By Blake Jackson
February is recognized as National Pesticide Safety Education Month, highlighting the importance of safe handling practices in agriculture and other industries.
Sam Polly, coordinator of the University of Missouri Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program, said the initiative encourages farmers, applicators, and workers to remain alert and follow established safety standards. Over the past year, the program has delivered commercial pesticide recertification training to roughly 1,000 Missourians.
According to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, MU Extension’s pesticide safety education efforts generate annual savings of $10 million to $17 million for Missouri across agricultural, landscape, and structural sectors.
National organizations including the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), the American Phytopathological Society (APS), and the Entomological Society of America (ESA) encourage individuals to review and reinforce pesticide safety practices during February.
“Safe pesticide use requires caution and vigilance at all times, but February National Pesticide Safety Education Month - is an especially appropriate time to examine current best safety practices,” said Lee Van Wychen, WSSA executive director of science policy.
“Appropriate safeguards should be well in place wherever handling, transporting, storing, applying or disposing of pesticides to protect yourself, the environment, and others in your community.”
Van Wychen added, “The goal is to have a safe home environment, healthy crops, successful conservation efforts, agricultural worker protection and more, all of which require safe pesticide handling and use.”
Photo Credit: istock-fotokostic
Categories: Missouri, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety