Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
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This self-assessment is one in a series of voluntary environmental
self-assessments in the Farm·A·Syst program. For
a more complete picture of activities or conditions on your
farm that could affect water quality, review other Farm·A·Syst
and Home·A·Syst environmental self-assessments,
available at your county Extension office.
This
self-assessment on handling and storing pesticides is an important
part of the Farm·A·Syst program. This voluntary
program helps you evaluate conditions on your farm that could
threaten drinking water quality and water quality in streams,
rivers, lakes, groundwater, and other sources. The information
on this page tells you why you should use pesticides properly
for water quality, health, environmental, and legal reasons.
Read it carefully before completing this self-assessment.
Your
responses to this self-assessment are for YOUR use. Although
completing this self-assessment is voluntary, taking a few
minutes to respond may help you identify potential areas on
your farm that could lead to water quality problems. You may
find it useful to involve your spouse and/or children in completing
your self-assessment. If you need other help or follow up information,
contact your county Extension office.
Pesticides
play an important role in agriculture by making possible an
abundant, high quality food supply. Some of the same chemicals,
however, used to control crop pests also can harm people,
livestock, pets, fish, and wildlife. Used properly, pesticides
pose little threat to drinking water quality. Used improperly,
pesticides may contaminate drinking water (wells) and surface
waters such as streams and lakes, and are a direct health
risk as well. These potentially harmful impacts are greatly
reduced by proper pesticide use, storage, and container disposal,
according to the product label. As a pesticide user, it is
your legal responsibility to use pesticides according to the
product label to reduce these risks. The label is the law.
Although
drinking water contamination from pesticides is rare, it is
possible under certain conditions. For example, pesticides
may enter the ground water that supplies drinking water indirectly,
by leaching or moving through the soil, or directly by leaks
and spills. Pesticides can enter a drinking water supply by
backflow or back-siphonage during pesticide mixing. Pesticides
may also enter ground water through a poorly sealed well or
an abandoned well. Pesticides applied immediately before a
heavy rain may wash into streams or other surface waters and
threaten fish and wildlife. For these reasons, do not use
pesticides around a drinking water source or other water sources.
If your
drinking water comes from a private well, it is your responsibility
to make sure the water is safe. While you should not be alarmed
simply because pesticides are used on your farm or near your
home, you may want to have your water tested if pesticide
use is frequent or if there is a pesticide spill, an unexplained
illness, or a change in activities that may increase the risk
of pesticide or other contamination. Contact your county health
department for the names of laboratories that can test your
water for contaminants. As a precaution, keep the telephone
numbers of your doctor, the South Carolina Regional Poison
Control Center, and South Carolina Agromedicine handy in case
of accidental poisoning.
For
personal protection, always wear required protective clothing
and follow required field reentry periods when using pesticides.
Keep all pesticides in original containers and out of children's
reach.
Farm
pesticides are regulated by state and federal laws. You can
be held liable for any damage to people, animals, fish, or
wildlife resulting from your pesticide use and handling practices.
Protect yourself, others, and the environment by using pesticides
exactly as directed on the label. Also, triple rinse or pressure
rinse empty containers immediately after use and dispose of
by recycling or in an approved landfill. For more information
on pesticide use regulations, contact the South Carolina Department
of Pesticide Regulation or the Department of Entomology's
Pesticide Information Program at the address on the back cover.
Safely store and transport pesticides and all potential pollutants
to reduce the chance of an accident or spill.
Develop
an emergency response plan so you will know what to do in
case of a spill, fire, or other emergency. For more information
on controlling a spill or to report a spill, contact the South
Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
For other information on pesticides, contact your county Extension
office.
As a
farm operator, you also are required to protect farm workers
from pesticide exposure and to keep records of restricted
use pesticide applications. This self-assessment focuses on
water quality and does not include these additional requirements.
For more information on worker protection and pesticide record
keeping, contact your county Extension office or the South
Carolina Department of Pesticide Regulation. The 1990 Farm
Bill contains provisions for record keeping by private applicators,
which mandates keeping certain minimal records on each use
of restricted use pesticides. However, whether you use a restricted
or general use pesticide, keeping good records of each pesticide
use is simply a good management practice. Good records help
you determine the value, efficiency, and economics of each
of the various pesticides and other pest management practices
you use to produce a crop or commodity. These help you determine
not only the benefits of using certain pesticides, but also
gives you a historical record to help pinpoint or identify
potential problems arising from pesticide use.
