Growers: Prepare for pesticide application with this checklist
Growers: Prepare for pesticide application with this checklist
March 2020
It's hard to believe it is already that time of year again — time to get ready to gear up for planning season and hit the fields running!
Now is a good time to make sure you're ready by completing this quick checklist. This list focuses primarily on being ready for pesticide applications and is not all-inclusive, I welcome any additions for continued improvement. Please email suggestion to Kerryr@udel.edu.
Applicator:
- Make sure your applicator certification is current
- Complete additional required training if you will be applying Paraquat or Dicamba products
Equipment and Sprayer Calibration:
- Ensure output is what you are anticipating for coverage
- Check for and replace worn nozzles that will be putting out more spray or spraying in and incorrect pattern
- Check for and clean or replace clogged nozzles that will be putting out less spray and not providing adequate coverage
- Check pressure value accuracy
- Check your travel speed by setting up a travel distance based on your nozzle spacing
- Make sure all hoses and fittings are in good shape and have no leaks or pin holes for spray material to go off target
- Check strainers and other sprayer parts to make sure there are no clogs or kinks in hoses
Pesticides:
- Take an inventory to make sure you have the adequate amount of the products you need
- This is where recordkeeping comes in handy to see what you used in previous years
- This may be especially critical this year to make sure your dealer has adequate supplies of what you need
- Check pesticide storage area for leaking containers or any other potential concerns
- If you use chemicals that require respiratory protection, you may want to consider alternatives that will provide the same control but not require respiratory protection
- Because of the Coronavirus it is anticipated that there may be little or no N95 types of respirators available until late June
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Make sure you have adequate supplies of PPE that is in good condition as required by the labels of the pesticides being sprayed on your crops.
- ORDER SUPPLIES EARLY – It is anticipated that because of the needs of medical personnel due to the coronavirus that some PPE will be in short supply…..ESPECIALLY N95 type respirators.
Worker Protection Standard Compliance:
- Provide ALL workers and handlers with required annual training
- Complete and file required training documentation
- All required information is at the Central Location
- Handlers that use pesticides that the label requires respiratory protection
- Current medical evaluation – with documentation
- OHSA compliant Respirator Fit test – with documentation
- Completed required annual respirator training