Apply
Pesticides
Correctly
A guide
for commercial
applicators
                               , .anf




                              U.S. Department
                              of Agriculture
               sss
               U.S. Environmental
               Protection Agency

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Apply
Pesticides
Correctly
Contents
A guide
for commercial
applicators
U.S. Department
of Agriculture
U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
Preface  	iii
Introduction	  iii

Pests  	  i-i
  Insects 	  1-1
  Mites, Ticks, and Spiders	  1-3
  Snails and Slugs	1-4
  Vertebrates 	  1-4
  Weeds  	  1-5
  Plant Diseases   	  1-6

Pest Control  	  2-1
  Principles of Pest Control  	  2-1
  Pest Control Methods  	  2-1
  Putting It All Together  	  2-2

Pesticides 	  3-1
  The Nature of Pesticides 	  3-2
  How Pesticides Work   	  3-2
  Using Pesticides	  3-2
  Factors Affecting Pesticide Activity 	  3-3
  Plant Growth Regulators, Desiccants, Defoliants,
    and Antitranspirants  	  3-3
  Types of Formulations  	  3-4

Labels and Labeling  	  4-1

Using Pesticides Safely  	  5-1
  Protecting Man  	  5-1
    How Pesticides Harm Man  	  5-1
    Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning   	  5-2
    First Aid Procedures	  5-2
    Protecting Your Body  	  5-2
  Protecting the Environment  	  5-4
    How Pesticides Harm the Environment  	  5-4
    Soil and Pesticides	  5-4
    Air and Pesticides 	  5-5
    Water and Pesticides  	  5_5
    Benefits of Careful Use  	  5-5
  Safe Use Precautions   	  5_5

Application Equipment	  6-1
  Sprayers  		  6-1
  Dusters and Granular Applicators  	  6-5
  Fumigant Applicators  	  6-5
  Aerosol Generators and Foggers	  6-6
  Calibration  	;	  6-6
    Sprayers  	  6-6
    Dusters and Granular Applicators _:	  6-7

Laws and Regulations 	  7-1
  Federal Insecticide,  Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act	  7-1
  Other Regulations	.	  7-1
    Transportation  	.	  7-1
    Aerial Application	  7-2
    Worker Safety			  7-2
    Residues	  y_2

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Preface
                                      Introduction
This guide has been developed by the
Pesticide Operations Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), and the Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
    Edward L. Nigh, Jr., University of
      Arizona,
    Arthur Retan, Washington State
      University,
    Harry K. Tayama, The Ohio State
      University.
The contributors are from State land-
grant universities, other universities,  Gerald T. Weekman, North Carolina
USDA, EPA, and the pesticide industry. State University, joint consultant for
They include:

    J. Blair Bailey, University of
      California,
    Emerson Baker, Environmental
      Protection Agency,
    John Boehle, Jr., Ciba-Geigy
      Corporation,
    James J. Bonin, Consultant,
     B. Jack Butler, University of
       Illinois,
     James E. Dewey, Cornell
       University,
     Burton R. Evans, Environmental
       Protection Agency,
     William D. Fitzwater,
       Environmental Protection
       Agency,
     L. C. Gibbs, U.S. Department of
       Agriculture,
     Edward H.  Glass, New York
       Agricultural Experiment Station,
     Wayland J. Hayes, Jr., Vanderbilt
       University,
     Fred W. Knapp, University of
       Kentucky,
     John A. Lofgren, University of
       Minnesota,
     Otis C. Maloy, Washington State
       University,
     James F. Miller, University of
       Georgia,
     Frank Murphey, University of
       Delaware,
EPA and USDA, organized the project
and served as editor. He was assisted by
Mary Ann Wamsley, USDA.

Many other people contributed greatly
to the book by reviewing it at various
stages. They represent EPA, USDA,
State regulatory agencies, the pesticide
industry, environmental groups, and
applicator associations.
                    Environmental
                  Protection Agency
                      Region 9

                  MAY  3 0 1SS4
                     LIBRARY
Federal regulations set general and
specific standards that you must
meet before you can use certain
pesticides. This guide contains basic
information to help you meet the
general standards. Because the
guide is for use by all categories of
commercial applicators, some parts
of it may not concern you. The guide
does not include the things you need
to know to meet specific standards
required for your job by Federal
regulations or State law. Your State
Pesticide  Regulatory Agency and
your Cooperative Extension Service
can give you this additional
information.

This guide will tell you:

     • the most common features of
       pests, how they develop, and
       the kinds of damage they do,
     • methods you can use to
       control pests and how to
       combine these methods for
       the best results,
     • how pesticides work,
     • how pesticide labels can help
       you,
     • how to use pesticides so they
       will not harm you or  the
       environment,
     • how to choose, use, and care
       for equipment, and
     • the Federal laws that apply
       to the things you do on the
       job.

The test for certification will be
based on:

     • general information, and
     •  problems and situations that
       occur in the specific kinds of
       pest control jobs you do.

You will have to show that you
know:

     • the pests you control, and
     • how to use the pesticides and
        application equipment
       needed in your job.
                                                     ill

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Pests
The first step in solving any problem
is to understand what is causing it.
So the first step in your job is to
recognize the pests you need to
control.
  We favor certain plants and
animals that provide us food and
fiber. But we also provide good
growing conditions for other plants
and animals that harm them. These
living things that compete with us
for food and fiber, or attack us
directly, are pests. The living plant
or animal a pest depends on for
survival is called the host.
  Pests can be put into five main
groups:
    • insects (plus mites, ticks, and
      spiders),
    • snails and slugs,
    • vertebrates,
    • weeds, and
    • plant disease agents.
  Most applicators know most of the
pests they see on the job. But
sometimes unfamiliar pests may
appear. You can get identification
aids, publkations, and pictures to
help find out what they are. But the
best thing to do is to contact local
experts. Ask the Cooperative
Extension Service or a competent
consultant to help you.


Insects

bisects thrive in more environments
than any other group of animals.
They live not only on the earth's
surface but within the soil and hi
water. They are at home in deserts,
rain forests, hot springs, snow fields,
and dark caves. They eat the
choicest foods of man's table. They
can even eat the table.
  Many types of insects affect crops.
They cause damage in a variety of
ways. They may:
    • feed on leaves,
    • tunnel or bore in stems,
      stalks, and branches,
    • feed on and tunnel in roots,
    • feed on and in seeds and nuts,
    • suck the sap from leaves,
      stems, roots, fruits, and
      flowers, and
    • carry plant disease agents.
  The plants are damaged,
weakened, or killed. This causes
reduced yields, lowered quality, and
ugly plants or plant products that
cannot be sold. Even after harvest,
insects continue their damage in the
stored or processed products. Insects
also feed on and in man and other
animals. Some of these pests carry
disease agents which have caused
millions of deaths to man and
livestock.
  Not all insects are pests. Some
help man by doing such things as
pollinating plants or feeding on
other insects that are pests.

Recognizing Common Features
of Insects
  All adult insects have two things
in common—they have six jointed
legs and three body regions. But how
do you tell one insect from another?
The most important parts to look at
are wines and mouthparts. Some
insects have no wings. Others have
two or four. The wings vary in
shape, size, thickness, and structure.
Insects with chewing mouthparts
have toothed jaws that bite and tear
the food. Insects with piercing-
sucking mouthparts have a long
beak which they force into a plant or
animal to suck out fluids or blood.
  Almost all insects change in
shape, form, and size during their
lives. This change is called
metamorphosis.
  Some insects change only in size
as they develop. The adult lays eggs.
A nymph which looks like a tiny
adult hatches from the egg and goes
through several stages. These
nympns change into wingless adults.
  Some insects change form slightly.
Their nymphs hatch from eggs.
These nymphs, which have no
wings, go through several growing
stages. They change into winged
adults.
  Other insects change completely.
They go through four stages. The
larva hatches from an egg. It is a
worm, caterpillar, grub, or maggot.
This is the stage in which these
insects grow the most and do the
most damage. When full-grown, the
larva changes into a pupa. During
this stage it changes into the adult.
The adult stage usually has wings.
  Here are the insect groups that
include most of the insects which
man considers pests. You should be
familiar with the characteristics of
each group that you control and the
type of damage each group does.
Bristletails
    • No wings.
    • Chewing mouthparts.
    • Usually have two or three
      long tails.
    • Young and adult look alike
      (no change in form).
    • Usually found in houses and
      other buildings.
    • Feed on plant fiber cloth and
      all starches.
    • Silverfish and firebrats
      belong in this group.
                                                  1-1

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Chewing Lice
    •  No wings.
    •  Chewing mouthparts.
    •  Broad head.
    •  Young and adult look alike.
    •  Usually found on birds. They
       cause skin irritation and
       reduced weight gain and egg
       production.
Termites
    • Swarming termites have four
      wings of equal size and
      shape; others are white and
      have no wings.
    • Chewing mouthparts.
    • Young and adults look alike.
    • Usually feed on wood
      products such as fence posts,
      timbers, and flooring.
    • Damage to the wood in
      homes and other structures is
      common.
                                                                           •  Piercing-sucking mouthparts.
                                                                           •  Young and adults look alike,
                                                                              but young lack wings.
                                                                           •  Suck the juice from plants
                                                                              and blood from man and
                                                                              animals.
                                                                           •  Reduce the vitality  and yield
                                                                              of plants and animals, and
                                                                              may carry plant and animal
                                                                              disease agents.
                                                                           •  Bedbugs are in this group.

         **
Sucking Lice
    •  No wings.
    •  Piercing-sucking mouthparts.
    •  Narrow head.
    •  Young and adults look alike.
    •  Some feed on livestock.
    •  Some carry disease  agents.
    •  Their bites may be  painful
       and cause itching.
    •  Human body, head, and pubic
       (crab)  lice belong in this
       group.
Grasshoppers, Crickets, and
Cockroaches
    •  Some have wings; some do
       not have fully developed
       wings. Top pair of wings is
       leathery.
    •  Chewing mouthparts.
    •  Young and adults look alike,
       but young lack wings.
    •  Grasshoppers usually feed on
        giant leaves and stems.
        rickets are found in the
       field or indoors. They eat
       almost anything made from
       plants.
    •  Cockroaches often occur in
       restaurants, houses, stores,
       and offices. They  eat the
       same foods that man does.
Aphids, Leafhoppers,
Spittlebugs, and Scale Insects
    • Some have wings; some do
      not.
    • Piercing-sucking mouthparts.
    • Young of aphids, leafhoppers,
      and spittlebugs look like the
      adults.
    • Adult scale insects are  scale-
      covered and stay in one place
      on the plant.
    • Suck the juices from plants.
    • Reduce the vitality and yield
      of plants.
    • Some carry plant disease
      agents.


Thrips
      Some have fringed wings;
      others have no wings.
    • Combination of chewing
      (rasping) and sucking
      mouthparts.
    • Young and adults look alike.
    • Usually found in flowers or
      buds of plants.
    • May cause misshapen or
      poorly developed flowers,
      buds, fruits, and leaves.
True Bugs
    • Some have wings; some do
      not. Top pair of wings is part
      leathery and part
      transparent.
              1-2
                                    Moths and Butterflies
                                        •  Most adults have four large
                                          wings with many scales that
                                          rub off easily.
                                        •  Most moths are a dull brown
                                          color; butterflies are brightly
                                          colored.
                                        •  Mouthparts of some adults
                                          are lacking or are a coiled
                                          tube used for sucking.

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    • Larvae are caterpillars,
      usually with six iointed legs
      and ten soft, fleshy legs.
    • Larvae have chewing
      mouthparts.
    • Larval stages are important
      pests on many crops. They
      damage leaves, stems, tubers,
      fruit, and cloth.
    • Clothes moths are in this
      group.
Beetles
    • Adults with the two top
      wings usually hard and shiny
      and the bottom wings
      transparent.
    • Chewing mouthparts.
    • Young are grubs or worms.
      Some have no legs; others
      have  six.
    • Young and adults are found
      on plants, in soil, and in wood
      in buildings.
    • Both  the adult and larval
      stages may damage stored
      food products, plants, and, in
      some cases, animals  and
      animal products.
Flies and Mosquitoes
    • Adults have only two wings
      (other winged insects have
      four).
      Mouthparts of adults
      piercing-sucking, but may be
      slightly modified for
      sponging, rasping, or cutting.
      Young (except mosquitoes)
      are maggots.
      Head of young usually not
      well-defined; mouthparts are
      small, dark, and hooklike.
      Young mosquitoes live in
      water. They have a well-
      developed head  with chewing
      mouthparts.
      Maggots usually feed on
      plant seedlings  and roots, in
      organic matter, in water, and
      in other damp places.
      Some maggots feed on
      animals.
      Some adults carry disease
      agents.
      Some flies or  mosquitoes in
      large numbers reduce the
      production efficiency of
      animals.
Mites, Ticks, and Spiders

Mites, ticks, and spiders are closely
related to insects.  The main
differences are that the adults have
eight jointed legs  instead of six and
have two body regions. They do not
have wings.

Recognizing Common Features
of Mites, Ticks, and Spiders

                                   Mites
Bees, Wasps, Ants, and Sawflies
    • Most adults have a narrow
      waist; sawflies are an
      exception.
    • Some have four wings; some
      have none.
    • Chewing mouthparts.
    • Most young wormlike with no
      legs. The young of sawflies
      are caterpillar-like.
    • Young usually in nests in
      soil, or made of mud, paper,
      or wax.
    • Painful sting of many adults
      makes some of these a pest.
      Others may damage wood
      products.
       Adults and nymphs have
       eight legs; larvae have six.
    •  Very small—about the size of
       the period at the end of this
       line.
    •  No wings.
    •  Sucking mouthparts.
    •  Soft-bodied.
    •  Injury they cause usually is
       noticed before the mites are
       found.
    •  When present on plants in
       large numbers, their feeding
       turns foliage and buds
       whitish, reddish, or brown.
       Some may scar fruit.
    •  Some mites make thin webs
       on plants.
    •  On animals, they cause
       severe skin irritation,
       redness, scabs, and scaliness.
    •  Chiggers (also called jiggers
       and red bugs) that attack
       man are mites.
                                                                       Ticks
                                                  1-3
                                                                             Adults and nymphs have
                                                                             eight legs; larvae have six.
                                                                             Leathery or soft (sometimes
                                                                             colored) body without a
                                                                             distinct head.

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   •  Piercing-sucking mouthparts
      with which they firmly
      attach themselves to the host
      animal.
   •  Parasitic on animals,
      including man.
   •  Must have blood to complete
      their life cycle.
   •  Some carry disease agents to
      man and animals.

Spiders
    • Eight legs.
    • Biting mouthparts.
    • Vary in length from a
      fraction of an inch to 5 or 6
      inches.
    • Useful to man because they
      eat insects, but webs and
      excretions may be a nuisance.
    • Black widow and brown
      recluse bites are  dangerous to
      man.

Snails and Slugs

Snails and slugs are members of a
large group of animals called
mollusks. Snails have a hard shell;
slugs have no shell. They feed on
plant foliage. They are pests in
lawns, landscape plantings, and
greenhouses.
Recognizing Common
Features of Vertebrates

All vertebrate animals have a
jointed backbone. They include fish,
snakes, turtles, alligators, lizards,
frogs, toads, salamanders, birds, and
mammals. What may be a pest
animal in some situations may be
highly desirable in others. A
muskrat, for instance, is a fur-
bearing animal, but its burrows may
weaken man-made earthen dams.