Good
records are especially valuable if any pesticide misuse claims
are made against you, such as charges that you contaminated
an aquifer or water body. For additional information on record
keeping, contact your county Extension office or the Department
of Pesticide Regulation listed at the back of this publication.
Your
drinking water and other water sources are least likely to
be contaminated by pesticides if you use all of the low-risk
practices in this self-assessment. You may not be able to
use all low risk practices initially, but use as many as practical
to protect water quality and the environment. As you complete
your self-assessment, do not be alarmed if you check several
or even many high-risk statements. This does not automatically
mean your farm has water quality problems; it does, however,
tell you that attention may be needed to avoid problems.
Directions
This self-assessment is a set of three statements, each with
a low, medium and high ranking. This ranking relates to the
level of risk to your drinking water quality or other environmental
risks associated with that activity or condition. First, read
all statements in each set, then check the one box that best
describes conditions on your farm. Remember, this self-assessment
is for your information. Your goal is to eventually apply
as many low-risk practices as you can.
* Bold
type means, in addition to being a high-risk practice,
this activity violates South Carolina/Federal water quality,
health, or pesticide use laws and regulations.
Part
1. Pesticide Storage Practices |
Low
Risk |
Medium
Risk |
High
Risk |
____
You reduce the amount of pesticides stored by buying only
the amount you expect to use for an application. Additional
pesticides are purchased only when needed |
____
You usually buy only the product amounts you expect to
use for an application, but sometimes buy more in case
you might need some later in the season |
____
You usually do not check to see what pesticide products
are on hand before buying others. You often have products
left over after an application or a production season. |
____
You usually store small amounts of pesticides, or less
than 1 gallon or 10 pounds of each pesticide, on your
farm. |
____
You usually store more than 1 gallon or 10 pounds, but
less than 55 gallons or 50 pounds of each pesticide |
____
You usually store large amounts of pesticides: more than
55 gallons or 50 pounds of each of several pesticides |
____
You do not store liquid pesticides at any time (all stored
chemicals are dry). |
____
You store some liquid and some dry pesticides |
____
You store only or mostly liquid pesticides |
____
All pesticides you store have low potential to leach through
the soil (see accompanying list showing leaching potential
of pesticides). |
____
Most pesticides you store have low or medium leaching
potential. Few, if any, have a high leaching potential. |
____
Any pesticides you store have a high leaching potential. |
____
Your pesticide storage area is a roofed building with
a concrete floor and curb to contain leaks and spills,
is ventilated, and more than 100 feet from a well or surface
waters. |
____
Your pesticide storage area is roofed with a concrete
floor and no curb, or has a wooden floor, and is at least
100 feet from a well or surface waters. |
____
Your pesticide storage area is in the open, or has
a gravel or dirt floor where spills could contaminate
the soil, or is less than 100 feet from a well or surface
waters, or pesticides are stored in your well house. |
____
Your pesticide storage area is fenced, locked, and separated
from other activities. No other products are stored with
pesticides. |
____
Your pesticide storage area is fenced, but sometimes open
to activities that could damage containers or spill pesticides. |
____
Your pesticide storage area has no fence and is open
to theft, vandalism, and children, or is used to store
other products or house livestock. |
____
You separate any unusable, or cancelled pesticides in
the pesticide storage area until safe disposal in a recycling
or collection program. |
____
You keep unusable, suspended, or cancelled pesticides
with other pesticides in clearly marked containers. |
____
You bury on the farm or dump off the farm property
unusable, suspended, or cancelled pesticides stored
where convenient, or in unmarked containers. |
____
You store any pesticides in clearly labeled original containers
in good condition. Most, if not all, containers are plastic
or metal. You place any containers in poor condition within
another liquid proof container. |
____
You have some pesticides in deteriorating metal containers,
or parts of some labels are hard to read or missing. |
____
You store some pesticides in metal containers with holes
or weak seams that may leak, or some containers have no
label, or any pesticides not in original containers. |
Part
2. Pesticide Mixing and Application Practices |
Low
Risk |
Medium
Risk |
High
Risk |
____
Before using any pesticide, you always read the label
and use the product according to label directions. |
____
You usually read pesticide labels before using the product,
but sometimes rely on memory of past use of the product
or a friend's advice for rates and uses. |
____
You usually don't read pesticide labels and don't always
know if your use of the product complies with label directions,
or pesticides are applied without regard to label directions. |
____
You personally see to it that others who use pesticides
on your farm are well trained and handle all chemicals
safely according to label directions. |
____
You usually supervise others on your farm who use pesticides,
but aren't always around to give directions or advice. |
____
Others on your farm apply pesticides with little or
no supervision or without your direct knowledge. |
____You
always check weather conditions before applying pesticides
to make sure they are not applied when rain or wind may
cause pollution or drift problems. |
____
You usually check the weather before applying pesticides,
but sometimes apply them when weather is less than ideal. |
____You
usually don't check the weather before applying pesticides
and apply them regardless of weather conditions.
