Writer: Robert Burns (903) 834-6191, rd-burns@tamu.edu
Sources: Drs. Sim Reeves, James Robinson, George Philley, (903) 834- 6191, g-philly@tamu.edu
OVERTON — Today’s pesticide labels are often complex documents, requiring careful study by the pesticide applicator.
“A few years ago they were relatively simple, but not anymore,” said Dr. George Philley, plant pathologist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
Pesticide labels once were short documents, telling the chemical name and the trade name, instructions for use and proper rates and perhaps a signal word to alert the user to the product’s level of toxicity. The documents were usually brief enough to print on the pesticide bag or jug, Philley said. He spoke to more than 100 producers attending the Pesticide Applicator Recertification Course held on Dec. 17 at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Overton.
Today’s labels go into so much detail that often the container has to be specially designed to accommodate the text. Instead of fitting on the bag or jug, the label text may appear in pamphlet or booklet form. Labels now list such things as rules for mixing and loading, cleaning equipment after applications, aerial applications, how long to wait after application to reseed or replant or harvest, worker protection standards, potential environmental hazards, drift coverage, storage and dispensing, total use per season, and interactions with other pesticides, and more.
Moreover, many of the label instructions and restrictions may not be applicable to a specific locale. A large part of the label for a product sold in East Texas, for example, may be relevant only when used in another state or another region of the country.
Therefore, an acceptable technique is to go through the label underlining the parts that apply to the crop, season and location where the product is used.
A common theme to the recertification training at the Overton Center this year was safety. Producers learned how to apply pesticides safely, accurately and economically at the course, plus were given some background on the laws and regulations governing pesticide use in Texas.
“We wanted to give them something more this year than just how to accurately squirt and measure,” said Dr. James Robinson, extension entomologist who helped coordinate the program.
Commercial and non-commercial applicators must obtain five CEU’s each year to maintain their Texas Department of Agriculture license. Of these five units, at least one CEU on two out of three required topics: laws and regulations, integrated pest management (IPM) and drift minimization. Private applicators must acquire 15 CEU’s every five years, with at least two in IPM and two in laws and regulations.
In addition to obeying the law, it’s important for applicators to obey the safety restrictions on a pesticide not only for their own health but to preserve the use of pesticides. Without modern pesticides, food production would be a much more expensive proposition, Philley said. But producers need to remember that some products are very hazardous to the applicator, and that a single, isolated accident can cause hardship for all.
“All it takes, it seems, is one careless person to get hurt or cause damage, for all of us to suffer increased regulations or the taking of the product off the market. It’s also good sense to follow the safety rules because to do so is to be good stewards of the environment,” Philley said.
Extension does not enforce the state and federal laws regulating pesticide use and safety. That job belongs to the Texas Department of Agriculture. Extension’s role is to educate, said Dr. Sim Reeves, an extension agronomist also on the Dec. 17 program.
Still, producers should not hesitate to contact agriculture department’s offices if they have questions about use or their applicator’s license.
“They’re not just out to fine you. They’ll work with you, so don’t be afraid to call them,” Reeves said.
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