Workshop Activities. Food and Drugs Act. Other Federal Acts. Federal Legislation. Application of Pesticides Label to Sprayer

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1 Application of Pesticides Label to Sprayer Rob Baron P.Eng. Lakeland College Vermilion Alberta Berry and Vegetable School March 3, 2011 Workshop Activities Review legislation and pesticide labels Identify key information necessary to correctly apply pesticides Review and practice necessary calculations Calibration and equipment readiness Calibrating handguns and backpack sprayers Concerns of Pesticide Use Exposure of people to pesticides Water and air pollution Contamination of food Health of applicator Impact on domestic animals Drift affecting neighbor property Impact on wildlife (bees and birds) Contamination ti of land Poisoning Proper storage and disposal Environmental concerns Persistent Compounds Bioaccumulation Off-target activity Pesticide movement Resistance Federal Legislation Pest Control Products Act (PCP) administered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada (PMRA) Covers registration, labeling and effectiveness and safety. Covers classification into restricted, commercial, domestic and manufacturing. Import and Export Control All pesticides must have a PCP registration number Food and Drugs Act Protects consumer health Estimates Maximum Residual Levels for pesticides in food and products. MRL levels available on PMRA website Estimates grazing or feed crop residues to Livestock Other Federal Acts Migratory Birds Convention Act Protects water fowl and migratory birds Concerned with pesticide contamination of wetlands Fisheries Act Protects fish and fish habitats Private and public Oceans, creeks, rivers, lakes and ditches Common threats include removing streamside vegetations, clearing land for agriculture or development, pollution. Applicators that plan to spray, cross through or work may need permits from the local Fisheries and Oceans Canada office. 1

2 Other Federal Acts Species at Risk Act (SARA) Provides protection for birds, plants, fish, mammals, insects, amphibians and reptiles at risk. Prevents species from becoming extinct Pesticides registered to be used in an area identified as critical habitat will have precaution statement. Website identifies habitat at: Transportation of Dangerous Goods Control Act Federal and Provincial components Only trained individuals handle, transport or store dangerous goods Shipping documents, special labels, placards Manufacturer will identify whether a pesticide is considered a dangerous good and requirements. Who Can Sell and Purchase? To sell all pesticides except domestic and exempted pesticides You must hold a Vendor Registration or hold a valid Agrichemical Warehouse Standards Association Certificate Federal Classification Provincial Schedule Restricted Schedule 1 Commercial, Agricultural, Industrial, Horticultural Schedule 2 Domestic Schedule 3 Mostly Domestic and some Commercial Schedule 4 (exempted pesticides) Who Can Sell Wholesale and Retail Vendors Wholesale and Retail Vendors Anyone that employs a certified Lawn and Garden Dispenser Anyone Who Can Purchase and Use Certified Applicators Farmers (Ag Pesticides only) Certified Applicators Farmers (Ag Pesticides only) Acreage owners (specified horticultural pesticides only) Anyone Certified Applicators multifamily dwellings, daycare, hospitals etc. Anyone Use of Commercial Pesticides To use commercial pesticides you must: Hold a valid pesticide applicator certificate or prove you are a commercial agriculturalist (farmer) Store your pesticides appropriately Be able to respond to emergencies Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) Use restrictions near water and other sensitive areas Train your assistants Transport and dispose of pesticides appropriately Pesticide Safety and Handling Labels A pesticide label is a legal document identifying all the precautions, and directions for use of the pesticide. You may not use a pesticide for any use except that listed on the label. If an applicator does not use a product according to the label, they can be charged, and fined (or imprisoned) if found guilty under the Pest Control Products Act (federal) and the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (provincial) Labels Use in accordance means: Used only for pests and host specified on the label All precautions followed. Follow all application rates Follow the frequency of application indicated on the label. A minor use approval may be granted in some situations. Pesticide Safety and Handling By law the front of the label must contain: Trade name of the product Use category Formulation The warning symbol The PCP Act registration number The common name of the AI and its concentrations The net contents Elsewhere Manufacturer s name and address Registered uses Use precautions Directions for use First Aid Toxicity, Poisoning Symptoms, Antidote Always read the label each year before using. 2