 Fish
   Man has caused most fish
 problems. We have put some kinds
 where they normally would not have
 been. We think some fish are
 undesirable because they are not
 useful for sport or for food. Others
 compete with more desirable species.
 Some fish are intermediate hosts for
 parasites of man.
 Reptiles and Amphibians
   Reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles,
 and alligators) and amphibians
 (frogs, toads, and salamanders) may
 cause local problems. Although most
 of them do little damage, many
 people fear or dislike them.
 Poisonous snakes can be a real
 problem. So can snakes and turtles
 in fish hatcheries or waterfowl
 production areas.

Birds
  Bird damage can be quite varied.
It includes:
    •  structural damage by
       woodpeckers,
    •  destruction of feed and of
       fruit, nut, grain, timber, and
       vegetable crops by seed- and
       fruit-eating birds,
    •  hazards to animal  and
       human health caused by
       birds like pigeons and
       parakeets, and
    •  annoyance caused  by birds
       roosting near dwellings.
  Peck marks, location of damage,
tracks, feathers, and droppings are
signs of bird damage.

Mammals
  Damage by mammals is varied.
Some cause serious health problems
to livestock and humans.  Disease
agents mammals transmit to man
cause rabies, plague, food poisoning,
and tularemia. Killing of other
animals by mammals is costly. Some
damage fruit, vegetable, nut, grain,
range, and tree crops. The damage
they do to dams and ditches can be
very costly. They damage such
things as lawns, clothing, furniture,
and buildings by gnawing and
burrowing. Mice and rats annoy  by
living in our homes,  offices, and
factories.
   How do you tell what mammal
caused the damage?  You can
eliminate some suspects if you know:
     •  which animals are found in
       your part of the country,
     •  what kinds of places they  live
       in, and
     •  what their habits  are.
   Animal signs (tracks, droppings,
toothmarks, diggings, burrows, hair,
and scent) plus the type of damage
will give you further clues.
                                                 1-4

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 Weeds

 A weed is simply "a plant out of
 place". Weeds are a problem
 because:
    •  they reduce crop yields,
    •  they increase costs of
       production,
    •  they reduce quality of crop
       and livestock products,
    •  some cause skin  irritation
       and hay fever.  Some are
       poisonous to man, his
       livestock, and wildlife, and
    •  they spoil the beauty of turf
       and landscape  plants.

 Recognizing Common Features
 of Weeds
  Before you can control weeds, you
 need to know something about how
 they grow.  One important feature is
 the length of their life cycle.

 Annuals
  Plants with  a one-year life cycle
 are annuals. They grow  from seed,
 mature, and produce seed  for  the
 next generation in one year or less.
 They may be grasslike (crabgrass
 and foxtail) or broadleaved (pigweed
 and cocklebur).
  Winter annuals are plants that
grow from seeds which sprout in the
fall. They grow, mature, produce
seed, and die before summer.
Examples: cheat, henbit, and annual
bluegrass.



  Summer annuals are plants that
result from seeds which sprout in
the spring. They grow, mature,
produce seed, and die before winter.
Examples: crabgrass, foxtail,
cocklebur, pigweed, and
lambsquarters.
Biennials
  Plants with a two-year life cycle
are biennials. They grow from seed
and develop a heavy root and
compact cluster of leaves the first
year. In the second year they
mature, produce seed, and die.
Examples: mullein, burdock, and
bull thistle.
                                   Perennials
                                     Plants which live more than two
                                   years and may live indefinitely are
                                   perennials. During the winter, many
                                   lose their  foliage and the stems of
                                   others may die back to the ground.
                                   Some grow from  seed. Others
                                   produce tubers, bulbs, rhizomes
                                   (below-ground rootlike stems), or
                                   stolons (above-ground stems that
                                   produce roots). Examples: Johnson
                                   grass, field bindweed, dandelion, and
                                   plantain.
                                     Creeping perennials produce seeds
                                   but also produce  rhizomes and
                                   stolons. Examples:  Bermuda grass,
                                   Johnson grass, and field bindweed.


                                          HJ	

                                                                         Simple perennials normally
                                                                       reproduce by seeds. But root pieces
                                                                       may produce new plants following
                                                                       mechanical injury during
                                                                       cultivation. Examples: dandelions,
                                                                       plantain, trees, and shrubs.
                                              1-5

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               7


  Bulbous perennials may reproduce
by seed, bulblets, or bulbs. Wild garlic
for example, produces seed and
bulblets above ground and bulbs
below ground.
 Recognizing Common
 Features of Plant Diseases

 A plant disease is any harmful
 condition that makes a plant
 different from a normal plant in its
 appearance or function. Plant
 diseases are divided into two groups
 based on their cause.

 Non-parasitic Plant Diseases
   These are caused by non-living
 agents. The causes can include such
 things as:
     • nutrient deficiency,
     • extreme cold or heat,
     • toxic chemicals (air
       pollutants, some pesticides,
       salts, too much fertilizer),
     • mechanical injury, and
     • lack of or too much water.
   These diseases cannot be passed
 from one plant to another.

 Parasitic Plant Diseases
   These are caused by living agents
 which live and feed on or  in plants.
 They can be passed from one plant to
 another. The most common causes of
 parasitic diseases are:
     • fungi,
     • bacteria,
     • viruses (viroids and
       mycoplasmas), and
     • nematodes.
   Insects, which were discussed
 earlier, can be another cause. A few
 seed-producing plants and some
 microbes can cause plant diseases,
 too.
  Three things are required before a
 parasitic disease can develop:
     • a susceptible host plant,
     • a parasitic agent, and
     • an environment favorable for
      parasite development.
  Fungi are plants that lack  green
color (chlorophyll). They cannot
make their own food. There are more
than  100,000 kinds of fungi of many
types and sizes. Not all are harmful,
and many are helpful to man. Many
are microscopic, but some, such as
the mushrooms, may become quite
large. Most fungi  reproduce by
spores, which function about the
same way seeds do. Fungi  may
attack a plant both above and below
the soil surface.

Smut

  Fungus diseases include apple
scab, anthracnose of beans, smut in
corn, and powdery mildew on
landscape plants.
  Bacteria are microscopic, one-
celled plants. They usually
reproduce by simply dividing in half.
Each half becomes a fully developed
bacterium. Bacteria can build up
fast under ideal conditions. Some
can divide every 30 minutes.
Fireblight of pears, halo blight of
beans, and bacterial leaf spot on
peaches are caused by bacteria.
                                                                       Leaf Spot

                                                                         Viruses are so small that they
                                                                       cannot be seen with the unaided eye
                                                                       or even with an ordinary microscope.
                                                                       They are generally recognized by
                                                                       their effects on plants. Many viruses
                                                                       that cause plant disease are carried
                                                                       by insects, usually aphids or
                                                 1-6

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leafhoppers. Viruses are easily
carried along in bulbs,roots,cuttings,
and seeds. Some viruses are
transmitted when machines or men
touch healthy plants after touching
diseased  plants. A few are
transmitted in pollen. At least one
virus is transmitted by a fungus. A
few are transmitted by nematodes.
Wheat streak mosaic, tobacco
mosaic, and corn dwarf are diseases
caused by viruses.

Dwarf Virus

  Nematodes are small, usually
microscopic, roundworms, also called
eelworms. Many nematodes are
harmless. Others may attack crops
planted for food, fiber, or landscape
purposes. Some species attack the
above-ground plant parts, such as
leaves, stems, and seeds. But most
species feed on or in the roots. They
may feed in one location, or they
may constantly move through the
roots. Nematodes usually do not kill
plants, but reduce growth and plant
health. They may weaken the plant
and make it susceptible to other
disease agents.
  All nematodes that are parasites
on plants have a  hollow feeding
spear. They use it to puncture plant
cells and feed on the cell contents.
Nematodes may develop and feed
either inside or outside of a plant.
Their life cycle includes an egg,  four
larval stages, and an adult. Most
larvae look like adults, but are
smaller.  The females of some, such
as root knot and cyst nematodes,
become fixed in the plant tissue.
                                        • death of tissue, such as
                                          blights, leaf spots, wilting,
                                          and cankers.

                                    Identifying Plant Diseases
                                      You cannot always tell one plant
                                    disease from another just by looking
                                    at the plant itself.  Because many
                                    disease agents cause similar injury,
                                    you need other evidence. Identifying
                                    the  cause  is a better way to identify
                                    the  disease. You usually need a
                                    microscope or magnifying lens to see
                                    such things as fungus spores,
                                    nematodes or their eggs, and
                                    bacteria. You need more training to
                                    find and identify the cause of a
                                    disease than you need to observe the
                                    effects.
Their bodies become swollen and
rounded. The root knot nematode
deposits its eggs in a mass outside of
its body. The cyst nematode keeps
part of its eggs inside its body after
death. They may survive there for
many years.

Development of Plant Diseases
  A parasitic disease depends on the
life cycle of the parasite. The
environment affects this cycle
greatly. Temperature and moisture
are especially important. They
affect:
    •  the activity of the parasite,
    •  the ease with which a plant
       becomes diseased, and
    •  the way the disease develops.
  The disease process starts when
the parasite arrives at a part of a
plant where infection can occur. This
step is called inoculation. If
environmental conditions are good,
the parasite will begin to develop.
This stage before injury develops  is
called incubation. If the  parasite can
get into the plant, the stage called
infection starts. The plant is diseased
when it responds to the  parasite.
  The three main ways  a plant
responds are:
    •  overdevelopment of tissue,
       such as galls, swellings, and
       leaf curls,
    •  underdevelopment of tissue,
       such as stunting, lack  of
       chlorophyll, and incomplete
       development of organs, and
                                                 1-7

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f
Mff



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Pest Control
To solve pest problems, you must:     Pest Control Methods
    •  Identify the pest,
    •  Know what control methods
       are available,
    •  Evaluate the benefits and
       risks of each method or
       combination of methods,
    •  Choose the methods that are
       most effective and will cause
       the least harm to you and the
       environment,
    •  Know the correct use of the
       methods, and
    •  Know local, State, and
       Federal regulations that
       apply to the situation.


Principles of Pest Control

We often talk about the "war"
against insects, plant diseases,
weeds, and rats.  In a war between
countries, would a national leader
use only the Army? Wouldn't he also
use other tools, such as the Navy,
the Air Force, and propaganda?
  Yet, in our struggle against pests,
how often do we just use the
handiest or cheapest pesticide? How
often do we forget to consider other
methods or combinations of
methods? How often do we forget
about effects on the environment? It
may be too often.
  The use  of a combination of
methods to control pests is basic to
all pest control. Modern pest control
 is:
       using all available methods
       to keep pests below
       economically harmful levels,
       and
    •  damaging the environment
       as little as possible in the
       process.
   The challenge lies in our ability:
    •  to control pests so that injury
       caused by them is held to a
       minimum, and
    •  to recognize when direct
       action, such as a pesticide
       application, is necessary.
Many pest control methods have
been known and used for years. But
some methods, what we call them,
and the way we put them together
are new. Here are the most
important pest control methods:

Resistant Varieties
  Some crops, animals, and woods
resist pests better than others. Some
crops and woods are immune to
certain  pests. By using resistant
types, we make the environment less
favorable for pests. This makes it
easier to keep pests below harmful
levels.
Cultural Control
  Planting, growing, harvesting,
and tillage practices may help or
harm pests. Cultivating is harmful
to weeds but may result in the
spread of diseases and nematodes.
Other practices such as crop
rotation, methods of construction,
time of planting, and proper
fertilization all affect pests.
 Biological Control
   Biological control is most common
 for insects, mites, and some weeds.
 Biological control occurs naturally.
 Releasing more of a pest's  natural
 enemies—parasites, predators, and
 disease agents—into the target area
 can increase this natural control.
 Many pests come from other
 countries. Bringing in their natural
 enemies often helps control them.
Mechanical-Physical Control
  Some physical methods and
examples of their use are:
    •  traps for rats, mice, and
       birds,
    •  barriers to protect against
       termites, rodents, and flies,
       light to attract or repel pests,
       sound to kill, attract, or repel
       pests,
       heat to kill pests,
       cold to kill pests,
       radiation to sterilize or kill
       pests, and
       electrocution to kill pests.
                                                  2-1

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Sanitation
  Removing the source of food helps
control some types of pests.
Cockroach, rat, and fly control is
often hard unless you remove the
food or filth they feed on.
                                   Putting It All Together

                                   The combination of methods you
                                   choose will depend on the kind and
                                   amount of control you need. The
                                   three main types of controls are:

                                   Prevention
                                      Keeping a pest from becoming a
                                   problem. Includes use of such things
      sanitation,
      resistant plants, animals, or
      wood,
      treated seed,
      pesticides,
      cultural controls,
      quarantines, and
      seed certification.
Suppression
  Reducing pest numbers or damage
to an acceptable level. Includes use
of such things as:
    • sanitation,
    • resistant plants, animals, or
      wood,
    • pesticides, and
    • cultural controls.

Eradication
   Destroying or removing a pest
completely from a crop, an area, or a
geographic region.
    Remember, the most important
principle of pest control is:
    • Use a pest control method
      only when that method will
      prevent the pest from causing
      more damage than is
      reasonable to accept.
  Even though a pest is present, it
may not do very much harm. It could
cost more  to control the  pest than
would have been lost because of the
pest's damage.
 Legal Control
   Legal controls result from Federal,
 State, or local laws and regulations.
 They include such things as:
     • quarantines,
     • inspections,
     • embargoes, and
     • compulsory crop or product
       destruction.

