops. Often only a small fraction of an acre needs to be treated and it is important…

A key component of integrated pest management (IPM) is the appropriate use of pesticides. Understanding how to read, interpret, and follow instructions on a pesticide label is critical for effective use of a product. A free EPA webinar provides tips…

Early spring is the start of alfalfa weevil season, and treatments are beginning to be applied to control this pest. There have been reports of poor weevil control with pyrethroid insecticides in some fields. There can be several reasons why…

Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide that was used in many agricultural systems to protect plants, as well as for protection of seeds stored after harvest. Chlorpyrifos was first registered in 1965. It has been used for a large variety of…