Michigan pesticide storage and handling guidelines for greenhouses
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EmailEditor’s note: This article is from the archives of the MSU Crop Advisory Team Alerts. Check the label of any pesticide referenced to ensure your use is included.
Laws and regulations exist for different reasons, usually to protect or control something that could cause harm. They can be confusing, interpreted differently, or in some cases, unknown to you until you have been reprimanded for not following the law.
The greenhouse growers that participated in a Greenhouse*A* Syst educational session indicated that they were not aware of all the laws and best management practices that they should have in place. Some examples of violations include:
- Pesticide storage cabinet located within 800 feet of a public well that does not have secondary containment.
- Improper signage on cabinets used to store pesticides or chemicals.
- Absence of a spill kit in the pesticide storage area.
On a positive note, all of the growers that became aware of the issues were more than willing to make the required changes to be in compliance or to make changes to reduce or eliminate the high risk practice.
Wondering where you fair with your pesticide storage and handling? We’ve developed a self-assessment tool that helps evaluate how effectively a grower’s greenhouse pesticide storage and handling practices protect groundwater and surface water resources. Some of the stewardship practices cost very little and take very little time to implement. Other practices may involve additional costs and may take more time to properly implement. The free tool is entitled "Pesticide Storage and Handling Guidelines for Greenhouses” and is available here as a pdf file.