 Pesticides
   Pesticides often must be used.
 Other methods cannot always
 prevent harmful pest levels. Use
 pesticides:
     • where they are needed, and
     • where they can be used
       safely.
   Select and use them so they work
 with other methods. Be careful not
 to harm yourself or the
 environment. Using pesticides along
 with other methods is often better
 than using any one method by itself.
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Pesticides
                                                                         After considering all available
                                                                         control methods, you may decide
                                                                         that a pesticide is needed. Here are
                                                                         some things you should know in
                                                                         order to choose the right pesticide
                                                                         and use it most effectively.
                                                                           Pesticides are chemicals used to
                                                                         destroy, prevent, or control  pests.
                                                                         They also include:
                                                                             • chemicals used to attract or
                                                                               repel pests, and
                                                                             • chemicals used to regulate
                                                                               plant growth or remove or
                                                                               coat leaves.
                                                                           Here are the types and uses of
                                                                         pesticides:
                                                                            Insecticide: controls insects and
                                                                             other related pests such as ticks
                                                                             and spiders.
                                                                             Miticide: controls mites.
                                                                            Acaricide: controls mites, ticks,
                                                                             and spiders.
                                                                            Nematicide: controls nematodes.
                                                                            Fungicide: controls fungi.
                                                                            Bactericide: controls bacteria.
                                                                            Herbicide: controls weeds.
                                                                            Rodenticide: controls rodents.
                                                                            Avicide: controls birds.
                                                                            Piscicide: controls fish.
                                                                            Molluscicide: controls mollusks,
                                                                             such as slugs and snails.
                                                                            Predacide: controls vertebrate
                                                                             pests.
                                                                            Repellent: keeps pests away.
                                                                            Attractant: lures pests.
                                                                            Plant Growth Regulator: stops,
                                                                             speeds up, or otherwise changes
                                                                             normal plant processes.
                                                                            Defoliant: removes unwanted
                                                                             plant growth without killing the
                                                                             whole plant  immediately.
                                                                            Desiccant: dries up plant leaves
                                                                             and stems and insects.
                                                                            Antitranspirant: coats the
                                                                             leaves of plants to reduce
                                                                             unwanted water loss
                                                                             (transpiration).
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The Nature of Pesticides

Pesticides can be grouped according
to their chemical nature. The groups
are:

Inorganic Pesticides
  These are made from minerals.
Minerals used most often are
arsenic, copper, boron, lead,
mercury, sulfur, tin, and zinc.
Examples: lead arsenate, Bordeaux
mixture, and Paris green.
Synthetic Organic Pesticides
  These are man-made pesticides.
They contain carbon, hydrogen, and
one or more other elements such as
chlorine, phosphorous, and nitrogen.
Examples: 2,4-D, atrazine, captan,
parathion, and malathion.
Living Micro-organisms
  These are viruses, bacteria, and
fungi, produced by man. Examples:
the bacterium Bacillus
thuringiensis, and the polyhedrosis
virus.
                                    Plant-Derived Organic Pesticides
                                      These are made from plants or
                                    plant parts. Examples: rotenone, red
                                    squill, pyrethrins, strychnine, and
                                    nicotine.
How Pesticides Work

Pesticides also can be grouped
according to what they do. Many
synthetic organic pesticides work in
more than one way. Read the label
to find out what each pesticide will
do. The major groups are:
    Protectants: applied to plants,
    animals, structures, and
    products to prevent entry or
    damage by a pest.
    Sterilants: make pests unable to
    reproduce.
    Contacts: kill pests simply by
    contacting them.
    Stomach poisons: kill when
    swallowed.
    Systemics: taken into the blood
    of an animal or sap of a plant.
    They  kill the pest without
    harming the host.
    Translocated herbicides: kill
    plants by being absorbed by
    leaves, stems, or roots and
    moving throughout the plant.
    Fumigants: gases which kill
    when they are inhaled or
    otherwise absorbed by the pest.
    Anticoagulants: prevent normal
    clotting of blood.
    Selective: more toxic  to some
    kinds of plants or animals than
    to others.
    Nonselective: toxic  to most
    plants or animals.
    Pheromones: affect pests by
    changing their behavior.


Using Pesticides

Many terms describe when and how
to use pesticides. They  are used in
labeling. They also are found in
leaflets and bulletins that you may
get from your local Cooperative
Extension agent or others at your
land-grant university. You should
know and understand these terms.
They will  help you get  the best
results from your pesticides with the
              3-2
                                    least possible harm to you and the
                                    environment.

                                    When To Use
                                      Terms that tell you when to use
                                    the pesticide product:
                                        Preemergence: used before crop
                                        or weeds emerge. May also refer
                                        to use after crops emerge or are
                                        established, but before weeds
                                        emerge.
                                        Preplant: used before the crop is
                                        planted.
                                        Postemergenee: used after the
                                        crop or weeds have emerged.
Preemergence and Postemergence

How To Use
  Terms that tell you how to use the
pesticide product:
    Band: application to a strip over
    or along a crop row or on or
    around a structure.
    Basal: application to stems or
    trunks at or just above  the
    ground line.
    Broadcast: uniform application
    to an entire, specific area.
    Crack and crevice: application in
    structures to cracks and crevices
    where pests may live.
    Dip: complete or partial
    immersion of a plant, animal, or
    object in a pesticide.
                                                                                                   •
Band

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Directed
    Directed: aiming the pesticide at
    a portion of a plant, animal, or
    structure.
    Drench: saturating the soil with
    a pesticide or oral treatment of
    an animal  with a liquid
    pesticide.
    Foliar: application to the leaves
    of plants.
    In-furrow:  application to or  in
    the narrow in which a plant is
    planted.
    Over-the-top: application over
    the top of the growing crop.
    Pour-on: pouring the pesticide
    along the midline of the back of
    livestock.
    Sidedress:  application along the
    side of a crop row.
    Soil application: application to
    the soil rather than to
    vegetation.

Soil Incorporation

    Soil incorporation: use of tillage
    implements to mix the pesticide
    with the soil.
    Soil injection:  application
    beneath the soil surface.
    Spot treatment: application to
    small area.
 Accuracy Is Important
   The rate and time of application of
 pesticides are critical. Most
 pesticides work at very low rates. If
 you use too much, they can harm or
 even kill the plant or animal you
 wish to protect. Pesticides work best
 when applied at specific times.
 Applying them before or after the
 correct time reduces or  even
 eliminates their effectiveness.
     Since all these chemicals work
 in small amounts, be careful to treat
 only the intended target. Avoid
 getting them on anything else as a
 result of drift or of residue in
 application  equipment or soil.


 Factors Affecting  Pesticide
 Activity

 Soil Factors
  Organic matter in soils limits
 pesticide activity. Soils  with high
 organic matter content  may need
 higher rates of pesticides for good
 pest control. Follow label
 instructions.
  Soil texture also affects the way
 pesticides work. Soils with fine
 particles (silts and clays) provide the
 most surface area. They may need
 higher rates. Coarser soils  (sands)
 have less surface area. Use lower
 rates on them.  Follow label
 instructions.

 Climatic Factors
  Soil moisture and rain affect the
 way pesticides work. They also affect
 how long pesticides stay on soil and
 plants. Pesticides work  best with
 moderate  soil moisture.  Wetness
 may keep the pesticide from
 contacting the soil particles. Rain
 causes soluble pesticides to leach
 down through the soil. Rain is good
 when preemergence pesticides are
 applied to the surface. It carries
 them down  into the soil to the pests.
 But rain during or soon  after over-
 the-topor foliar applications is not
 good. It may wash pesticides off the
 leaves.
  Humidity and temperature also
 affect the way pesticides work.
 Herbicides work best when plants
 are growing fast.  High relative
 humidity and optimum
 temperatures usually cause this fast
 growth. High temperatures cause
 some soil pesticides to evaporate
quickly. Low temperatures may slow
down or stop the activity of some
 pesticides.
   Light may break down some
 pesticides if they are left on the soil
 surface for a long time.

 Pesticide Resistance
   The ability of pests to resist
 poisoning is called pesticide
 resistance. Consider this when
 planning pest control programs that
 rely on the use of pesticides.
   Rarely does any pesticide kill all
 the target pests. Each time a
 pesticide is used, it selectively kills
 the most sensitive pests. Some pests
 avoid the pesticide. Others are able
 to withstand its effects. Pests  that
 are not destroyed pass along to their
 offspring the trait that allowed them
 to survive.
   When we use one pesticide
 repeatedly in the same place,  the
 pest population sometimes builds up
 its resistance. Some pests have
 become practically immune to
 poisoning by certain pesticides.
   Not every pesticide failure is
 caused by pest resistance, however.
 Make sure that you have:
     •  used the correct pesticide,
     •  used the correct dosage, and
     •  applied the pesticide
       correctly.
   Your Cooperative Extension
 Service can help you find out  why
 you did not get the desired results.


 Plant Growth Regulators,
 Desiccants, Defoliants,  and
 Antitranspirants

 Plant growth regulators, desiccants,
 defoliants, and antitranspirants
 change normal plant processes.

 How They Work
Plant Growth Regulators

  All plant parts are made up of tiny
cells which continually multiply and
                                                   3-3

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grow. Plant growth regulators speed
up, slow down, or otherwise affect
cell growth and reproduction. Here
are some ways they are used:
    • decrease preharvest drop,
    • increase fruit firmness,
    • reduce scald,
    • delay water core (water-
      soaked area around core of
      fruit),
    • increase red color,
    • thin fruit,
    • increase flowering,
    • reduce fruit cracking,
    • promote uniform bearing of
      fruit,
    • control plant height,
    • prevent or delay sprouting of
      tubers,
    • promote dense growth of
      landscape plants,
    • promote earlier  flowering,
    • prevent seed formation,
    • induce branching,
    • reduce suckering,
    • hasten fruit maturity,
    • increase seed yield, and
    • control excessive growth.
Defoliated Cotton

Desiccants and Defoliants

  These often are called harvest-aid
chemicals, because they help the
farmer harvest his crop. Both are
used to get rid of leaves, stems, and
weeds in such crops as cotton,
soybeans, and potatoes.

Antitranspirants

By reducing water loss, they can:
    • prevent winter damage,
    • maintain color in evergreens,
    • protect against salt damage,
    • help protect transplants, and
    • prevent needle drop on
      Christmas trees.
Types of Formulations

Active ingredients are the chemicals
in a pesticide product that do the
work. Active ingredients can rarely
be used in the form in which they
were made. They usually must be
changed or mixed with something
else. Other ingredients may be
added to make them convenient to
handle and safe, easy, and accurate
to apply. These are the inert
ingredients. This mixture of active
and inert ingredients is called a
pesticide formulation.  Some
formulations are  ready for use.
Others must be diluted with water
or a petroleum solvent. The
directions for use will tell you how to
use a pesticide formulation.
  Here are the most common types
of liquid and dry formulations. The
abbreviations are included because
Cooperative Extension Service
recommendations and the labels and
labeling may refer to  the
formulations in this way.

Liquid Formulations
Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC or E)

  An emulsifiable concentrate can
be mixed with water to form an
emulsion. Each gallon of an EC
usually contains 2 to 8 pounds of
active ingredient. Diluted EC's
usually need little agitation in the
spray tank.
  EC's can damage some crops.
These crops may require a different
formulation of the active ingredient
such as a wettable powder or a dust.
Solutions (S)

  High Concentrates—These are
special formulations. They usually
contain 8 or more pounds of active
ingredient per gallon. They may
contain only the active ingredient
itself. Most  are designed to be used
as is or diluted with oil or petroleum
solvents. They contain chemicals
that allow them to spread and stick
well. Ultra low volume (ULV)
concentrate materials should be
used without further dilution.
  Low Concentrates—These
formulations usually contain less
than 2 pounds of active ingredient
per gallon. Most of them  are
solutions in highly refined oils. They
need no further dilution. The label
will give you directions for use. They
are often used for:
    •  controlling household and
       industrial pests,
    •  mothproofing.
    •  livestock sprays, or
    •  space sprays in barns.
                                                                         Flowables (F or L)

                                                                           Some active ingredients can be
                                                                         made only as a solid, or at best, a
                                                                         semisolid. These are finely ground
                                                                         and put into a liquid along with
                                                                         other substances that make the
                                                                         mixture form a suspension. They are
                                                                         flowable solids. Flowables can be
                                                                         mixed with water. They seldom clog
                                                                         spray nozzles. They need only
                                                                         moderate agitation. Most  of them
                                                                         handle as well as EC formulations.
Aerosols(A)

  These pesticide formulations are
liquids that contain the active
ingredient in solution in a solvent.
More than one pesticide may be in
these formulations. Most aerosol
formulations have a low percentage
of active ingredient. They are made
for use only in fog- or mist-
generating machines. They are used
in structures, greenhouses, and
barns for insect control.
                                                  3-4

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Liquified Gases

  Some fumigants are gases which
become liquid when placed under
pressure. This type of formulation is
stored under pressure. The pressure
may be either high or low,
depending on the product. Some
nematicides, insecticides, fungicides,
and rodenticides are formulated this
way. These formulations are applied
by:
    •  injecting them directly into
       the soil,
    •  releasing them under tarps,
       or
    •  releasing them into a
       structure such as a grain
       storage elevator.
  Some other active ingredients
remain liquid in an ordinary
container, but turn into a gas or
vapor as or  after they are applied.
These formulations do not require
storage under pressure. They must
be put into the soil or confined in a
space before they turn to  gas.
Otherwise, they could be lost into
the air.

Dry Formulations
                                    They can easily drift into non-target
                                    areas. You can get dusts for use on
                                    seeds, plants, and animals.
                                      Dust concentrates are available
                                    for further dilution with dry inert
                                    ingredients before they are ready to
                                    use.
 Dusts (D)

   Most dust formulations are ready
 to use and contain:
     • an active ingredient, plus
     • a very fine or powdered dry
       inert substance such as talc,
       clay, nut hulls, or volcanic
       ash.
   The amount of active ingredient
 usually ranges from 1 to 10 percent.
   All the ingredients are ground
 into fine, uniform particles. Inert
 ingredients are often added so
 the formulation will store  and
 handle well. Some active ingredients
 are prepared as dusts because they
 are safer for crops in that  form.
 Dusts always must be used dry.
Granules (G)

  Granular formulations are dry.
Most are made by applying a liquid
formulation of the active ingredient
to coarse particles (granules) of some
porous material. Often used are clay,
corn cobs, or walnut shells. Granule
particles are much larger than dust
particles. The  pesticide is absorbed
into the granule, or  coats the outside
of it, or both. Inert ingredients may
be added to make the formulation
handle well. The  amount of active
ingredient ranges from 2 to 40
percent. Granular formulations are
safer to apply  than  EC's or dusts.
They are most often used as soil
treatments. They may be applied
either directly to the soil or over
plants. They do not cling to plant
foliage, but they may be trapped in
the whorls of some  plants. Granular
formulations, like dusts, should
always be used dry. Never mix them
with water.
                                    wettable powders spray well and do
                                    not clog nozzles. They are abrasive
                                    to pumps and nozzles. Most wettable
                                    powders are safer for use on plants
                                    than EC's are.
Soluble Powders (SP)

  Soluble powders also are dry
formulations. But when they are
added to  water, they form true
solutions. Agitation in the spray
tank may be needed to get them to
dissolve.  After that, no more
agitation usually is needed. The
amount of active ingredient in an SP
is usually above 50 percent.
 Wettable Powders (WP or W)

   These are dry, finely ground
 pesticide formulations. They look
 like dusts. But, unlike dusts, they
 are made to mix with water. Most
 wettable powders are much more
 concentrated than dusts. They
 contain  15 to 95 percent active
 ingredient—usually 50 percent or
 more. Wettable powders form a
 suspension  rather than a true
 solution when  added to water. Good
 agitation is needed in the spray tank
 to maintain the suspension. Good
                                                 3-5
Baits (B)
  A bait formulation is an edible or
attractive substance mixed with a
pesticide. The bait attracts pests and
the pesticide kills them when they
eat the formulation. Baits usually
are used to control rodents and
insect pests. They can be used in
buildings or outdoors. The amount of
active ingredient in most bait
formulations is quite low, usually
less than 5 percent.

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 PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

   HAZARDS TO HUMANS

   (& DOMESTIC ANIMALS)

       DANGER
  ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
   PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL
      HAZARDS
   DIRECTIONS FOR USE
It Is a violation of Federal law to use
this  product in a manner Inconsistent
with its labeling.
   RE-ENTRY STATEMENT
      (If Applicable)
  CATEGORY OF APPLICATOR
   STORAGE AND
     DISPOSAL
  STORAGE:
  DISPOSAL;
CROP:
       RESTRICTED  USE

            PESTICIDE
     FOR RETAIL SALE TO AND APPLICATION ONLY BY
    CERTIFIED APPLICATORS OR PERSONS UNDER THEIR
             DIRECT SUPERVISION
        PRODUCT
            NAME
    ACTIVE INGREDIENT: .
    INERT INGREDIENTS. ,

    TOTAL:
100.00%
                               THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS  LBS OF  PER GALLON
                              KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
                                 DANGER — POISON
        STATEMENT OF PRACTICAL TREATMENT
IF SWALLOWED:
IF INHALED =
IF ON SKIN =
IF IN EYES	
                           SEE SIDE PANEL FOR ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
                           MFG BY:
                           TOWN, STATE:
                           ESTABLISHMENT NO.:
                           EPA REGISTRATION NO.