3 Pesticide Label Trade name of the product Use category Formulation The common name of the AI and its concentrations The PCP Act registration number The warning symbol The net contents Note: This label is 15 pages long Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) MSDS provides additional information about heath hazards, personal safety, environmental protection and emergency response in case of spill or fire and is updated every 3 to 5 years. Product Identification Hazardous Ingredients Active and perhaps other ingredients in the formulation Physical Data appearance, ordour, specific gravity etc. Occupational Procedures and Preventative Measures explains protective clothing etc First Aid and Emergency Procedures Fire and explosion hazards Toxicity and Health Effects Reactivity special chemical properties MSDS Application of Liquid Pesticides Pesticide application must be a precision operation to effectively control weeds with no crop or off-site damage, using the chemical most efficiently, minimizing the cost, and environmental impact. Broadcast Boom Sprayers Air Blast and Orchard Sprayers 3

4 Aircraft Aircraft Sprayers Boomless Nozzle Picture Tom Wolf Backpack and Handgun Sprayers Used to treat small or unevenly shaped areas, difficult to reach with boom or boomless nozzle. Functions of All Sprayers Store and transport chemical water and mixes Accurately meter the correct amount of chemical and water Distribute the solution evenly Must do so in a safe manner Nozzles The most important part of the sprayer. Important issues to consider: Flowrate and calibration Drop p size distribution and drift control Drop density, spray pattern coverage and retention Nozzle Types - Flat Fan For Broadcast Boom Sprayers Nozzle numbers spray angle calibrated flow rate in U.S. Picture - Spraying Systems gallon/minute at 40 psi 110 degrees U.S. gallon/min. at 40 psi 4

5 Spray Angle Calibration Pesticides must be applied at a controlled rate to: Meet label requirements Keep costs low Avoid adverse environmental impacts Rates Chemical rate (L/Ha, gallon/acre) Water or solution rate (L/Ha, gallon/acre) Chemical/Water ratio Consider distribution as well as rate Calibration Application equipment should be calibrated: when the equipment is new, at the start of each season; when changing nozzles, travel speed or nozzle spacing; when the sprayer output changes; when the sprayer is modified. Nozzle Calibration The basic steps for equipment calibration are: Select appropriate nozzles and travel speed set or measure travel speed determine the nozzle spacing or effective spray distance set the spraying pressure visually check the spray pattern for plugged nozzles or streaks collect and measure liquid or granules over a measured area or over a timed interval Calibration Make adjustments to meet the recommended sprayer application rate. Determining the amount of formulated pesticide to add to the spray tank. Application Rate = Volume Area STEP 1 Determining the Recommended Sprayer Application Rate. Must refer to the label Chemical Rate (ml/ha) Water Rate (L/ha) Rate of tank mixes or adjuvant (ml/ha) Target Drop Size Method of Application Rates may be specified exactly or a range 5

6 Let s look at a pesticide label Example Topas (Propiconazole) Topas Label Topas Label STEP 2 Select Nozzle, Pressure and Travel Speed Best to use manufacturer s nozzle charts Appropriate Travel Speed (may be specified) Use nozzle in proper pressure range Flat fan 40 psi Air Induction psi Example #1 Spray Quality Measurement A product label can make a spray quality recommendation based on efficacy and drift considerations. An applicator can then select from a range of nozzles and pressures to achieve that specific quality. 6

