Purdue News

February 6, 1998

Indiana chemist's office to inspect farm pesticide records

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Indiana farmers may want to keep their pesticide application records handy, because the Office of the Indiana State Chemist may be coming to call.

The state chemist's office, based at Purdue University, is launching an annual program to spot-check private applicator records at randomly selected farms. The inspections follow a 1993 Indiana law that requires records be kept on all applications of restricted-use pesticides.

During 1998, about 40 Indiana farms will be considered for a visit from a pesticide investigator. Next year, the number of farms chosen at random will be closer to 200.

"Every farmer in the state has received information about the record-keeping regulations, and the farmers we visit will get a phone call a few days before we visit," said Leo Reed, pesticide investigator. "We don't intend to be punitive, but we will be if we have to be."

Reed said the inspections follow extensive mailings to farmers that explained how to keep proper records. "We've tried very hard to educate all private applicators," he said, "and I want to encourage farmers to call me, so I can answer their questions and avoid enforcement action."

If records are being kept improperly or are not being kept at all, Reed said, farmers may receive a warning or, in more serious cases, a fine of $100 or more.

The records, which should be recorded within 30 days of the date of application and kept for two years, should contain the following information:

Address or description of application site.
Name and certification number of the applicator or supervising applicator.
Exact date of application.
Type of plants, crop, animals, commodity, stored product or sites treated and principal pests to be controlled.
Acreage, area or number of plants or animals treated.
Pesticide applied and its brand name (including formulation).
Pesticide manufacturer.
Pesticide's EPA registration number.
Amount used. If a concentrate, give the total quantity in pounds or gallons. If a diluted mixture, give the total amount applied and the concentration of active ingredient.

CONTACT: Reed,(765) 494-1585.

Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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