                                      NET CONTENTS:
                                                                       CROP:
                                                                       CROP:
                                            CROP:
                                             CROP:
                                             CROP:
                                                                          WARRANTY STATEMENT

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Labels  and
Labeling
Each time you buy a pesticide, you
also receive instructions to tell you
how to use it. Those instructions are
the labeling.
  What is labeling? What is a label?
These words seem alike but they do
not mean the same thing.
  Labeling is all information that
you receive from the company or its
agent about the product.  Labeling
includes such things as:
    •  the label on  the product,
    •  brochures,
    •  flyers, and
    •  information  handed out by
       your dealer.
  The label is the information
printed on or attached to the
container of pesticides. This  label
does many things:
    •  To the manufacturer, the
       label is a "license  to sell."
    •  To  the State or Federal
       Government, the label is a
       way to control the
       distribution, storage,  sale,
       use, and disposal of the
       products.
    •  To  the buyer or user, the
       label is a main source of facts
       on  how to use the product
       correctly and legally.
    •  The label is a way to tell
       users about  special safety
       measures needed.
  Some labels are easy to
understand. Others are complicated.
But all labels will tell you how to
use the product correctly. This
section will explain the items that
must be on a label.

Parts of the Label

Brand Name
  Each company has brand names
for its products. The brand name is
the one used  in ads. The brand  name
shows up plainly on the  front panel
of the  label. It is the most
identifiable name for the product.

Type  of Formulation
   Different types of pesticide
 formulations (such as liquids,
 wettable powders, and dusts) require
 different methods of handling. The
 label will tell you what type of
 formulation the package contains.
 The same pesticide may  be available
 in more than one formulation.
Common Name
  Many pesticides have complex
chemical names. Some have been
given another name to make them
easier to identify. These are called
common names. For instance,
carbaryl is the common name for 1-
naphthyl N-methylcarbamate. A
chemical made by more than one
company will be sold under several
brand names, but you may find the
same common name or chemical
name on all of them.

Ingredient Statement
  Every pesticide label must list
what is in the product. The list is
written so that you can see quickly
what the active ingredients are. The
amount of each active ingredient is
given as a percentage by weight or
as pounds per gallon of concentrate.
It can be listed by either the
chemical name or the common
name. The inert ingredients need not
be named, but the label must show
what percent of the contents they
make up.

Net Contents
  The net contents number tells you
how much is in the container. This
can be expressed in gallons, pints,
pounds, quarts, or other units of
measure.

Name and Address of
Manufacturer
  The law requires the maker or
distributor of a product to put the
name and address of the company on
the label. This is so you will know
who made or sold the product.

Registration and Establishment
Numbers
  A registration number must be on
every pesticide label. It shows that
the product has been registered with
the Federal Government. It usually
is found on the front panel of the
label and will be written as "EPA
Registration No. 0000." The
establishment number tells what
factory made the chemical. This
number does not have to be on the
label, but will be somewhere on each
container.


              4-1
 Signal Words and Symbols

 To do their job, most pesticides must
 control the target pest. By their
 nature, they are toxic. Therefore,
 some may be hazardous to people.
 You can tell the toxicity of a product
 by reading the signal word and
 looking at the symbol on the label.

 Signal Words

   One of the most important parts of
 the label is the signal word. It tells
 you  approximately how toxic the
 material is to people. The signal
 words that follow are set by law.
 Each manufacturer must use the
 correct one on every label:
Signal
Words
DANGER

WARNING


CAUTION






Toxicity
Highly
toxic
Moderately
toxic

Low
toxicity
or
Compara-
tively free
from
danger
Appromixate Amount
Needed To Kill the
Average Person
a taste to
a teaspoonful
a teaspoonful
to a table -
spoonful
an ounce to
more than
a pint




All products must bear the statement
"Keep out of reach of children."


Symbol

   One of the best ways to catch a
person's eye is with symbols. This is
why a skull and crossbones symbol
is used on all highly toxic materials
along with the signal word
DANGER and the word POISON.
   Pay attention to the symbol on the
label. It is there to remind you that
the contents could make you sick, or
even kill you.

-------
 PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
   HAZARDS TO HUMANS
   (& DOMESTIC ANIMALS)
       DANGER
  ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
   PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL
      HAZARDS
   DIRECTIONS FOR USE
(t is a violation of Federal  law to use
this  product in a manner  inconsistent
with its labeling.
   RE-ENTRY STATEMENT
      (If Applicable)
  CATEGORY OF APPLICATOR
   STORAGE AND
     DISPOSAL
  STORAGE       	—
  DISPOSAL =
CROP:
       RESTRICTED USE
           PESTICIDE
     FOR RETAIL SALE TO AND APPLICATION ONLY BY
    CERTIFIED APPLICATORS OR PERSONS UNDER THEIR
             DIRECT SUPERVISION
       PRODUCT
            NAME
    ACTIVE INGREDIENT:
    INERT INGREDIENTS.

    TOTAL:
100.00%
                               THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS  LBS OF   PER GALLON
                             KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
                                 DANGER — POISON
        STATEMENT OF PRACTICAL TREATMENT
IF SWALLOWED ^
IF INHALED ==
IF ON SKIN	
IF IN EYES	
                           SEE SIDE PANEL FOR ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
                           MFG BY    	
                           TOWN, STATF •	
                           ESTABLISHMENT NO.
                           EPA REGISTRATION NO.
                                     NET CONTENTS:
                                                                      CROP:
                                                                       CROP:
                                            CROP:
                                            CROP:
                                            CROP:
                                                                         WARRANTY STATEMENT

-------
Precautionary Statement
Hazards to Humans (and Domestic
Animals)
  This section will tell you the ways
in which the product may be
poisonous to man and animals. It
also will tell you of any special steps
you should take to avoid poisoning,
such as the kind of protective
equipment needed.
  If the product is highly toxic, this
section will inform  physicians of the
proper treatment for poisoning.

Environmental Hazards
  Pesticides are useful tools. But
wrong or careless use could cause
undesirable effects. To help avoid
this, the label contains
environmental precautions that you
should read and follow.
  Here are some examples:
    •  "This product is highly toxic
       to bees exposed to direct
       treatment or to residues on
      crops."
    •  "Do not contaminate water
       when cleaning equipment or
       when disposing of wastes."
    •  "Do not apply where runoff is
       likely to occur."
  Labels may contain broader
warnings against harming birds,
fish, and wildlife.

Physical and Chemical Hazards
  This section will tell you of any
special fire, explosion, or chemical
hazards that the product may  pose.

Statement of Practical Treatment
  If swallowing or inhaling the
product or getting it in your eyes or
on your skin would be harmful, the
label will tell you emergency first
aid measures. It also will tell you
what types of exposure require
medical attention.
  The pesticide label is the most
important information you can take
to the physician when you think
someone has been poisoned.

Statement of Use Classification
  Every pesticide label must show
whether the contents are for general
use or restricted use. EPA puts
every product use into one of these
two classes. The classification  is
based on:
    •  the hazard of poisoning,
    •  the way the  pesticide is used,
       and
    •  its effect on  the environment.
General Use
  If a pesticide will harm the
applicator or the environment very
little or not at all when used exactly
as directed, it  will be labeled a
general use pesticide.
  The label on these products will
say:
    "General classification."

Restricted Use
  A restricted use pesticide is one
which could cause some human
injury or environmental damage
even when used as directed on the
label. The label on these products
will say:
  "Restricted use pesticide for retail
sale to and application only by
certified applicators or persons
under their direct  supervision."
  The restricted use statement must
be at the top of the front panel of the
label.

Directions for Use
  The instructions on how to use the
pesticides are an important part of
the label for you. This is the best
way you can find out the right way
to apply the product.
  The use instructions will tell you:
    •  the pests the product is
       registered to control (Labels
       use common names for pests.
       Knowing these names will
       help you choose the proper
       pesticide and find control
       information),
    •  the crop, animal, or other
       item the product can  be used
       on,
    •  whether the product is for
       general or restricted use,
    •  in what form the product
       should be applied,
    •  how much to use,
    •  where the material should be
       applied, and
    •  when it should be applied.

Misuse Statement
  This section will remind you that
it is a violation of Federal law to use
a product in a manner inconsistent
with its labeling. Do not use a
product on a crop or for a pest not
listed on the label. Do not use it at
more than the recommended rate.
Before the product could be
registered, EPA required the
manufacturer  to conduct many tests
to be sure the label directions were
correct. By following them exactly,
you will:
    •  get the best results the
       product can give, and
    •  avoid breaking the law.
Reentry Statement
  If required for the product, this
section will tell you how much time
must pass before a pesticide-treated
area is safe for entry by a person
without protective clothing. Consult
local authorities for special rules
that may apply.

Category of Applicator
  If required for the product, this
section will limit use to certain
categories of commercial applicators.

Storage and Disposal Directions
  Every pesticide should be stored
and disposed of correctly. This
section will tell you how to store and
dispose of the product and empty
containers.
                                                4-3

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Using Pesticides
Safely
There are two good reasons for using
pesticides safely:
    • to keep yourself and other
      people from being poisoned,
      and
    • to avoid harming the
      environment.


Protecting Man

How Pesticides Harm Man
  Pesticides can cause injury. They
are toxic. Manufacturers find out
how toxic a pesticide is by testing it
on animals. The product's hazard—
the danger that injury will occur to
man—depends on the toxicity of the
active ingredient plus the exposure
to the product  during use.
  Most pesticides can cause severe
illness, or even death, if misused.
But every registered  pesticide can be
used safely if you use proper care.
  Children under 10 are the victims
of at least half of the accidental
pesticide deaths in this country. If
pesticides were always  cared for
correctly, children would never
touch them.
  Many accidental pesticide deaths
are caused by eating or drinking the
product. But some mixers, loaders,
and applicators die or are injured
when they breathe a pesticide vapor
or get a pesticide on  their skin.
Repeated exposure to small amounts
of some pesticides can cause sudden
severe illness.
  Most pesticides can enter the body
through the skin. You may get more
into your body this way than you
would accidentally swallow or inhale
while working. With some
pesticides, skin contact alone can
cause death.
  You should help prevent all
accidents with pesticides:
     • by using and  storing
       pesticides away from children
       and other untrained persons,
      and
     • by taking care to follow
      directions when using them.
  Products for restricted use need
special care. The label is your guide.
Symptoms of Pesticide Poisoning
  You should know what kinds of
sickness are caused by the pesticides
you use. You also should know the
conditions under which each one
may make you sick.
  There are two kinds of clues to
pesticide poisoning. Some are
feelings that only the person who
has been poisoned can notice—such
as nausea or headache. These are
symptoms. Others, like vomiting,
also can be noticed by someone else.
These are signs. So you should
know:
     • what your own feelings might
      mean, and
     • what signs of poisoning to
      look for in your  co-workers
      and others who may have
      been exposed.
  All pesticides in  the same
chemical group cause the same kind
of sickness. This sickness may be
mild or severe,  depending on the
pesticide and the amount absorbed.
But the pattern of illness caused by
one type of pesticide is always the
same. Having some of the signs and
symptoms does  not always mean you
have been poisoned. Other kinds of
sickness may cause similar signs
and symptoms.  Headache and a
feeling of being unwell, for  example,
may signal the start of many kinds
of illness. It is the pattern of
symptoms that makes it possible to
tell one kind of sickness from
another.
   Get medical advice quickly if you
or any of your fellow workers have
unusual or unexplained symptoms
starting at work or later the same
day. If you suspect a person has been
poisoned, do not leave him alone. Do
not let yourself or anyone else get
dangerously sick before calling your
physician or going to a hospital. It is
better to be too cautious than too
late. Take the container (or the
label) of the pesticide to the
physician. Do not carry the  pesticide
container in the passenger space of a
car or truck.
Synthetic Organic Pesticides

  Organophosphates—These
pesticides injure the nervous system.
The signs and symptoms go through
stages. They normally occur in this
order:
    Mild Poisoning
       fatigue
       headache
       dizziness
       blurred vision
       too much sweating and
       salivation
       nausea and vomiting
       stomach cramps or diarrhea

     Vloderate Poisoning
       unable to walk
       weakness
       chest discomfort
       muscle twitches
       constriction of pupil of the
       eye
       earlier symptoms become
       more severe.
    Severe Poisoning
    •  unconsciousness
    •  severe constriction of pupil of
       eye
    •  muscle twitches
    •  secretions from mouth and
       nose
    •  breathing difficulty
    •  death if not treated.
   Illness may be delayed a few
 hours. But if signs or symptoms
 start more than 12 hours after you
 were exposed to the pesticide, you
 probably have some other illness.
 Check with your physician to be
 sure.
   Carbamates—The only
 carbamates likely to make you ill on
 the job act almost like
 organophosphates. They produce  the
 same signs and symptoms if you  are
 poisoned by them. But the injury
 they cause can be corrected more
 easily  by a physician. For this
 reason, most carbamates are safer
 than organophosphates.  The label
 will warn you of the danger.
   Organochlorines—Not many
 organochlorines (chlorinated
 hydrocarbons) have poisoned
 applicators.

-------
  Early signs and symptoms of
poisoning include:
       headache,
       nausea,
       vomiting,
       general discomfort, and
       dizziness.
  With more severe poisoning,
convulsions follow. They may even
appear without the warning
symptoms. Coma may follow the
convulsions. The person also may be
unusually excited or irritable.
  Nitrophenols and
Pentachlorophenol—The signs
and symptoms of skin exposure
include:
    •  redness,
    •  burning, and
    •  blisters.
  The  signs and symptoms of
poisoning include:
       headache,
       nausea,
       gastric distress,
       restlessness,
       hot feeling,
       flushed skin,
       sweating,
       deep and fast breathing,
       fast beating of the heart,
       fever,
       ashen color,
       collapse, and
       coma.
  Severe poisoning usually runs a
rapid course. One usually dies or is
almost well within 24 to 48 hours.
  Fumigants  and Solvents—Too
much exposure to these compounds
may make a person seem drunk. The
signs and symptoms are:
    •  poor coordination,
    •  slurring words,
    •  confusion, and
    •  sleepiness.
    Repeated exposure to the
fumigant methyl bromide has
caused permanent internal injury
without early signs or symptoms of
poisoning. You can absorb a fatal
dose of it before symptoms appear.

Inorganic Pesticides

  Large single doses of most
inorganic pesticides cause vomiting
and stomach pain. The signs and
symptoms depend on the mineral
from which the pesticide is made.

Plant-derived Pesticides

  Some plant-derived pesticides are
very toxic. Technical pyrethrum
may cause allergic reactions. Some
rotenone dusts irritate the
respiratory tract. Nicotine is a fast-
acting nerve poison about as
dangerous as parathion. Some  other
plant-derived pesticides are
strychnine, rotenone, and red squill.