7 Drop Size Drift Control - Nozzle Drop Sizes Typical Relative Nozzle Drop Size 1 micron = 1/ meter very fine (VF) - VMD less than 100 microns; fine (F) - VMD microns; medium (M) - VMD microns; coarse (C) - VMD microns; very coarse (VC) - VMD microns; extremely coarse (XC) - VMD greater than 450 microns. Picture - Spraying Systems Drift Control - Nozzle Drop Sizes Droplet density is affected by spray volume, droplet size and driving speed. Doubling the drop size will result in reducing the number of drops 8 times Other Considerations Drop Size and Drop Density 2 x diameter 8 x the volume Picture - Unknown STEP 3 Calibrate and Calculate True Application Rate Involves collecting sample from nozzle and measuring travel speed exactly. Nozzle Calibration Nozzle output should be checked to account for: changes in pressure changes in travel speed nozzle wear errors in automatic rate controllers Picture - Spraying Systems 7

8 Nozzle Calibration Calculate the average flowrate Clean and re-check nozzles below 5% of the average flowrate Discard nozzles with more than 5% of the average flowrate Calculate the actual application rate in l/acre or l/ha from the measured flowrate STEP 4 Mixing Calculations Base tank mixes on the measured application rate Chem rate L/ha X Tank Size = Lchem/tank Solution rate L/ha Example #3 Example #4 Calibrating for Tree Rows Area is only based on row width (drip area) Example raspberry sprayer (4 nozzle) Calibrate this sprayer? Calibrating for Tree Rows 2.5 meter Coverage area is to centre of row Boom width becomes ½ of row width 5 meter 8

9 Vertical Sprayer Calibration Example Spray 7 km/hour Minimum 200 L/ha water 500 ml/ha chem rate What nozzles would you use? How much pesticide would you mix in the 80 litre tank? Row Spraying Similar to broadcast but only rows are sprayed Need to determine the % of full coverage Coverage Factor 30 = Example #5 40% coverage Banding Nozzle This rate is for complete coverage Coverage Factors Rate Controller Considerations The controller must be calibrated for: speed (measure a distance) boom width (enter) flowmeter (calibration number) The nozzles must be selected to apply the desired rate in the midrange of the expected speed Application rate is controlled by varying pressure to nozzle (may affect pattern) Calibrating with Controllers Parameters must be set in the computer Set solution rate Set chemical rates Set alternate chemical rates Set increment/decrement rates Set boom/nozzle widths Field calibration catch test for solution to calibrate the flow sensor Catch Test Flow Sensor Sensor calibration number is often the number of pulses per gallon or Litre Field calibration catch test for solution to calibrate the flow sensor Catch and weigh or measure enough water to be accurate (100 gallons or 400 L) Indicated amount on monitor X Old calibration number Actual amount measured 9

10 Calibrating Backpack Sprayers Carried on the back or by hand Usually single nozzle on the end of a wand although some may have 2 or 3 nozzles 3 5 km/hr travel speed Difficult to calibrate water volume Most rates are to thoroughly wet foliage or to point of runoff ( L/ha) Use flat fan or hollow cone nozzle with fine to medium quality nozzle psi. Some have pressure regulating valves to compensate for pressure differences and keep rates constant. Calibrating a Backpack Sprayer Measure out a known area (Example m 2 ) Fill the sprayer to a known mark Spray the water over the area while walking a steady pace. Measure the amount of water necessary to refill the tank to the same level. Calculate the water rate Volume/Area Adjust the walking speed or adjust concentration in tank to correct the rate Repeat the process until you are confident that you can maintain a correct and even speed. Calibrating Backpack Sprayers STUDENT LAB Nozzle Calibration : 390 ml/30 seconds 225 L/Ha target rate Test Area 28 m 2 Calibrating Backpack Sprayers Try spray area in 47 seconds 1 st try = 1.5 litres used 2 nd try = 0.7 litres used Target was 225 L/hectare Drift Control Drift can be minimized by: choosing appropriate equipment and nozzles spraying under favorable conditions choosing formulations that are less subject to drift using spray shields lowering boom height Picture - Barry Rogers Inversions Picture - Unknown 10

11 Buffer Zones A buffer zone is defined as the distance between the downwind point of direct pesticide application and the nearest boundary of a sensitive habitat, unless otherwise specified on a product label. Thank You Rob Baron (780) Rob.baron@lakelandcollege.ca 11