Pesticides and the Environment

Pesticide products are very useful tools in agricultural production. Used correctly, they protect crops from pests and contribute to higher productivity and higher quality characteristics in crops. 

When certain pesticides are improperly stored, handled or applied,
there are the risks of:

• soil, water and habitat contamination
• harmful exposure to people, livestock and wildlife, and
• off-site economic damage.

A pest is a harmful or troublesome organism (e.g. weed, insect, disease, animal) that causes an unacceptable level of loss in crop yield or quality. A pesticide is any chemical designed to kill or control a pest.

Certain pesticides have chemical properties - such as mobility, persistence and toxicity - that make them harmful to water quality and aquatic habitats. Pesticides and their containers should not be stored or disposed of near high-risk areas.

Some pesticides are highly toxic to people. Never store pesticides in beverage or food containers.

Sprayed pesticides are more prone to drift with lower volumes, higher pressures, small droplets, fast ground speeds, high winds, low humidity and high temperatures.

Malfunctioning or poorly calibrated sprayers are also at risk of drift and off-site damage.

Best Management Practices: A First Look