First Aid Procedures
  Read the directions  in the
"Statement of Practical Treatment"
on each label. These instructions can
save your life and the lives of your
employees.
  If you get a pesticide on your skin:
     • Remove the pesticide as
       quickly as possible. Remove
       all contaminated clothing.
       Prompt washing may prevent
       sickness even when the spill
       is very large. Don't forget
       your hair and fingernails.
       Water-wettable powders or
       suspensions are easy to
       remove with plain water. So
       are most emulsifiable
       concentrates and emulsions.
       Solutions of pesticides in
       petroleum oil or other
       solvents are harder to remove
       without soap or a detergent.
       Detergents work better.
       Washrooms and emergency
       field washing facilities should
       have detergents rather than
       plain soap.
  If you inhale a pesticide:
     • Get to fresh air right away.
  If you splash a pesticide into your
 mouth or swallow it:
     • Rinse your mouth with
       plenty of water.
     • Go or be taken to a physician
       immediately.
     • It is sometimes dangerous to
       cause vomiting; follow label
       directions.
Protecting Your Body
  Pesticides can enter the body in
many ways. The main ones are:
    • getting the pesticide on your
      skin,
    • inhaling it, and
    • swallowing it.
  To prevent this, you must wear
protective clothing and equipment.
No safety recommendations can
cover all situations. Your common
sense should tell you to use more
protection as the hazard increases.
The pesticide label will tell you the
kind of protection you need.
  Remember to bathe,  using  a
detergent, when you finish working
with pesticides or pesticide-
contaminated equipment. Any time
you spill a pesticide on yourself,
wash immediately.

Protective Clothing

  Body Covering—Any time you
handle pesticides, you should wear
at least:
    • a long-sleeved shirt and long-
      legged trousers, or
    • a coverall type garment.
  They  should be made of closely
woven fabric. When handling
pesticide concentrates or very toxic
materials, you also should wear a
liquid-proof raincoat or apron. Wear
trousers outside of the boots to keep
pesticides from getting inside.
  Gloves—When you handle
concentrated or highly toxic
pesticides, wear liquid-proof
neoprene gloves. However, some
fumigants are readily absorbed by
neoprene. The label will tell you
what kind of gloves to use. They
should be long enough to protect the
wrist. Gloves should not be lined
with a fabric. The lining is hard to
clean if a chemical gets on it.
Sleeves should be outside of the
gloves to keep pesticides from
running down the sleeves and into
the gloves.
  Hat—Wear something to protect
your head. A wide-brimmed,
waterproof hat will protect your
neck, eyes, mouth, and face. It
should not have a cloth or leather
sweatband. These sweatbands are
hard to clean if chemicals get on
them. Plastic "hard hats" with
                                                    5-2

-------
plastic sweatbands are good. They
are waterproof and are cool in hot
weather.
  Boots—Wear unlined neoprene
boots. However, some fumigants are
readily absorbed by neoprene boots.
Follow label instructions.
  Goggles or Face Shield—Wear
goggles or a face shield when there
is any chance of getting pesticides in
your eyes. Your eyes will absorb
many pesticides. You can wear
goggles alone or  with a respirator.
  Care of Clothing—Wear clean
clothing daily. If clothes get wet
with spray, change them right away.
If they get wet with pesticide
concentrates or highly toxic
pesticides, destroy them. They are
hard to get clean by normal
methods. Do not store or wash
contaminated clothing with the
family laundry. Wash hats, gloves,
and boots daily, inside and out.
Hang them  to dry. Test gloves for
leaks by filling them with water and
gently squeezing.
  Wash goggles or face shields at
least once a day. Elastic fabric
headbands often absorb pesticides
and are difficult to clean. Have some
spares so you can replace them
often, or use neoprene headbands.

Respiratory Protective Devices

  The respiratory tract—the lungs
and other parts of the breathing
system—is much more absorbent
than the skin. You must wear an
approved respiratory device when
the label directs you to do so. Follow
the label instructions on respiratory
protection.
  You probably will need a
respirator:
    •  if you will be exposed to a
       pesticide for a long time,
    •  if the pesticide you are using
       is highly toxic, or
    •  if you are working in an
       enclosed area.
Cartridge Respirator

  Chemical Cartridge
Respirator—You should wear this
kind of respirator:
    •  when you are exposed to
       intermittent concentrations
       of a toxic pesticide.
  The  inhaled air comes through
both a filter pad and a cartridge
made to  absorb pesticide vapors.
Most harmful vapors, gases, and
particles are removed. These half-
face masks cover the mouth and
nose. To  cover the eyes also, use one
that is combined with goggles or
wear separate goggles.
Canister Respirator
  Chemical Canister Respirator
(Gas Mask)—You should wear this
kind of respirator:
    •  when you are exposed to a
       continuous concentration of a
       toxic pesticide.
  The canister has longer-lasting
absorbing material and filters than
a cartridge respirator. Gas masks
usually protect the face better than
cartridge types. Neither kind will
protect you during fumigation or
when the oxygen supply is low, as in
a silo.

Supplied Air Respirator

  Supplied Air Respirator—You
may use this kind of respirator when
mixing or applying pesticides:
    •  when the oxygen supply is
       low,
    •  when you are exposed to high
       concentrations of highly toxic
       pesticides in enclosed areas,
       as in fumigation, or
    •  when your work can be done
       close to a supply of clean air.
    Clean air is pumped through a
hose to the face mask.
Self-contained Breathing Apparatus

  Self-Contained Breathing
Apparatus—You should wear this
kind of respirator under the same
conditions as the supplied air
respirator. It does about the same
thing. The difference is that you
carry cylinders of air or oxygen with
you, usually on your back. This lets
you move more freely and over a
wider area then you can with a
supplied air respirator.
                                                 5-3

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  Selection and Maintenance—
Specific types of cartridges and
canisters protect against specific
chemical gases and vapors. Be sure
you choose one made for the
pesticides you are using. Use only
those approved by the National
Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH), or the Mining
Enforcement and Safety
Administration (MESA).
  The respirator must fit the face
well. Long sideburns, a beard, or
glasses may prevent a good seal.
Read the manufacturer s
instructions on the use and care of
any respirator and its parts before
you use it.
  When applying pesticides, change
filters, cartridges, and canisters if
you have trouble breathing, or if you
smell pesticides. Remove and discard
filters, cartridges, and canisters
after use. Then wash the face piece
with detergent and water, rinse it,
and dry it with a clean cloth. Store it
in a  clean, dry place away from
pesticides.
  The useful life of a cartridge or
canister depends on:
     • the amount of absorbent
       material,
     • the concentration of
       contaminants in the air,
     • the breathing rate of the
       wearer, and
     • the temperature and
       humidity.
  If you have trouble  breathing
while wearing a respiratory device,
see your physician to find out
whether you have a respiratory
problem.

Protecting the
Environment

The  "environment" is  our
surroundings and its many forms of
life.  Every plant or animal is
affected by other plants or animals
in the environment. Factors like
rain, temperature, and wind are part
of the environment. We cannot do
much about them. But we can
control some other things, including
the use of pesticides.
  Many people consider pesticides a
tool  for preserving or  improving the
environment. Others feel that they
cause pollution. As a weed is a
"plant out of place," a pesticide
sometimes can be a "tool out of
place". Correct use prevents
pollution by pesticides.

How Pesticides Harm the
Environment
  Using pesticides in a way other
than as directed on the label can:
    •  injure plants and animals,
    •  leave illegal residues, and
    •  damage the environment in
       many other ways.
  Any pesticide can cause harm if
not chosen and used with care. Here
are some ways damage can occur.

Direct Kill of Non-Target Organisms

  Do not let a pesticide contact
anything except the target area.
Drift from herbicides can kill nearby
crops and landscape plants. You may
kill bees and other pollinators  if you
treat a crop while they are working
in a field. Or you could kill parasites
and predators that help control
harmful insects.
  Pesticides are sometimes applied
over a large area. Targets are such
things as mosquitoes,  forest insects,
and weeds. Many non-target plants
and animals within the treated area
may be harmed. Plan area projects
with great care so  you will not do
irreparable damage to the
environment.


  Runoff from a sprayed field can
kill fish in a nearby stream or pond.
Life in streams can be wiped out by
careless tank filling or draining and
improper container disposal.
  All of these kills can result in
lawsuits, fines,  and loss of
certification.
  If more than  one pesticide will
control your target pest, choose the
one that is the least hazardous to the
environment and most useful for
your situation.  Ask your
Cooperative Extension agent to help
you make this choice.
Persistence and Accumulation

  Not all pesticides act the same
after you apply them. Most are in
one of these two groups:
  Pesticides that break down quickly
remain on the target or in the
environment only a short time
before being changed into harmless
products. Some are highly toxic.
Others are fairly harmless.
  Pesticides that break down slowly
may stay in the environment
without change for a long time.
Often this is good, because you get
long term control. These are called
persistent pesticides. Most of them:
     • are not broken down easily
      by microorganisms, and
     • are only slightly soluble in
      water.
  Some persistent pesticides can
injure sensitive crops planted on the
same soil the next year. But they
seem to be of little hazard to the
environment beyond the treated soil.
Other persistent pesticides can build
up in the bodies of animals,
including man. They may build up
until they are harmful to the animal
itself or to the meat eater that feeds
on it. These are called accumulative
pesticides.

Pesticide Movement in t.hp
Environment

  Pesticides become problems when
they move off target. This may
mean:
     • drifting out of the target area
      as mist or dust,
     • moving on soil through runoff
      or erosion,
      leaching through the soil,
     • being carried out as residues
       in crops and livestock, or
     • evaporating and moving with
      air currents.

Soil and Pesticides
  Persistent pesticides may limit
future planting. You can plant only
crops which the pesticide will not
kill  or contaminate.
  Even pesticides directed at plants
or animals can move to the soil.
They may be washed or brushed off.
They may be worked into the soil
with dead plant parts.
                                                  5-4

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Air and Pesticides
  Pesticides in the air cannot be
controlled. The pesticides can settle
into water, crops, trees, houses, or
barnyards. The wind can carry them
hundreds of miles. Even gentle
breezes can carry them away from
the target.

Water and  Pesticides
  Water is necessary for all life. But
it is not safe to drink or bathe in
polluted water.
  Most fish and other aquatic life
can survive only slight changes in
their environment. Even tiny
amounts of many pesticides can
harm them  or destroy the food they
live on. They may die at once, or
there may be chronic effects.  The
behavior of an animal can be
changed so that predators can more
easily catch and kill it. Pesticide-
contaminated eggs may not hatch.
  Pesticides in water also may harm
other wildlife. Polluted irrigation
water can harm crops, soil, and
livestock.  It can cause illegal
residues in  crops, milk, and meat.
  Pesticides contaminate water in
many ways. They are applied
directly to water when controlling
some pests. Your State may require
a permit for this. It can be done
safely if you:
    • choose the pesticides
       carefully,
    • make sure they are
       registered for the use
       intended, and
    • apply them when and as
       directed.
   But water can be polluted if you
use the wrong pesticide or apply it
carelessly.
   Pesticides also can reach water
directly as a result of:
     • drift,
     • spills,
     • application to waterways
        (ditches and streams), and
     •  incorrect disposal methods.
   Pesticides also may reach water
 indirectly. This happens because of
 erosion, runoff,  and leaching. In fact,
 most pesticide movement through
 air or soil ends up in water.
Benefits of Careful Use
  Pesticides help the environment
when they are used correctly. Most
importantly, they can help produce
better quality and higher yields of
food, fiber, and timber by reducing
damage from pests.
  Weigh carefully the advantages
and disadvantages of each pesticide
use. Choose the pesticide that will do
the least damage while giving good
control. Finally, plan each part of
the job carefully from beginning to
end.
  Be  a responsible pesticide
applicator.

Safe Use Precautions

Most parts of your job may involve
some  risk of pesticide injury:
       hauling pesticides,
       storage,
       mixing,
       calibrating equipment before
       use,
       loading,
       applying,
       repairing equipment,
       working in pesticide-treated
       crops and buildings,
    • cleaning application
       equipment after use,
    • disposing of surplus
       pesticides and empty
       containers,
    • cleaning up spills, and
    • cleaning protective clothing
       and equipment.
  Some of these things are done
indoors. Many are done outdoors.
Each one requires some safety
measures to prevent harm to people,
animals, and plants as well as to soil
and water outside the target area.
  You can prevent harm from
pesticides if you follow safety
precautions and use common sense.
Here are the minimum  safety steps
you should take.

Before You Buy a Pesticide
  The first and most important step
in choosing a pesticide is to know
what pest you need to control. Then
find out which pesticides will control
it. You may have a choice of several.
You may need help to guide you.
Common sources of information  are
your  Cooperative Extension Service,
most agricultural schools, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, and
pesticide manufacturers and dealers.

At the Time of Purchase
   Read the label of the pesticide you
intend to buy to find out:
     • restrictions on use,
    • if this is the correct chemical
      for your problem,
    • if the product can be used
      safely under your conditions,
    • environmental precautions
      needed,
    • if the formulation and
      amount of active ingredient
      are right for your job,
    • if you have the right
      equipment to apply the
      pesticide,
    • if you have the right
      protective clothing and
      equipment, and
    • how much pesticide you need.

Before You Apply the Pesticide
  Read the label again to find out:
    •  the protective equipment
       needed to handle the
       pesticide,
    •  the specific warnings and
       first aid measures,
    •  what it can be mixed with,
    •  how to mix it,
    •  how much to use,
    •  safety measures,
    •  when to apply to control the
       pest and to meet residue
       tolerances,
    •  how to apply,
    •  the rate of application, and
    •  special instructions.

Transportation of Pesticides
   You are responsible for the safe
transport of your pesticide.
    •  The safest way to carry
       pesticides is in the back of a
       truck. Fasten down all
       containers to  prevent
       breakage and spillage.
    •  Keep pesticides away from
       food, feed, and passengers.
    •  Pesticides should be in a
       correctly labeled package.
    •  Keep paper and cardboard
       packages dry.
                                                 5-5

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    • If any pesticide is spilled in
      or from the vehicle, clean it
      up right away. Use correct
      cleanup procedures.
    • Do not leave unlocked
      pesticides unattended. You
      are responsible if accidents
      occur.

Pesticide Storage
  The label will tell you how to store
the product.
  As soon as pesticides arrive,
correctly store them in a locked and
posted place. Children and other
untrained persons should not be able
to get to them.
  The storage place should keep the
pesticides dry, cool, and out of direct
sunlight. It should have enough
insulation to keep the chemicals
from freezing or overheating.
  The storage place should have:
    • fire-resistant construction,
       including a cement floor,
    •  an exhaust fan for
      ventilation,
    • good lighting, and
    • a lock on the door.
   Keep the door locked when the
building is not in use.
  The storage building should be
away from where people and
animals live. This will avoid or
minimize harm to them in case of
fire.
   Store all pesticides in the original
containers.
   Do not store them near food, feed,
seed, or animals.
   Check every container often for
leaks or breaks. If one is damaged,
transfer the contents to a container
that has held exactly the same
pesticide. Clean up any spills
correctly.
   Keep an up-to-date inventory of
the pesticides you have.
 Mixing and Loading Pesticides
   Keep livestock, pets, and people
 out of the mixing and loading area.
   Do not work alone, especially at
 night.
  Work outdoors. Choose a place
with good light and ventilation. Do
not mix or load pesticides indoors or
at night unless there is good lighting
and ventilation.
  Before handling a pesticide
container, put on the correct
protective clothing and equipment.
  Each time you use a pesticide,
read the directions for mixing. Do
this before you open the container.
This is essential. Directions,
including amounts and methods, are
often changed.
  Do not tear paper containers to
open them. Use a sharp knife. Clean
the knife afterwards, and do not use
it for other purposes.
  When  taking a pesticide out of the
container, keep the container and
pesticide below eye level. This will
avoid a splash or spill on your
goggles or protective clothing. Do
the same thing when pouring or
dumping any pesticide.
  If you  splash or spill a pesticide
while mixing or loading:
     •  Stop right away.
     •  Remove contaminated
       clothing.
     •  Wash thoroughly with
       detergent and water. Speed is
       essential.
     •  Clean up the spill.
   When mixing pesticides, measure
carefully. Use only the  amount
called for on the label. Mix only the
amount you plan to use.
   When loading pesticides, stand so
the wind blows across your body
from the right or left to avoid
contaminating yourself.
  To prevent spills, replace all pour
caps and close containers after use.