|
____You
are always careful to mix only the amounts of the pesticide
you need to complete the job at hand. |
____
You sometimes mix more of a product than you really need
to complete the job. |
____You
often have pesticide mix left over after finishing the
job and are left with a disposal problem. |
____You
have a concrete pesticide mixing and loading pad with
a curb to hold spills. The pad drains to a sump (pit or
reservoir) to help collect and transfer spills, or you
mix/load at the application site. Any spills are cleaned
up immediately. |
____
You have a concrete pesticide mixing and loading pad,
but no curb or sump to help collect and transfer pesticides.
Most spills are collected. |
____You
have no pesticide mixing and loading pad. Some spills
are cleaned up late or not at all and soak into the ground
or drain toward a well or surface waters. |
____You
always mix and load pesticides more than 100 feet and
downhill from a well or surface waters. You're very careful
to prevent spills. |
____
You usually mix and load pesticides at least 100 feet
or downhill from a well or surface waters. Spills sometimes
happen. |
____
You usually mix and load pesticides less than 100 feet
or downhill from a well or surface waters. Spills are
frequent. |
____
You use a separate clean water tank (nurse tank) as a
water source when mixing pesticides. |
____
You use a hydrant away from a well as a water source when
mixing pesticides. |
____You
use a hydrant near a drinking water source, a drinking
well itself, or water from a pond or stream as a water
source when mixing pesticides. |
____
You use a closed system to mix and load pesticides (no
pesticides are poured by hand; they go directly through
a hose from the container to application equipment). |
____
You hand pour most pesticides; your sprayer fill port
is easy to reach. |
____
You hand pour most pesticides; your sprayer fill port
is hard to reach. |
____You
inspect wells near pesticide mixing and application areas
annually and keep them in good condition. No abandoned
wells are on your farm or property. |
____
You check wells near pesticide mixing and application
areas every two or three years and keep them in good condition. You have properly sealed any abandoned well. |
____You
seldom or never check wells near pesticide mixing and
application areas. You have wells with cracked casings
or are poorly sealed, or are abandoned, and are unsealed
|
____You
prevent pesticide water from backflowing into a well by
installing a check valve, and/or by securing the hose
6 inches above the sprayer tank water line. You fill the
tank partially with water before adding pesticide unless
the label tells you otherwise. |
____
Your pesticide mixing system has no check valve, but you
handhold the hose in the sprayer tank above the water
line. You usually follow filling instructions on the
product label. |
____Your
pesticide mixing system has no check valve and you handle
or leave the hose where it may fall below the water line.
You add pesticides before adding water, or don't read
the label for filling instructions. |
____When
filling a pesticide spray tank, you stay on the site from
start to finish to make sure there are no overflows. |
____
You stay in the area when filling a pesticide spray tank
and usually check to make sure there are no overflows. |
____You
start the spray tank filling procedure and leave the area.
You check only when you think the tank is filled or nearly
filled. |
____Before
the application, you check nozzles, hoses, and pumps for
leaks. You recheck during operation to make sure equipment
is working properly. |
____
You usually check spray equipment before applying pesticides,
but don't often check equipment once in operation. |
____You
usually don't check spray equipment before applying pesticides
and usually aren't aware of any problems until there is
a leak or breakdown. |
____You
calibrate pesticide application equipment before beginning,
recheck it before finishing the job. |
____You
usually calibrate pesticide application equipment before
beginning, but sometimes use the existing setting or don't
recheck it before finishing the job. |
____You
use the same pesticide equipment calibration as the previous
year, or don't calibrate equipment at all and do not
know for sure how much pesticide is being applied.
|
____
You maintain a buffer area of more than 100 feet between
pesticide application areas and a well or surface waters,
or follow the product label for any more restrictive buffer
area requirements. |
____
You maintain some buffer areas between pesticide application
areas and a well or surface waters, but usually less than
100 feet. |
____
You maintain little or no buffer area between pesticide
application areas and a well or surface waters, or don't
follow the product label and applied pesticides contaminate
water sources of humans; harm animals, fish, or wildlife. |
____When
finishing the last pesticide application, you rinse the
sprayer in the field and spray the rinse water on a labeled
crop more than 100 feet from a well or surface waters.
|
____
You rinse the pesticide sprayer at the mixing site, and
spray the rinse water on a field turnrow at least 100
feet from a well or surface waters. |
____You
rinse the pesticide sprayer at the mixing site and dump
the rinse water less than 100 feet from a well or surface
waters, near your home, or in a field. |
____
You fill your sprayer half full with water first, turn
on the system and check for proper operation and leaks,
then add pesticide products and any adjuvants in the order
given on the pesticide. |
____You
put water into your sprayer first, but don't usually turn
the system on to check it before adding pesticide products.
|
____You
put pesticides into your sprayer while filling it with
water, or put pesticides in first. |
____You
have a good way to keep your water fill line above the
top of the spray tank and always maintain an air gap when
filling the tank. |
____
You usually keep the water fill line above the top of
the spray tank. |
____
You don't have a good way to keep your water fill line
above the top of the spray tank and sometimes the end
of the hose is under the surface of the filling tank mixture. |
____You
have backflow protection devices on all hoses (placed
nearest the outlet end of the hose) and water sources
on your farm and have separate wells or water source for
drinking water and for non-drinking water needs. |
____
You have backflow protection devices on some hoses or
water sources on your farm. You use the same well or water
source for drinking water and for non-drinking water needs. |
____
You have no backflow protection devices on any hoses or
water sources on your farm. You use the same well or water
source for drinking water and for non-drinking water needs. |
____You
know the depth to groundwater at your well; where you
store pesticides and farm use petroleum products and other
chemicals; where you mix and load pesticides; and where
you apply pesticides. |
____
You know the depth to groundwater at your well, possibly
at some other locations on your farm. |
____You
do not have a good idea as to the depth to groundwater
for your farm. |
____You
have a written contingency plan for your farm in the event
of a pesticide or chemical spill that you, your family
and employees are familiar with. You have spill cleanup
equipment located at sites with a high probability of
spills (storage and mix load sites). |
____
You have given instructions on spill cleanup to those
on your farm within the past year. You have at least some
spill cleanup equipment at one appropriate site on your
farm. |
____You
have no formal spill cleanup procedure outlined for your
farm, and have not given instructions on how to cleanup
a pesticide or chemical spill to those on your farm. You
have no specific equipment designated or available for
immediate use in case of a spill. |
Part
3. Pesticide Container Disposal |
Low
Risk |
Medium
Risk |
High
Risk |
____You
try to reduce the number of empty pesticide containers that
must be disposed by buying products in mini-bulk or returnable
containers. |
____
You buy some pesticide products in mini-bulk or returnable
containers. |
____Most
or all pesticides you buy are in small containers that require
special handling or treatment before disposal. |
____You
triple rinse or pressure rinse empty pesticide containers
immediately after use; use the rinse water on a labeled
crop; and take rinsed containers to a recycler or approved
landfill as soon as practical. Empty pesticide bags go
to an approved landfill. |
____
You rinse empty pesticide containers and apply the rinse
water on uncropped land at least 100 feet from a water
source. Empty containers and bags are stored on the farm
for long periods of time. |
____You
rinse containers one or more day(s) after application.
You store unrinsed pesticide containers or apply pesticide
rinse water less than 100 feet from any water source,
or bury rinsed pesticide containers on the farm, or bury
or dump unrinsed or partly filled containers or burn empty
pesticide bags. |
Part
4. Record Keeping |
Low
Risk |
Medium
Risk |
High
Risk |
____You
always keep detailed records of all general and restricted
use pesticide applications, including spot treatments.
Your records include at a minimum the name and certification
number of the certified applicator making the application;
the brand or product name and EPA registration number
of the pesticide; the total amount applied; the size and
location of the area treated; the crop; commodity; site
and weather conditions; the date, calibration rate; and
method of equipment calibration used. |
____You
only keep the minimum records required for restricted use
pesticides by the USDA Pesticide Record keeping regulation,
which includes: brand name and EPA registration number
of the pesticide; total amount applied; crop; commodity
and site (including size); dates; and certified applicators
name and certification number. |
____You
do not keep records of any of your pesticide applications.
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* Bold
type means, in addition to being a high risk practice,
this activity violates South Carolina/Federal water quality,
health, or pesticide use laws and regulations.
This
score sheet helps you understand your self-assessment of handling
and storing pesticides by letting you compare your low, medium,
and high risk activities and conditions. To do your score
sheet, use a pocket calculator and follow these steps.
First,
count your answers for each level of risk in your self-assessment.
Write these numbers in the three spaces in column A of the
chart below.
Second,
add these numbers to give your total number of answers. Write
this number in each of the three spaces in column B. You'll
use this same number each time to figure a percentage.
Third,
divide your number of answers in each level of risk by your
total number of answers. Multiply your answer each time by
100 to convert this number to a percent.
A
__________
B
Number of low risk answers ____________÷__________
x 100 = ______________ %
Number of medium risk answers ____________÷__________
x 100 = ______________ %
Number of high risk answers ____________÷__________
x 100 = ______________ %
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Using
these percentages is an easy way to compare your low-risk,
medium-risk, and high-risk activities or conditions. For example,
if your percentage in the lower risk column is 50, it means
that 50 percent of the activities or conditions in your self-assessment
are a medium or high-risk to water quality or the environment.
Although
there are no "passing" or "failing" grades on your self-assessment,
you should compare your percentage of high risk activities
to the environmental scorecard below.
-
Less than 25% high risk answers __ You're far ahead
of the pack in your water quality protection program
for handling and storing pesticides.
-
25% to 50% high risk answers __ Your water quality
program for handling and storing pesticides generally
is on track. A nudge could push you nearer the top.
-
51% to 65% high risk answers __ You're doing some
things right, but have a way to go in your water quality
program for handling and storing pesticides.
-
66% to 100% high risk answers __ There's no cause
to panic; however, there is a significant potential
for water quality problems on your farm resulting
from the handling and storing of pesticides. Information
and assistance to help correct high-risk activities
and conditions is available from the agencies listed
at the end of this publication.
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For further information, consult÷
Clemson Extension leaflets
PIP 15 Disposal of Pesticide Containers in SC
PIP 16 Handle Pesticides Safely
PIP 33 Mixing/Loading Site Safety
PIP 35 Reduce Pesticide Drift
EC 670 Agricultural Chemicals Handbook (provided through
the local Clemson Cooperative Extension office)
Materials in this packet were modified from information
developed by Mississippi State Cooperative Extension program
as part of the USDA Farm·A·Syst program.
Cooperators:
W.
P. Yates, Water Quality Coordinator,
Clemson Cooperative Extension
Mac
Horton, Ph.D., Extension Entomologist,
Clemson Cooperative Extension
Robert
G. Bellinger, Ph.D.,
Pesticide Coordinator
Clemson Cooperative Extension
(864) 656-5042
United States Environmental Protection Agency USDA Cooperative
Extension
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
Control
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
Lake and Watershed Association of South Carolina
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service South Carolina
Department of Natural Resources
USDA Farm Service Agency
South Carolina Department of Agriculture
South Carolina Soil and Water Conservation Districts
This leaflet provided by÷
Funding
for this project from a U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Clean Water Act section 319 grant through SCDHEC
and USDA Extension Service Water Quality Initiative.
Agromedicine Program
Department of Family Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina
171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
(803) 792-3607
Palmetto Poison Control
College of Pharmacy
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
1-800-922-1117 or (803)765-7359
Clemson University
Department of Pesticide Regulation
257 Poole Agricultural Center
Box 340394
Clemson, SC 296340394
(864) 656-3171
Clemson University
Pesticide Information Program
Department of Entomology
114 Long Hall
Box 340365
Clemson, SC 296340365
(864)
656-3113
Department of Pesticide Regulations (DPR) Field Offices
DPR
P.O. Box 21767
Columbia, SC 29221
(803) 772-0766
DPR
Suite 211C
Chick Springs
Greenville, SC 29609
(864) 233-3301
DPR
P.O. Box 287
Ninety Six, SC 29666
(864) 543-3574
DPR
171 Ashley Avenue
MUSC
Charleston, SC 29415
(803) 792-1776
County
Extension Offices Telephone Numbers, and Addresses
Abbeville
| (864)
459-4106
| Box
640, Abbeville 29620 |