Pest Management

Conservation Practice Job Sheet ME-595

NRCS, ME

March, 2004

595 -1

Definition

Pest management is utilizing environmentally sensitive prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and suppression strategies, to manage weeds, insects, diseases, animals and other organisms that directly or indirectly cause damage or annoyance.

Purposes

Pest management is applied as part of a resource management system to:

Enhance the quantity and quality of agricultural commodities.

Minimize the negative impacts of pest control on soil resources, water resources, air resources, plant resources, animal resources and/or humans.

Pest Management Includes

Determination of environmental risks of pest management.

Development of management and practice alternatives to minimize environmental risks.

Adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Implementation of a pest management component of an overall conservation plan.

Benefits

Pest management systems:

Maximize economic returns.

Minimize environmental risks.

Improve food, water and air quality.

Integrate all aspects of pest management within the agricultural production system.

Resource Management System

Pest management is a component of a Resource Management System (RMS).

It should be used in conjunction with conservation practices such as a filter strip, conservation crop rotation, irrigation water management and/or nutrient management on a site-specific basis to address both natural resource concerns and the landowner’s objectives.

Specifications

Specifications are prepared in accordance with the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, practice standard Pest Management Code ME-595 and shall include:

Utilize IPM that strives to balance economics, efficacy, and environmental risks, where possible.

Implement mitigation techniques planned toaddress the environmental risks of pest management activities. Mitigation techniquesinclude conservation practices like a filter strip or conservation crop rotation, and management techniques like application method and timing. Mitigation techniques have been incorporated in the attached plan.

All methods of pest management must beintegrated with other components of theconservation plan.

Pay special attention to all environmental hazards and site-specific application criteria listed on pesticide labels and contained in Extension and Crop Consultant recommendations.

Operation, Maintenance & Safety

Methods of pest management must comply with Federal, State, and local regulations.

Review and update the plan periodically in order to incorporate new IPM technology, respond to cropping system and pest complex changes, and avoid the development of pest resistance.

Maintain mitigation techniques identified in the plan in order to ensure continued effectiveness.

Develop a safety plan for individuals exposed to chemicals including telephone numbers and addresses for emergency treatment centers and the telephone number for the nearest poison control center. For human exposure questions, the local center is:

Name: ___ MainePoisonControlCenter

Location:__Maine MedicalCenter, Portland, ME

Phone: ___Toll Free 1-800-442-6305

The National Pesticides Information Center Network (NPIC) telephone number for non-emergency information is:

1-800-858-7378

Monday - Friday

6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time

For advice and assistance with emergency spills that involve agrichemicals, the local contact is:

Name:____Maine board of Pesticides Control

Location:__State House Station 23,Augusta, ME

Phone:____1-207-287-2731

The national 24-hour CHEMTRECtelephone number for emergency assistance is:

1-800-424-9300

Follow label requirements for mixing/loading setbacks from wells, intermittent streams and rivers, natural or impounded ponds and lakes, or reservoirs. Maine Department of Agriculture, Board of Pesticides Control Chapter 29 - Standards for Water Quality Protection ( specifies the following: A. No person shall mix or load any pesticides or fill a sprayer or mix tank within fifty (50) feet from the high water mark of any surface waters of the State. B. No person shall use a pump that pumps pesticide concentrate or formulation or any hose that has been in contact with pesticide solution to draw liquid from any surface waters. C. All pesticide pumping systems that come in contact with any surface waters shall be equipped with an anti-siphoning device.

Post signs according to label directions and/or Federal, State, and local laws around sites that have been treated. Follow restricted entry intervals.

Dispose of pesticides and pesticide containers in accordance with label directions and adhere to Federal, State, and local regulations. See Maine Department of Agriculture, Board of Pesticides Control Chapter 21 – Pesticide Container Disposal and Storage (

Read and follow label directions and maintain appropriate Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).

Calibrate application equipment according to

Extension and/or manufacturer recommendations before each seasonal use and with each major chemical change.

Maintain mechanical equipment in good working condition. Replace worn nozzle tips, cracked hoses, and faulty gauges. Replace worn components on other pest management implements as well.

Maintain records of pest management for at least two years. Pesticide application records shall be in accordance with USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Pesticide Record Keeping Program and state specific requirements. State of Maine specific requirements are described in Maine Department of Agriculture, Board of Pesticides Control Chapter 50 – Record Keeping and Reporting Requirements ( This rule requires all Commercial Agricultural Producers (food crop, forage, forest product, animal, turf, greenhouse, nursery, Christmas tree, aquaculture, and organic growers) to keep records of all applications using any pesticide (organic or synthetic), indoors and outdoors and using any method of application, powered or non-powered. This rule also lists required reporting items. A Pesticide Applicator Log, which includes all the required reporting items, can be obtained from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

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PEST MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES WORKSHEET

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March, 2004

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Landuser ______Date ______Consultant ______

Tract & Field(s) ______Soils ______

Crop Sequence/Rotation ______(Circle Applicable Crop(s))__

Pest Management Resource Concern ______

______

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Target Pest Name(s) / Alternative Number / Alternative Description / Analysis Tool / Mitigation Techniques

Assisted by ______

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______

Sketch a map showing the field location, acreage and location of sensitive resource concerns (including required setback zones, water bodies and

buildings). Aerial photograph(s) containing the same information may be used instead of the sketch.

Scale 1” = ______ft. (NA indicates sketch not to scale: grid size is approx. ½” by ½”) N

Operation and Maintenance: ______

Review this pest management plan whenever the production system changes substantially, or at least every _____ days.

Maintain mitigation techniques identified in the plan.

Mix chemicals a minimum of _50_ feet from a well and a minimum of _50_ feet from a surface water body.

Post treatment signs according to label directions and/or Federal, State and Local laws. Follow label re-entry.

Dispose of pesticides and pesticide containers in accordance with label directions.

Read and follow label directions and maintain appropriate Material Data Safety Sheets (MSDS).

Calibrate application equipment before each season of use and with each major chemical change.

Maintain records of pest management for at least _2_ years.

Additional Specification and Notes: ______

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color,

national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print,

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGETCenter (202) 720 - 2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, WhittenBuilding, 14th and Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (Voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

NRCS, ME

March, 2004