May 14, 2010

In the rush of planting and early season field work, don’t forget to keep records of your pesticide applications. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) requires that all private and commercial/noncommercial applicators maintain records of all restricted use pesticide applications for three years. The NDA has authority to inspect these records at any time.

Requirements for Private Applicators

Private applicators need to include the following information in their records:

1. Brand or product name and current EPA registration number of the pesticide applied
2. Total amount of pesticide applied
3. Location of application. Location may be recorded using any of the following designations:

— County, range, township, and section
— An accurate identification system using maps and/or written descriptions
— An identification system established by a USDA agency such as the Farm Service Agency or the Natural Resource Conservation Service (with maps or a field numbering system)
— The legal property description

4. Size of area treated
5. Crop, commodity, stored product or site to which a pesticide was applied (i.e. corn, irrigation canal, etc.)
6. Month, day, and year of application
7. Name and certification number of certified applicator who made or supervised the application

Requirements for Commercial/Noncommercial Applicators

Commercial/noncommercial applicators need to include the following information in their records:

1. Name and address of the person for whom the pesticide was applied
2. Name, address and pesticide license number of the person making the application.
3. Month, day, year and start time of application
4. Location of application. Location may be recorded using any of the following designations:

— County, range, township, and section
— An accurate identification system using maps and/or written descriptions
— An identification system established by a USDA agency such as the Farm Service Agency or the Natural Resource Conservation Service (with maps or a field numbering system)
— The legal property description

5. Specific name of target pest(s), (i.e. grasshopper, kochia, gray leaf spot)
6. Brand or product name and current EPA registration number of the pesticide applied
7. Crop, commodity, stored product or site to which a pesticide was applied (i.e. corn, irrigation canal, etc.)
8. Size of area treated
9. Total amount of pesticide applied and rate of pesticide applied per unit of measure ( i.e. pounds per acre, ounces per 1,000 square feet, etc.). For spot treatment, indicate mixture rate.
10. Method of disposal of any unused, diluted pesticide. If no unused pesticide remained, indicate such.

The three items most often missing in records are identification of the specific pest, the current EPA registration number, and the disposal method for the unused product. By keeping complete records of restricted use pesticide applications, you are not only complying with regulations enforced by the NDA, but you are maintaining a production history that can be a resource for future decisions.

Resources

For more information about recordkeeping requirements check out these resources:

• Pesticide Laws and Regulations, NebGuide
• Pesticide Record Keeping Requirements in Nebraska, Nebraska Department of Agriculture

Leah Sandall, Extension Assistant, Lincoln
Clyde Ogg, Extension Educator, Pesticide Safety Education Program, Lincoln
Erin Bauer, Extension Assistant, Lincoln