Using Pesticides in Ontario: Protect the Environment

Table of Contents

1. Protect Water Sources
2. Prevent Bee Poisoning
3. Manage Drift
4. Other Topics on Using Pesticides in Ontario
   • Federal Registration of Pesticides
   • Regulation of Pesticides in Ontario
   • Certification and Licensing
   • Pesticide Application Information
   • Pesticide Disposal
   • Storing Pesticides
   • Pesticide Spills
   • Related Links

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:

• OMAFRA Factsheet, Pesticide Contamination of Farm Water Supplies: Recommendations on Avoidance, Cleanup and Responsibilities, Order No. 00-099
• OMAFRA Factsheet, Groundwater – An Important Rural Resource: Protecting the Quality of Groundwater Supplies, Order No. 06-115
• OMAFRA/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada booklet, Best Management Practices – Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application, Order No. BMP13

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:

• OMAFRA/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada booklet, Best Management Practices – Pesticide Storage, Handling and Application, Order No. BMP13
• Ontario Pesticide Education Program (Ridgetown College) videos How to Manage Spray Drift and Spray Drift Reduction Through Air Induction, available at www.opep.ca/Educational/EducationalMaterials.htm

Related Links

• Publication 75, Guide to Weed Control
• Publication 812, Field Crop Protection Guide
• PMRA website
• Grower Pesticide Safety Course Manual
  • The Pesticide Label
  • Health Risks of Pesticide Use
  • Protective Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment