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In the News - March 2008
It's The Law: Keep Those Pesticide Records!

This free, 44-page pesticide recordkeeping manual includes emergency telephone numbers, a quick reference chart of the pesticide recordkeeping requirements, a table of measurements and numerous recordkeeping forms.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - As the planting season gets under way, farmers are reminded of the importance of keeping good records on their usage of all pesticides, but especially restricted use pesticides, and the penalties for failure to do.

Dr. Henry English, director of the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), says that the 1990 Farm Bill mandates that all certified private applicators (farmers), who apply restricted use pesticides to the land, maintain records on their use. In Arkansas, penalties for farmers who fail to keep the required records include fines no less than $100 for first offense, and up to $1,000 for subsequent violations.

Restricted use pesticides (RUP) are those that have a relatively high degree of potential risk to humans and/or the environment even when used according to label directions. RUPS are labeled as such. The words Restricted Use Pesticide will be printed in a box at the top of the front panel of packaging.

Private applicators are randomly selected for inspection from a state certified private applicator list or from the restricted use pesticides sales list of pesticide dealers.

Records must include the following:

• Date of application (month, day, year)
• Size of treated area (acres, number of animals, county, range, township)
• Location of application (maps, county, range, township)
• Name and certification number of the applicator
• Pesticide product name and its U.S. EPA registration
• Amount of chemical concentrate applied (pints, quarts, gallons)
• Crop, commodity, stores product or site treated

Pesticide records must be kept for two years and must be recorded within 14 days of application. Even if a farmer does not apply the pesticide himself but has a commercial applicator to do so, the farmer is not off the hook, says Dr. English. The farmer must still keep a record. The applicator should provide the farmer with a record for his files within 30 days of the application.

Keeping pesticide records benefits farmers, says Dr. English. It saves money, tracks success, documents correct use, and improves management decisions.

• Saves Money - Farmers know and buy only the correct amount needed for each growing season.
• Tracks Success - Records can prevent future failures as records show if the pesticide was effective.
• Documents Correct Use - Records may provide liability protection should a question arise concerning usage.
• Improves Management Decisions - Good records can help in planning crop rotations because some pesticides have restrictions on plantings the following year in the same field.

To help with recordkeeping, USDA pesticide recordkeeping manuals are available free of charge from your UAPB Small Farm Program Extension associate, the State Plant Board and at some county Extension offices.

March 14, 2008

By: Carol Sanders
Writer/editor
UAPB School of Agriculture
Fisheries and Human Sciences
(870) 575-7238
sanders_c@uapb.edu