Pesticide Application
   Wear  the correct protective
clothing and equipment.
  To prevent spillage of chemicals,
check all application equipment for:
     •  leaking hoses, pumps, or
       connections, and
     •  plugged, worn, or dripping
       nozzles.
   Use water to correctly calibrate
spray equipment before use. Before
starting a field application, clear all
livestock and people.from the area to
be treated.
  Drift is the movement of spray
droplets or dust particles away from
the target area. Drift increases:
     • as droplet or particle size
       decreases, and
     • as wind speed increases.
     It can be minimized  if you:
     • spray at low pressure,
     • use the largest practical
       nozzle openings, and
    •  spray during the calmer parts
       of the day.
  Vaporization is the evaporation of
an active ingredient during or after
application. Pesticide vapors can
cause injury far from the site of
application. High temperatures
increase vaporization. You can
reduce vaporization by:
    •  choosing nonvolatile
       chemical formulations, and
    •  spraying in the cooler parts of
       the day.

Cleaning Equipment
  Mixing, loading, and application
equipment must be cleaned as soon
as you finish using it. Clean both the
inside and outside,  including nozzles.
Only trained persons should do this
job. They should wear correct
protective clothing.
  Sometimes you may need to steam
clean equipment or use special
cleaning agents. In other cases, hot
water and detergent may be enough.
  Have a special area for cleaning.
It is best for the area to have a wash
rack or concrete apron with a good
sump.  This will catch all
contaminated wash water and
pesticides. Dispose of sump wastes
by burning or burial as you would
excess pesticides. Keep drainage out
of water supplies and streams.
  Equipment  sometimes must be
repaired before  it is completely
cleaned. Warn the  person doing the
repairs of the  possible hazards.

Disposal

Excess Pesticides

  EPA recommends ways to dispose
of excess pesticides. Consult local
authorities for procedures in your
area. If you have excess organic
pesticides:
     •  Use them up as directed on
       the label.
     •  Burn them  in a  specially
       designed pesticide
       incinerator.
     •  If you do not have access to
       proper facilities  for burning,
       bury the pesticides in a
       specially designated landfill.
     • If you cannot either burn or
       bury them right away, store
       the pesticides until you can.
     These recommendations also tell
 you how to dispose of excess diluted
 liquid pesticides. Add these and
 rinse liquids to spray mixtures in
 the field when you can. If you cannot
 use excess diluted pesticides, follow
 the disposal instructions for excess
 pesticides.
                                                 5-6

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Containers

  To prepare containers for disposal:
    1.  Empty the container into the
       tank. Let it drain an extra 30
       seconds.
    2.  Fill it one-fifth to one-fourth
       full of water.
    3.  Replace the closure and
       rotate the container. Upend
       the container so the rinse
       reaches all the side surfaces.
    4.  Drain the rinse water from
       the container into the tank.
       Let the container drain for
       30 seconds after emptying.
    5.  Repeat steps 2 through 4 at
       least two more times for a
       total of three rinses.
  Remember to empty each rinse
solution into the tank.
  The EPA recommendations divide
containers into three groups. They
tell you how to dispose of each kind.
  Group  I Containers—These are
containers which will burn, and:
    •  held organic or metallo-
       organic pesticides, but not
       organic mercury, lead,
       cadmium, or arsenic
       compounds.
  Here are ways to dispose of them:
    •  You may burn them in a
       special pesticide incinerator.
    •  You may bury them in a
       specially  designated landfill.
    •  You may burn small
       numbers  of them as directed
       by State  and  local
       regulations.
    *  You may bury them singly in
       open fields. Bury them at
       least 18 inches below the
       surface. Be careful not to
       pollute surface or subsurface
       water.
  Group II Containers—These are
containers which will not burn, and:
    •  held organic or metallo-
       organic pesticides, but not
       organic mercury, lead,
       cadmium, or  arsenic
       compounds.
  Here are ways to dispose of them:
     •  Rinse the containers three
       times.
     •  Many large containers in
       good shape can be reused by
       your supplier. Return them to
       the pesticide manufacturer or
       formulator, or drum
       reconditioner.
     •  You can  send or take them to
       a place that will recycle them
       as scrap metal or dispose of
       them for you.
     •  All rinsed containers may be
       crushed and buried in a
       sanitary  landfill. Follow
       State and local standards.
    •  You may bury them in the
       field.
  If the containers have not been
rinsed:
    •  Bury them in a  specially
       designated landfill.
  Group III Containers—These
include any containers which held
organic mercury, lead,  cadmium, or
arsenic, or inorganic pesticides. Here
are ways to dispose of them:
    •  Rinse them three times and
       bury them in a  sanitary
       landfill.
    •  If they are not rinsed, bury
       them in a specially
       designated landfill.

Cleanup of Pesticide  Spills

Minor  Spills

  Keep people away from spilled
chemicals. Rope off the  area alnd flag
it to warn people. Do not leave
unless someone is there to warn of
the danger.
  If the pesticide was spilled on
anyone, give the correct first aid.
  Confine the spill. If it starts to
spread, dike it up with sand or soil.
  Use an absorbent material to soak
up the spill. You can use soil,
sawdust, or a special product made
to do this. Shovel all contaminated
material into a leakproof container
for disposal. Dispose of it as you
would excess pesticides. Do not hose
down the area. This spreads the
chemical.
  Put something on the spill to stop
the chemical action. You may be
able to use common household
bleach or a solution of lye or
ammonia. If you are not sure what
to use, call the chemical
manufacturer. Always work
carefully. Do not hurry.
  Do not let anyone enter the area
until the spill is all cleaned up.
Major Spills

  The cleanup job may be too big for
you to handle. You may not be sure
of what to do. In either case, keep
people away, give first aid, and
confine  the spill. Then call the
manufacturer for help.
  The National Agricultural
Chemicals Association has a
Pesticide Safety Team Network.
They can tell you what to do. Or
they can send a safety team to clean
up the spill. You can call them toll-
free any time at (800) 424-9300.
  If a major pesticide spill occurs on
a highway, have someone call the
highway patrol or  the sheriff for
help. (Carry these phone numbers
with you.) Do not leave  until
responsible help arrives.
  Report all major spills by phone to
your State pesticide regulatory
agency. You also may need to notify
other authorities:
  If the spill is on a State highway,
call:
    •  the highway patrol, or
    •  the State highway
       department.
  If the spill is on a county road or a
city street, call:
    •  the county  sheriff,  or
     •  city police.
  If food is contaminated, notify:
     •  State or Federal  food and
       drug authorities, or
     •  city, county, or State health
       officials.
  If water is contaminated, notify:
     •  State health officials,
     •  regional, State, or  Federal
       water quality or water
       pollution authorities, and
     •  the State fish and  game
       agency.

Safe-Entry Times
  It may be dangerous for an
unprotected person to enter an area
immediately after some pesticides
have been used. The time that must
pass before the area is safe for a
person without protective clothing is
called a safe-entry time, or reentry
period. This time is given on the
label of each pesticide that may
cause a reentry problem. It varies
according to the pesticide applied
and  the crop or area treated. These
times have been set to allow harmful
pesticide residues to break down or
disappear. Reentry may pose special
problems in some  areas. Check with
local authorities for any special rules
that may apply.
                                                 5-7

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 Application
 Equipment
 The pesticide application equipment
 you use is important to the success
 of your pest control job. You must
 first select the right kind of
 application equipment. Then you
 must use it correctly to suit your
 needs and take good care of it. These
 things are true whether you use
 hand-carried, tractor-drawn, self-
 propelled, or aircraft-mounted
 equipment. Here are some  things
 you should  know about choosing,
 using, and caring for equipment.


 Sprayers

   Your sprayer should be:
     • designed to do the job you
       want to do,
     • durable, and
     • convenient to fill, operate,
       and clean.
Hand Sprayers
  Hand sprayers are for professional
application of pesticides in
structures and can be used for small
jobs around the home and garden.
You can use them in restricted areas
where a power unit would not work.

Advantages

    • economical,
    • simple, and
    • easy to use, clean, and store.

Limitation

    • frequent lack of good
      agitation and screening for
      wettable powders. Keep WP's
      in suspension by shaking the
      sprayer.
Low Pressure Field Sprayers
  These sprayers are designed to
deliver low to moderate volume at
15 to 50 psi. Most of them are used
for treating field and forage crops,
pastures, fence rows, and structures.
They also may be used to apply
fertilizer-pesticide mixtures.

Advantages

     •  medium to large tanks,
     •  low cost,
     •  light weight, and
     •  versatility.

Limitations

     •  low gallonage output limits
       their use when high volume
       is required,
     •  low pressure limits pesticide
       penetration, and
     •  agitation is limited.
High Pressure Sprayers
  These are often called hydraulic
sprayers. They are designed to
deliver large volumes at high
pressure. They are used to spray
fruits, vegetables, trees, landscape
plants, and livestock. When fitted
with the correct pressure regulators,
they can be used at low pressures.
Applications usually  are made at
high gallonages (usually 100 or
more per acre). Even though very
             6-1
large tanks are used, they may need
to be filled often.

Advantages

     •  well built,
     •  usually have mechanical
       agitation, and
     •  last a long time even when
       using wettable powders.

Limitations

     •  high cost,
     •  large amounts of water,
       power, and fuel  needed,
     •  high tire loads, and
     •  high pressure which makes a
       spray that drifts easily.
Air Blast Sprayers
  These units use a high speed, fan-
driven air stream to break the nozzle
output into fine drops which move
with the  air stream to the target.
The air is directed to either one or
both sides as the sprayer moves
forward. These sprayers are used in
applying pesticides to landscape
plants, fruits, and vegetables, and
for biting fly control. Most air blast
sprayers can be adapted to apply
either high or low volumes of spray.

Advantages

    •  good coverage and
       penetration,
    •  low pump pressures,  and
    •  mechanical agitation.

Limitations

    •  drift hazards,
    •  chance ofoverdosages,
    •  difficult to use in small areas,
       and
    •  hard to confine discharge to
       limited target areas.

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Ultra Low Volume (ULV)
Sprayers
  Deliver undiluted pesticides from
the air, on the ground, or in
buildings.

Advantages

    •  no water is needed, and
    •  equal control with less
       pesticide.

Limitations

    •  does not provide for  thorough
       wetting,
    •  hazards of using high
       concentrates,
    •  chance of overdosage, and
    •  small number of pesticides
       that can be used this way.

Sprayer Parts

Tanks

  Tanks should have large openings
for easy filling and cleaning. They
should allow  straining during filling
and have mechanical or hydraulic
agitation. The tank should be made
of corrosion-resistant material such
as stainless steel or glass reinforced
plastic. If made of mild steel, it
should have a protective  plastic
lining or coating. The tank should
have a good drain. The outlets
should be sized to the pump
capacity. If you use dual  tanks,
make sure the plumbing allows for
agitation and adequate withdrawal
rates in both  tanks. All tanks should
have a gage to show the liquid level.
   Flush out the tank, pump, lines,
and nozzles after each day s use and
each separate pesticide use. If
switching to another pesticide where
contamination must be prevented,
wash out with detergent and water
two or three  times and then flush
with water. Phenoxy herbicides such
as 2,4-D are hard to remove. After
using them, either follow the special
cleaning procedures noted on the
pesticide label or avoid using the
same sprayer for any other product.
Keep tank clean inside and out.
Tighten or repair all leaky tank
seals or fittings. Make sure sight
gages can be read.

Pumps
   The pump must be adequate for
 all the spraying pressures you use. It
 must provide enough flow to:
     • supply all nozzles,
     • allow for hydraulic agitation
       when needed, and
     • leave a reserve to allow for
       loss of flow due to wear.
  Pumps should resist corrosion and
abrasion. Centrifugal  pumps provide
high volume at low pressure. They
are not self-priming. Piston and
diaphragm pumps provide moderate
to high volumes at high pressure.
They are self-priming. Roller and
gear pumps provide moderate
volume at low to moderate pressure.
They are self-priming in most
equipment. Do not use wettable
powder formulations in gear pumps.
If you need pressures  above 75 psi,
piston  pumps are more likely to
provide them over a long period of
time.
  You  will damage a pump if you
operate it dry or with a restricted
inlet. Follow the manufacturer's
recommendations for  pump
operation. Keep all shields in place.

Strainers (Filters)

  Proper filtering of the pesticide:
     •  protects the working parts of
       the sprayer, and
     •  avoids time loss and
       misapplication due to clogged
       nozzle tips.
  Filtering should be progressive,
with the largest mesh screen in the
suction line between the tank and
the pump. Put a smaller mesh
screen in  the high pressure line
between the pump and the pressure
regulator. Put the finest mesh
screen nearest the nozzles. Do not
use a screen in the  suction line of a
centrifugal pump.
  Clean strainers after each use.
Replace them if you see
deterioration.  Strainers are your
best defense against nozzle and
pump  wear and nozzle clogging. Use
nozzle screens as large as nozzle
sizes permit. Screen opening should
be less than nozzle opening.

Hoses

   Select synthetic rubber  or plastic
hoses that:
     •  have burst strength greater
       than the peak operating
       pressures,
     •  resist oil and solvents present
       in pesticides, and
     •  are weather-resjstant.
   Suction hoses should resist
collapse. They should be larger than
pressure hoses.  All fittings on
suction lines should be as  large as or
larger than the line itself.
   Keep hoses from kinking or being
rubbed. Rinse them often, inside and
outside, to prolong life. Remove and
store hoses during off season, or at
least store unit out of sun. Replace
hoses  at the first sign of surface
deterioration.

               6-2
Pressure Gages

  These serve as the monitor of your
spraying job. They must be accurate
and have only the range needed for
your work. For example, a 0-60 psi
gage with 2-pound gradations would
be enough for most low pressure
sprayers.
  Check frequently for accuracy
against an accurate gage. Do not use
them under too much pressure. Keep
glass faces clean and intact. Use
gage protectors to protect against
corrosive pesticides and pressure
surges.
Centrifugal Pump
Piston Pump

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Roller Pump
Strainer
Hose
                                    Pressure  Regulators

                                       The pressure regulator must have
                                     a working range that is about the
                                     same as the range of pressure you
                                     plan to use.
                                     Agitator s

                                       Make sure your sprayer has
                                     enough agitation. If it does not, your
                                     pesticide application rate may vary
                                     greatly as the tank is emptied.
                                     Bypass agitation may be good
                                     enough for solutions and emulsions.
                                     Use a jet agitator or mechanical
                                     agitator for wettable powders.
                                     Mechanical agitation is the surest
                                     way to get good agitation. It is
                                     expensive initially and is harder to
                                     maintain.  Hand sprayers must be
                                     shaken frequently.
                                                                                        i
Control Valves

  These should be large enough so
as not to restrict flow. They should
be easy for you to reach. On-off
action should be quick  and positive.
You need to be able to cut off all flow
or flow to any section of the spraying
system. There are many different
kinds of control valves. Be sure you
know how to operate and maintain
the ones on your equipment.

Nozzles

  The nozzle helps control the rate
and pattern of distribution. These
things depend on:
    •  the  nozzle design or type,
    •  its operating pressure,
    •  the  size of the opening,
    •  its discharge angle,  and
    •  its distance from the target.
   There are six basic  nozzle types.
They are:

   Solid Stream—A type used in
 handguns to spray a distant target
 and for crack and crevice treatment
 in buildings. Also a type used in a
 nozzle body to apply pesticides in a
 narrow band or inject them into the
 soil.
Pressure Gage
                                                  6-3

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  Flat Fan—There are three types
of flat fan nozzles:
        The regular flat fan nozzle
        makes a narrow oval pattern
        with lighter edges. It is used
        for broadcast spraying. This
        pattern is designed to be used
        on a boom and to be
        overlapped 30-50 percent for
        even distribution.

      • The even flat fan nozzle
        makes a uniform pattern
        across its width. It is used for
        band  spraying and for
        treating walls and other
        surfaces.
        The flooding nozzle makes a
        wide-angle flat spray pattern.
        It works at lower pressures
        than the other flat fan
        nozzles. Its pattern is fairly
        uniform across its width. It is
        used for broadcast spraying.
  Hollow Cone—There are two
types of hollow cone nozzles:
    •  the core and disk, and
    •  the whirl chamber.
  The  pattern is circular with
tapered edges and little or no spray
in the  center. It is used for spraying
foliage.
  Solid Cone—This nozzle produces
a circular pattern. The spray is well-
distributed throughout the pattern.
It is used for spraying foliage.

  Atomizing Nozzle—Makes a fine
mist from liquid pesticides. Used
indoors in special situations.
  Broadcast^This nozzle forms a
wide flat fan pattern. It is used on
boomless sprayers and to extend the
effective swath width when attached
to the end of a boom.
             6-4
  Many spraying jobs could be done by
more than one nozzle type or pattern.
Here are some general guidelines.
  For weed control:
    •  regular flat fan,
    •  flooding fan,
    •  even flat fan,
    •  hollow cone.
  For disease control:
    •  hollow cone,
    •  solid cone.
  For insect control outdoors:
    •  regular flat fan,
    •  hollow cone,
    •  solid cone.
  For insect  control  indoors:
    •  even flat fan,
    •  solid stream,
    •  atomizing.
  To minimize drift:
    •  flooding fan,
    •  whirl chamber hollow cone,
    •  keep  operating pressures
       below 30 psi.
  You can get nozzles in many
 materials. Here are  the main
 features of each kind.
  Brass:
    •  inexpensive,
    •  wears quickly from abrasion,
    •  probably the best material for
       limited use.
  Stainless steel:
     • will  not corrode,
     • resists abrasion, especially if
       it is hardened.
  Plastic:
     • resists corrosion and
       abrasion.
     • swells when  exposed to some
       solvents.
   Aluminum:
     • resists some  corrosive
       materials,
     • is easily corroded by some
       fertilizers.
   Tungsten carbide and ceramic:
     • highly resistant to abrasion
       and corrosion,
     • expensive.
   Keep nozzles in good working
 condition. For most boom
 applications, select  nozzles of
 uniform type and size.
   Nozzle caps should not be over-
 tightened. Adjust nozzle distance
 and spacing to suit  the target.
 Follow the nozzle manufacturer's
 instructions and the pesticide label.
 Allow for crop or weed height if
 necessary. Check each  nozzle for
 uniform flow using  water and ajar
 marked in ounces. Replace any
 whose flow is 5 percent more or less
 than the average. Replace any
 nozzles having faulty spray patterns.
 A good check is to spray on asphalt
 pavement.  Watch for streaks as you
 increase speed or as spray dries.
   Clean nozzles only with a
 toothbrush  or wooden toothpick.

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Operation and Maintenance
  Always read and follow the
operator's manuals for all your spray
equipment. They will tell you
exactly how to use and care for it.
After each use, rinse out the entire
system. Remove and clean nozzles,
nozzle screens, and strainers. Check
for leaks in lines, valves,  seals, and
tank both after filling with water
and during running.
  Be alert for nozzle clogging and
changes in nozzle patterns. If nozzles
clog or other trouble occurs in the
field, be careful not to contaminate
yourself while correcting the
problem. Shut off the sprayer and
move it to the edge of the field before
dismounting. Wear protective
clothing while making repairs.
  Store sprayers correctly after use.
But first, rinse and clean the system.
Then fill tank almost full with clean
water.  Add a small amount of new
light oil to the tank. Coat the system
by pumping tank contents out
through nozzles or handgun. Drain
the pump and plug its openings or
fill the pump with light oil or
antifreeze. Remove nozzles and
nozzle  screens and store in light oil
or diesel fuel.

Dusters and Granular
Applicators

Hand Dusters
  Like hand sprayers, hand dusters
are for professional use in structures
and can be used in gardens. They
may consist of a squeeze bulb,
bellows, tube, or shaker, a sliding
tube, or a fan powered by a hand
crank.

Advantages

    •  the pesticide is ready to
       apply, and
     •  good penetration in confined
       spaces.

Limitations

    •  high cost for pesticide,
     •  hard to get good foliar
       coverage, and
     •  dust is subject to drifting.
Power Dusters
  Power dusters use a powered fan
or blower to propel the dust to the
target. They range from  knapsack or
backpack types to those  mounted on
or pulled by tractors. Their capacity
in area treated per hour compares
favorably with some sprayers.

Advantages

     • simply built,
     • easy to maintain, and
     • low in cost.

Limitations

     • drift hazards,
     • high cost of pesticide, and
     • application may  be less
       uniform than with sprays.

Selecting a Duster
   Look for a power duster that is
easy to clean. It should  give a
uniform application rate as the
hopper is emptied. Look for both
hand and power dusters that keep
the dust cloud well away from the
user.

Granular Applicators
  These include:
     • hand-carried knapsack and
       spinning disk types for
       broadcast coverage,
     • mounted equipment for
       applying bands over the row
       in row crops, and
     • mounted or tractor-drawn
       machines for broadcast
       coverage.
Advantages
       eliminates mixing,
       is low in cost,
       minimizes drift, and
       is less hazardous to
       applicator.
Limitations

    •  high cost for pesticide,
    •  limited use against some
       pests because granules won't
       stick to most plants,
    •  need to calibrate for each
       granular formulation, and
    •  poor lateral distribution,
       especially on side slopes.

Selecting a Granular Applicator
  Choose a granular applicator that
is easy to clean and fill. It should
have mechanical agitation over the
outlet  holes. This will prevent
bridging and keep flow rate
constant. Application should stop
when drive stops even if outlets are
still open.

Use and Maintenance
  Both dusters and granular
applicators are  speed-sensitive, so
maintain uniform speed. Do not
travel  too fast for ground conditions.
Bouncing equipment will cause the
application rate to vary. Stay out of
any dust cloud that may form.
  Watch banders to see that band
width stays the same. Small height
changes due to  changing soil
conditions may cause rapid changes
in band width.
  Clean equipment as directed by
the operator's manual.


Fumigant Applicators

This equipment is of two types:
    •  that needed to handle low
       pressure fumigants, and
    •  that needed to handle high
       pressure fumigants which are
       kept liquid only by storage in
       pressure vessels.
  The low pressure fumigators are
gravity or pump fed units. Most high
pressure units use the pressure
generated by the fumigant or a
compressed gas to force the fumigant
into the soil or  space being
fumigated.

Selection
  Choosing equipment to apply low
pressure fumigants is similar to
choosing a low pressure sprayer. But
corrosion-resistant pumps, tanks,
fittings, nozzles, and lines are
essential. High pressure fumigators
must be able to withstand the
internal pressure created by the
fumigant. Select equipment with
pressure or flow regulators that
assure constant delivery rates.
               6-5

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Use and Maintenance
  Keep the units in good repair.
Make sure there are no leaks.
Replace hoses and fittings as soon as
you see signs of deterioration. Lines
and fittings should not be located
near the operator. Empty all  lines
after application. To avoid
contamination and corrosion,  flush
the units after use. Carefully follow
all  precautions on the fumigant
label.
 Aerosol Generators and
 Foggers

 Aerosol generators work by using:
     • atomizing nozzles,
     • spinning disks, and
     • small nozzles at high
       pressure.
   Fogs are usually generated by
 thermal generators using heated
 surfaces.

 Advantages

     • efficient distribution of liquid
       pesticides in enclosed spaces,
     • efficient distribution of liquid
       pesticides in dense foliage,
       and
     • some devices automatic in
       operation.

 Limitations

     • aerosols and fogs extremely
        sensitive  to drift, and
     •  repeated  application needed
        to maintain effectiveness.

 Selection
   Choose an aerosol generator
 according to where you will use it—
 indoors or outdoors. Aerosol and fog
 generators are manufactured for
 many special uses. Truck- and
 trailer-mounted  machines are for
 use outdoors. Most hand-operated or
 permanently mounted automatic
 machines are for use indoors.
Use and Maintenance
  In general, use and care for an
aerosol generator as you would a
sprayer. They do require special
precautions. Be sure that the
pesticides used in them are
registered for such use. Keep them
on the target. Because of the effects
of weather conditions during
application, follow special use
instructions. The operator, other
humans, and animals must be kept
out of the fog or smoke cloud.


Calibration

  Calibration is simply adjusting
your equipment to apply the desired
rate of pesticide. You need to do this
so that you can be sure you are
using each pesticide as directed on
the label. Too much pesticide is
dangerous; too little will not do a
good job. Only by calibrating
correctly can you safely get  the best
results.
   There are many ways to calibrate
equipment. The preferred methods
differ according to the kind  of
equipment you use. Your
Cooperative Extension Service
personnel can show you how to
calibrate your equipment. Here is
one basic method for sprayers and
another for dusters and granular
applicators.

Sprayers
   To apply a  pesticide evenly and
accurately, your sprayer must move
at a constant speed. It also must
operate at a constant pressure. Each
nozzle must be clean and at the right
height. All nozzles must be  of the
correct type and size for the job.
Each nozzle in the system must
deliver its rated amount of pesticide.
   First, choose the speed, pumping
 pressure, and nozzle or nozzles that
you want to use. Fill the spray tank
 with water and operate the sprayer
 in place to fill the plumbing. Top off
 the tank and spray a measured area
 as if you were applying the pesticide.
 Measure the amount of water
 needed to refill  your tank. This is
 the application rate per unit of area.
 If it takes 8 gallons to refill  the tank
 after spraying one acre, you are
 spraying at the rate of 8 gallons per
 acre. If your sprayer has a tank of
 more than 100 gallons capacity, you
 should spray an area large enough
 to use at least 10 percent of the tank
 capacity.
  If your sprayer is delivering more
or less spray than the label directs,
you can change the rate three ways:
                                                                                You can change the pressure.
                                                                                Lower pressure means less
                                                                                spray delivered; higher
                                                                                pressure means more spray
                                                                                delivered. This is not a good
                                                                                method, because a pressure
                                                                                change may change the
                                                                                nozzle pattern and droplet
                                                                                size. Pressure must be
                                                                                increased 4 times to double
                                                                                the output.
       You can change the speed of
       your sprayer. Slower speed
       means more spray delivered,
       faster speed means less spray
       delivered. This method is
       practical for small changes in
       delivery rate. If you drive
       half as fast, you double the
       delivery rate.
        You can change the nozzle
        tips to change the amount
        delivered. The larger the hole
        in the tip, the more spray
        delivered. This is the best
        method for making major
        changes in the delivery rate
                                                    6-6

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       of sprayers. Always select
       nozzles for the job you want
       done. Use the manufacturer's
       performance charts to make
       your selection.
  After making a change, you must
recalibrate your sprayer to make
sure the rate is correct.
  You have adjusted your sprayer
and you know how many gallons of
spray per unit of area your
equipment will apply. Next you
must find out how much pesticide to
put in  the tank to apply the correct
dosage of pesticide. To do this you
need to know two more facts:
    •  How much your sprayer tank
       holds.
    •  The amount of formulation to
       be used per unit of area. This
       will be given on the label.
  Suppose  your  tank holds 50
gallons of spray. The directions say
to apply one pint of formulation on
each acre. In our example, you found
that your sprayer applies 8 gallons
per acre. First find the number of
acres one tank load will spray.
Divide 50 gallons by 8.
50 gallons per tankful

8 gallons per acre
  To find the amount of formulation
you must add to your tank so you
can spray 6J/4 acres with one pint
per acre, multiply 1 pint by 6f/4.

   1 pint per acre x 6>/4 acres per tankful
         = 6'/4 pints per tankful.

  Suppose the formulation of a
pesticide is a 50 percent wettable
powder and you want to apply lk
pound of active ingredient per acre.
In our example your tank will cover
6l/4 acres.
                     Find how many pounds of
                   formulation are needed to apply Vz
                   pound of active ingredient per acre.
                   There is l/2 pound of active
                   ingredient in 1 pound of 50 percent
                   wettable powder formulation. So you
                   need to use 1 pound of formulation
                   for each acre your sprayer will cover.

                     / pound per acre x 6'/4 acres per tankful
                         = 6l/4 pounds per tankful.

                     You should add the 61/* pounds of
                   wettable powder to a small amount
                   of water in a clean bucket. Stir until
                   it is mixed well and then add this
                   mixture (called a slurry) to the
                   partly filled tank. Remember to
                   operate the sprayer's agitator while
                   adding the slurry and filling the
                   tank.
= 6'/4 acres per tankful
                   Make a slurry

                     Even after your sprayer is
                   calibrated, you should recheck it
                   often. Be sure you are spraying the
                   same size area for each tankful as
                   you figured on. If you are spraying
                   more or less acres than you planned,
                   stop spraying and recalibrate. If you
                   have figured wrong or your sprayer
                   changes its delivery rate, you will be
                   able to catch it before you make a
                   major mistake.
Dusters and Granular
Applicators
    •  Read the manufacturer's
       operator's manual. Follow
       these instructions to set the
       gate openings for the product
       you are going to use.
       Caution: always set the
       openings from the same
       direction, such as from closed
       to open. This will minimize
       variations in settings.
    •  Fill each hopper to an easily
       determined level.
    •  Operate the equipment over a
       measured area or distance at
       your normal working speed.
       The area should be large
       enough to use 1k of the
       hopper contents.
    •  Refill the hopper to the same
       level, weighing the amount of
       pesticide needed to replace
       what was used.
    •  The amount of pesticide it
       takes to refill the hopper  is
       the amount applied to the
       measured area. If the amount
       applied does not fall within 5
       percent of the recommended
       dosage per unit of area, reset
       the gate opening and repeat
       the previous three steps.
    •  Keep a record of the area
       treated with each filling of
       the hopper. This will let you
       see any slight change in rate
       of application and make the
       necessary adjustments.
Add the proper amount  of pesticide
                                               6-7

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Laws and
Regulations
Without pesticides, we would not
have the food, fiber, and landscape
plants we need. But because
pesticides can be dangerous,
Congress has passed laws affecting
pesticide use. These laws try to
balance the need for pesticides
against the need to protect  people
and the environment from their
misuse.


