Ag & Natural Resources
Safely Storing Pesticides
Safety is the primary concern in storing pesticides during the winter months. It is important that products are kept out of the reach of those who should not come into contact with them and to guard against accidental contamination of the environment in case of a spill, flood or fire.
Pesticides should be stored away from feed and seed in a secure, lighted building. The structure should be sound, dry and airy and must be able to protect pesticides from extreme temperatures and moisture. A “pesticide storage” sign should be placed by the entrance to warn emergency personnel of the contents. Fumes from chemicals in a fire can be very dangerous to anyone around, especially those battling the fire.
Always keep protective equipment on hand like gloves and eye/body wash solutions in case of emergencies. Keep sand, sawdust, or other absorbent material available to contain liquid spills.
In addition, you’re trying to protect your investment in the products you have. If they are stored properly, most can last for at least two years on the shelf and still function effectively. Check the product label for specific storage directions.
Winter also is a good time to take inventory of all the products in the storage area. That way when you go to purchase chemicals for next year, you will know what you need. Check products in storage for damaged packaging and make sure the label is still readable.
Homeowners may not have specific storage buildings for pesticides and typically they don’t have significant quantities, but storage still is important. Homeowners should at least put products in the garage and get them up out of the reach of children.
Know the dates on your products and use the oldest ones first. Follow the label instructions for disposal when the chemicals are out of date or no longer needed.
On the farm or in the home, pesticide users may occasionally see products with telltale signs of ineffectiveness. Powdery products may start to clump and liquids may separate. Before disposing of the product, read the label to see if there are suggestions for correcting it. Sometimes rolling a bottle or shaking a product will help, but make sure the label allows these techniques before employing them.
In some situations, chemicals have been discontinued for use. Homeowners who have products containing phased out chemicals can use the product according to label directions until it is gone. It is best to use them up because the longer you keep them; the longer they have to become a disposal problem. Commercial products always have a list of active ingredients on the label. Check this list for the discontinued chemical.
FORAGE TESTING A MUST FOR THIS YEARS’ HAY CROP
While driving the highways of Kentucky this fall, the need for
testing this year’s hay has become painfully apparent.
While driving I see rows and rows of round hay bales stored
outside, with green grass growing on top of the bales. This is due
primarily to two factors. First, the hay was made at a very mature
stage and had a tremendous amount of viable seed in the seed heads
of the hay when baled. This seed ensures that the hay was way past
an optimal nutrient value when it was harvested thus reducing quality
dramatically.
The second issue is the over abundance of rainfall that we have
had this year when compared to others. This additional rainfall has
made the hay stored outside deteriorate at a much great rate than
normal and will cause our storage and feeding losses to skyrocket.
The most economical and efficient correction for this type of hay
would be to make sure that the hay is tested either with the KDA hay
Research & Education Center
Princeton, KY 42445
For more forage information, visit our UK Forage Extension Website at: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage
Testing Program 1-800- 248-4628 or with another certified laboratory
(see foragetesting.org for a listing of certified labs) and then feed
according to the class of livestock being fed. You can contact your
local county agent for more information. Also, keeping any additional
rainfall off of the hay (by tarping or by storing the inside) would help as
well. (Tom Keene, UK Hay Marketing Specialist)
