Using Pesticides in Ontario: Protect
the Environment
| Author: |
OMAFRA Staff
|
| Creation Date: |
25 November 2002
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| Last Reviewed: |
24 April 2009
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Table of Contents
- Protect Water Sources
- Prevent Bee Poisoning
- Manage Drift
- Other Topics on Using Pesticides in Ontario
Protect Water Sources
According to the British Crop Protection Council, between 40% and 70%
of surface water pesticide contamination comes from mixing and filling
areas.
Only load or mix pesticides on impermeable surfaces that are safely away
from watercourses or environmentally sensitive areas. Drainage and run-off
should be collected and disposed of safely.
Clean your spray equipment away from wells, ponds, streams and ditches.
Apply the diluted rinse water (usually at a ratio of 10 to 1) to the treatment
area (crop) but do not exceed the pesticide rate recommended on the label.
Do not make a direct connection between any water supply (e.g., public
supply, wells, watercourse or pond) and a spray tank. Use an anti-backflow
device or intermediate system to prevent back-siphoning that could contaminate
the water supply.
Immediately contain and clean up any spills to prevent contamination
to water sources.
Check the pesticide label for specific instructions on water source protection.
For more information on protecting water sources, see:
Prevent Bee Poisoning
It is important to protect bees when spraying insecticides. Honeybees,
as well as other bees and insects, are important pollinators of crops.
Many crops also
offer bees sources of nectar for honey production.
Read each pesticide label for specific precautions regarding bees. Choose
less toxic alternatives when possible. Most organophosphate and carbamate
insecticides are highly toxic to bees.
Advise local beekeepers before you apply a pesticide, so that they may
take additional precautions to protect their bees. Contact the Provincial
Apiarist
at 1-888-466-2372 (Extension 63595)for a list of the beekeepers in your
area. Follow guidelines regarding spray timing to prevent unnecessary
poisonings. For more
information on preventing bee poisoning, see the OMAFRA Factsheet, Code
of Practice to Prevent Bee Poisoning in Fresh Market Sweet Corn, Order
No. 08-031.
Manage Drift
- Do not spray when wind speeds are high or gusty. These conditions
will favour spray drift. Check pesticide labels for allowable wind speeds
for spraying applications. Some labels may not provide this specific
information. Constantly monitor wind conditions during spraying, using
a good quality wind meter. Record the wind speed and direction. As wind
conditions change, you may need to make adjustments to further reduce
the drift potential, such as adjusting water volume upwards, minimizing
nozzleto-target distance, changing nozzle technology, changing fields
because of surrounding influences or stop spraying until conditions
improve.
- Do not spray during periods of dead calm. Periods of dead calm usually
occur in early morning or late evening, at which time the temperature
is usually cooler and the relative humidity is typically higher. The
combination of these factors can result in drift-sized droplets staying
in the field. When the wind picks up, these spray droplets can move
away from the target area, possibly causing injury to adjacent non-target
areas.
- Use the recommended sprayer output (water volume).
- Use a nozzle that will produce the appropriate droplet size if specified
on the pesticide label.
- Use the most appropriate nozzle for the type of application. Where
practical, use air induction/venturi nozzles, which significantly reduce
drift
when compared to conventional nozzles.
- Check the height of the boom to the target and minimize the distance
as much as possible while still maintaining spray uniformity.
- Follow buffer zone requirements for the protection of adjacent sensitive
areas as outlined on the pesticide label.
- Use spray plume protection where practical or available (hoods, shrouds,
screens and air curtains).
- Use drift-reducing adjuvants in the spray tank as directed on the
label.
- Use wick weeders instead of spraying when possible.
- Use non-volatile pesticide formulations or products.
For more information about spray drift, see:
Related Links
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
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