Federal  Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA), as Amended

You are taking this training because
of a law passed by Congress in 1972.
It is often called by its initials—
FIFRA. It requires you to show that
you know the correct way to use and
handle pesticides.
  Here are the parts of the law
which concern you the most:
     •  It says that all pesticide uses
       must be classified as either
       general or restricted.
     •  It requires you to be certified
       as competent to use  any of
       the  pesticides classifed for
       restricted use, and
     •  It provides penalties  (fines
       and jail terms) for people who
       do not obey the law.
  Congress chose October 21, 1976,
as the date for certification to go into
effect. The  Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), acting
under Federal law, has by
regulation set minimum standards
of competency for all commercial
applicators. Your State has
developed a plan for certification of
competency that meets minimum
national standards. The  certification
plan in your State will be
administered by a branch of your
State government.

Classification of Pesticides
  Manufacturers must register
every pesticide with EPA. By
regulation, when each pesticide is
registered,  all its uses must be
classified. EPA must decide whether
each use is a general or  a restricted
one.
   Under the law, pesticide uses that
will damage the environment very
little or not at all when done as the
label directs can be classified as
general uses.
   Uses that could cause damage
even when done as directed on the
label must be classified as restricted
uses. They may be carried out only:
    •  by someone who is certified,
       or
    •  under a certified person's
       supervision.
   Some uses may be general under
some conditions and restricted under
others.

Certification of Applicators
   What is certification? It is proof
that you know the safe and correct
way to carry out restricted uses.
Both private and commercial
applicators will have to meet State
and national standards. Your State
has its own program for seeing that
you meet these standards.

Prohibited Actions
  The new law names many things
you cannot do. These two  concern
you most:
    •  You may not use a pesticide
       other than as the label or
       labeling directs, except when
       special regulations allow you
       to use it at a lower rate than
       the label recommends.
    •  You may not dispose of any
       pesticide or its container
       except as the label  or labeling
       directs.
  You  also should know your State
and local laws. They may  prohibit
more actions than the Federal law
does.
  The applicator is responsible for
proper  pesticide use.
Penalties
   If you violate the FIFRA, you are
subject to civil penalties. They can
be as much as $5,000 for each
offense. Before EPA can fine you,
you  have the right to ask for a
hearing in your own city or county.
Violations  of the law may also
subject you to criminal penalties.
They can be as much as $25,000 or
one year in prison, or both.


Other Regulations

Transportation
   Shipment of pesticides and other
dangerous substances across State
lines is regulated by the Federal
Department of Transportation
(DOT). DOT issues the  rules for
hauling these materials.
  DOT standards tell you which
pesticides:
    •  are dangerous to man, and
    •  create a health hazard during
       transportation.
  If you ever haul pesticides
between States, you should know
that:
    •  They must be in their
       original packages.  Each
       package must meet DOT
       standards.
    •  The  vehicle must have a
       correct sign. Manufacturers
       must put the correct warning
       signs on each package.
    •  The  pesticides may not be
       hauled in the same vehicle
       with food products.
                                                 7-1

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                                                                                          'TOLERANCE

 DATE OF APPLICATION

    • You must contact DOT right
      away after each accident:
      a) when someone is killed,
      b) when someone is injured
      badly enough to go  to a hospital,
      or
      c) when damage is  more than
      $50,000.
    • You must tell DOT about all
      spills during shipment.
  State and local laws may require
you to take additional precautions.

Aerial Application
  Application of pesticides from
airplanes also is regulated by the
Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) and may be regulated by your
State. FAA judges:
    • the flying ability of pilots,
      and
    • the safety of their aircraft.
FAA rules, too, say that an aerial
applicator may not apply any
pesticide except as the label directs.


Worker Safety
  The Occupational Safety and
Health  Act of 1970 is administered
by the Occupational Safety and
Health  Administration (OSHA) in
the Department of Labor (DOL). It
requires anyone with 11 or more
workers to keep records and make
reports. The records must  include all
work-related deaths, injuries, and
illnesses. Minor injuries needing
only first aid treatment need not be
recorded. But a record must be made
 if the injury involves:
     • medical treatment,
     • loss of consciousness,
     • restriction of work or motion,
       or
     • transfer to another job.
Residues
  The pesticide that stays in or on
raw farm products or processed foods
is called a residue. EPA sets residue
tolerances under regulations
authorized by the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A tolerance
is the concentration of a pesticide
that is judged safe for human use.
Residues in processed foods are
considered to be food additives and
are regulated as such.
  Tolerances are expressed in "parts
per million" (ppm). One ppm equals
one part (by weight) of pesticide for
each million parts of farm or food
                    HARVEST

product. Using pounds as a measure,
50 ppm would be 50 pounds of
pesticide in a million pounds of the
product. The same pesticide may
have a different tolerance on
different products.  It might be 50
ppm on grapes and 25 ppm on
apples.
  If too much residue is found on a
farm or food product, the product
may be seized or condemned.
  The label will tell you how many
days before harvest the pesticide
may be applied. Follow the label
exactly. Then you can be sure you
are not breaking the law.
                                                    7-2

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Other Terms Used
in Pest Control
   Some of these words have several
meanings. Those given here are the
ones that relate to pest control.
Abrasion: The process of wearing away by
      rubbing.
Abscission: The separation of fruit, leaves,
     or stems from a plant.
Absorption: The process by which a
     chemical is taken into plants, animals,
     or minerals. Compare with adsorption.
Activator:  A chemical added to a pesticide
     to increase its activity.
Adherence: Sticking to a surface.
Adjuvant:  Inert ingredient added to a
     pesticide formulation to make  it work
     better.
Adsorption: The process by which chemicals
     are held on the surface of a mineral or
     soil particle. Compare with absorption.
Adulterated: Any pesticide whose strength
     or purity falls below the quality stated
     on its  label. Also, a food, feed, or product
     that contains illegal pesticide residues.
Aerobic: Living in air. The opposite of
     anaerobic.
Aerosol: An extremely fine mist or fog
     consisting of solid or liquid particles
     suspended in air. Also, certain
     formulations used to produce a fine
     mist.
Agitation:  The process of stirring or mixing
     in a sprayer.
Alkaloids:  Chemicals present in some
     plants. Some are used as pesticides.
Anaerobic: Living in the absence of air. The
     opposite of aerobic.
Animal Sign: The evidences of an animal's
     presence in an area.
Antagonism: The loss of activity of a
     chemical when exposed to another
     chemical.
Antibiotic: A substance which is used to
     control pest microorganisms.
Antidote: A practical tieatment for
     poisoning, including first aid.
Aqueous: A term used to indicate the
     presence of water in a solution.
Arsenicals: Pesticides containing arsenic.
Aseptic: Free of disease-causing organisms.
Bait Shyness: The tendency for rodents,
     birds,  or other  pests to avoid a poisoned
     bait.
Bipyridyliums: A group of synthetic organic
     pesticides which includes the herbicide
     paraquat.
Botanical Pesticide: A pesticide made from
     plants. Also called plant-derived
     pesticides.
Broadleaf Weeds: Plants with broad,
     rounded, or flattened leaves.
Brush Control: Control of woody plants.
Carbamate: A synthetic organic pesticide
     containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen,
     and sulfur.
Carcinogenic: Can cause cancer.
Carrier: The inert liquid or solid material
     added to an active ingredient to prepare
     a pesticide formulation.
Causal Organism: The organism (pathogen)
     that produces a specific disease.
Chemosterilant: A chemical that can
     prevent reproduction.
Chlorinated Hydrocarbon: A synthetic
     organic pesticide that contains chlorine,
     carbon, and hydrogen. Same as
     organochlorine.
Chlorosis: The yellowing of a plant's green
     tissue.
Cholinesterase: A chemical catalyst
     (enzyme) found in animals that helps
     regulate the activity of nerve impulses.
Compatible: When two or more chemicals
     can be mixed without affecting each
     other's properties, they are said to be
     compatible.
Concentration: The amount of active
     ingredient in a given volume or weight
     of formulation.
Contaminate: To make impure or to pollute.
Corrosion: The process of wearing away by
     chemical means.
Crucifers: Plants belonging to the mustard
     family, such as mustard, cabbage,
     turnip, and radish.
Cucurbits: Plants belonging to the gourd
     family, such as pumpkin, cucumber, and
     squash.
Deciduous Plants: Perennial plants that
     lose their leaves during the winter.
Deflocculating Agent: A material added to
     a suspension to prevent settling.
Degradation: The process by which a
     chemical is reduced to a less complex
     form.
 Dermal: Of the skin; through or by the skin.
 Dermal Toxicity: Ability of a chemical to
     cause injury when absorbed through the
     skin.

 Diluent: Any liquid or solid material used to
     dilute or carry an active ingredient.
 Dilute: To  make thinner by adding water,
     another liquid, or a solid.
 Dispersing Agent: A material that reduces
     the attraction between particles.
 Dormant: State in which growth of seeds or
     other  plant organs stops temporarily.
 Dose,  Dosage: Quantity of a pesticide
     applied.
 Emulsifien A chemical which aids in
     suspending one liquid in another.
 Emulsion: A mixture in which one liquid is
     suspended as tiny drops in another
     liquid, such as oil in water.
 Fungistat: A chemical that keeps fungi from
     growing.
 GPA: Gallons per acre.
 GPM:  Gallons per minute.
 Growth Stages of Cereal Crops: (1)
     Tillering—when additional shoots are
     developing from the flower buds. (2)
     Jointing—when stem internodes begin
     elongating rapidly. (3) Booting—when
     upper leaf sheath swells due to the
     growth of developing spike or panicle.
     (4) Heading—when seed head  is
     emerging from the upper leaf sheath.
 Hard (water): Water containing soluble
     salts of calcium and magnesium and
     sometimes iron.
 Herbaceous Plant: A plant that does not
     develop woody tissue.
 Hydrogen-Ion Concentration: A measure
     of acidity or alkalinity, expressed in
     terms of the  pH of the solution. For
     example, a pH of 7 is neutral,  from  1 to
     7  is acid, and from  7 to 14 is alkaline.
 Immune: Not susceptible to a disease or
     poison.
 Impermeable: Cannot be penetrated.
     Semipermeable means that some
     substances can pass through and others
     cannot.
Lactation:  The production of milk by an
     animal, or the period during which an
     animal is producing milk.

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LC50: The concentration of an active
     ingredient in air which is expected to
     cause death in 50 percent of the test
     animals so treated. A means of
     expressing the toxicity of a compound
     present in air as dust, mist, gas, or
     vapor. It is generally expressed as
     micrograms per liter as a dust or mist
     but in the case of a gas or vapor as parts
     per million (ppm).
LD50: The dose of an active ingredient taken
     by mouth or  absorbed by the skin which
     is expected to cause death in 50 percent
     of the test animals so treated. If a
     chemical has an LD50 of 10 milligrams
     per kilogram (mg/kg) it is more toxic
     than one having an LD50 of 100 mg/kg.
Leaching: Movement of a substance
     downward or out of the soil as the result
     of water movement.
Mammals: Warm-blooded animals that
     nourish their young with milk. Their
     skin is more or less covered with hair.
Misciblc Liquids: Two or more liquids that
     can be mixed and will remain mixed
     under normal conditions.
MPH: Miles per hour.
Mutagenic: Can  produce genetic change.
Necrosis: Localized death of living tissue
     such as the death of a certain area of a
     leaf.
Necrotic: Showing varying degrees of dead
     areas or spots.
Nitrophenols: Synthetic organic pesticides
     containing carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen,
     and oxygen.
Noxious Weed: A plant defined as being
     especially undesirable or troublesome.
Oral: Of the mouth; through or by the
     mouth.
Oral Toxicity: Ability of a pesticide to cause
     injury when taken by mouth.
Organic Compounds: Chemicals that
     contain carbon.
Organochlorine: Same as chlorinated
     hydrocarbon.
 Organophosphate: A synthetic organic
     pesticide containing carbon, hydrogen,
     and phosphorus; parathion and
     malathion are two examples.
 Ovicide: A chemical that destroys eggs.
 Pathogen: Any disease-producing organism.
 Penetration: The act of entering or ability
     to  enter.
 Phytotoxic: Harmful to plants.
 Pollutant: An agent or chemical that makes
      something impure or dirty.
 PPB: Parts per billion. A way to express the
      concentration of chemicals in foods,
      plants, and animals. One part per
      billion equals 1 pound in 500,000 tons.
PPM: Parts per million. A way to express
     the concentration of chemicals in foods,
     plants, and animals. One part per
     million equals 1  pound in 500 tons.
Predator: An animal  that destroys or eats
     other animals.
Propellant: Liquid in self-pressurized
     pesticide products that forces the active
     ingredient from the container.
PSI: Pounds per square inch.
Pubescent: Having hairy leaves or stems.
RPM: Revolutions per minute.
Safener: A chemical added to a pesticide to
     keep it from injuring plants.
Seed Protectant: A chemical applied to seed
     before planting to protect seeds and new
     seedlings  from disease and insects.
Soil Sterilant:  A chemical that prevents the
     growth of all plants and animals in the
     soil. Soil sterilization may be temporary
     or permanent, depending on the
     chemical.
Soluble: Will dissolve in a liquid.
Solution: Mixture of one or more substances
     in another in which all ingredients are
     completely dissolved.
Solvent: A liquid which will dissolve  a
     substance to form a solution.
Spreader: A chemical which increases the
     area that  a given volume of liquid will
     cover on a solid  or on another liquid.
Sticker: A material added to a pesticide to
     increase its adherence.
Surfactant: A chemical which increases the
     emulsifying, dispersing, spreading, and
     wetting properties of a pesticide
     product.
Susceptible: Capable of being diseased or
     poisoned; not immune.
 Susceptible Species: A plant or animal
     that is poisoned by moderate amounts of
     a pesticide.
 Suspension: Finely divided solid  particles
     mixed in  a liquid.
 Synergism: The joint action of two or more
     pesticides that is greater  than the sum
     of their activity when used alone.
 Target Pest: The pest at which a particular
      pesticide  or other control method is
     directed.
 Tolerance: (l)The ability of a living thing
      to withstand adverse conditions, such as
      pest attacks, weather extremes,  or
      pesticides. (2) The amount of pesticide
      that may safely remain in or on raw
      farm products at time of sale.
 Toxicant: A poisonous chemical.
 Trade Name: Same  as brand name.
Vapor Pressure: The property which causes
     a chemical to evaporate. The lower the
     vapor pressure, the more easily it will
     evaporate.
Vector: A carrier, such as an insect, that
     transmits a pathogen.
Viscosity:  A property of liquids that
     determines whether they flow readily.
     Viscosity usually increases when
     temperature decreases.
Volatile: Evaporates at ordinary
     temperatures when exposed to  air.
Wetting Agent: A chemical which causes a
     liquid to contact surfaces more
     thoroughly.
                                                                                         •/? U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1978  O—275-518

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Weights and Measures


Weights
 16 ounces  =   1 pound
 1 gallon water  =   8.34 pounds

Liquid Measure
 1 fluid ounce  =  2 tablespoons
 16 fluid ounces  =  1 pint
 2 pints   =  1 quart
 8 pints = 4 quarts  =  1 gallon

Length
 3 feet  =  1 yard
 16 lk feet  =   1 rod
 5,280 feet = 320 rods  =   1 mile

Area
 9 square feet  =  1 square yard
 43,560 square feet = 160 square
    rods   =   1 acre

 Speed
 1.466 feet per second = 88 feet per
    minute = 1 mph
 Volume
 27 cubic feet  =   1 cubic yard

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