For farmers, the busiest time of the year is the fall. Adding something else seems to be intolerable, for those farms that have extra pesticides winter storage needs to be added to the long chore list. The best way to ensure that there is no chance of pesticide problems is to return any extra product to a pesticide dealer. If returning pesticide to a dealer is not an option, farms need to have proper pesticide storage. When pesticides are not properly stored there is a chance that products could freeze, containers could be compromised, posing a threat to people, livestock, and the environment.
The easiest way to reduce the risk of pesticide exposure to humans, livestock, and the environment is to have proper pesticide storage. The ideal storage is one that is separate from any other activities. The building should be locked, have a spill kit and a chemical fire extinguisher. The floor should be sealed, with concrete curbs to contain any spills. The building should be clearly marked as pesticide storage. If a farm is unable to dedicate a building for pesticide storage at the very least there should be a cabinet dedicated to storing pesticides. As with the building, the cabinet needs to be locked and clearly labeled as pesticide storage.
Once the storage location is set
There are instances when a farm has outdated, unusable, or even banned pesticides. In these
To find out more information on proper pesticide storage get a copy of “On-farm Agrichemical Storage and Handling”, Michigan State University Extension bulletin E-2355 from the MSU Extension Bookstore. For more information on storage of pesticides and a guide for proper storage temperature of common pesticides obtain a copy of University of Wyoming Extension bulletin MP-93.5, “Cold Weather Storage and Handling of Liquid Pesticides.”
Source: Christina Curell, Michigan State University
Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now