Farm chemical safety starts with the label

The words “read and follow label instructions” can be heard on many if not all of the advertisements for farm or even yard and garden chemicals on radio or television.

Those five words are the key to safety when it comes to chemical applications, according to Julianne Racine, LaMoure County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources.

“There is a reason why for those instructions,” she said. “The dosage on the label is what has been tested to be the most effective. It’s not good for the environment not to follow those instructions and you should follow for safety reasons. The label specifies certain types of safety practices that should be followed.”

Not following those safety precautions when it comes to wearing personal protective equipment causes the most problems for farmers, said Lukas Wagner, pesticide enforcement supervisor for the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

“People need to wear the proper safety equipment,” he said. “Some common equipment is gloves, pants, long sleeved shirt but other products might require aprons, goggles and face masks.”