Protecting Your Groundwater Through Farmstead Assessment
Assessing Your Farm Chemical Storage and Handling Practices
AE-1077, April 1994
Dale Weston, Water Quality Specialist
Farm chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers play a vital role in agriculture. Over the years they have dramatically increased farm production. Farm chemicals, however, must be stored and handled safely to protect both people and the environment. Two major areas of concern related to farm chemical management are: (1) storage practices and (2) mixing, loading, and disposal practices.
This circular contains a brief discussion of each question on the Farmstead Assessment checklist, and a section discussing what you can do and who to call if you answer "Yes" to any of the questions.
1. Do you store pesticides on your farm?
There is no law regulating the amount of pesticides that can be stored on your farmstead. Before you make a decision about storing pesticides, you need to balance cost, expected use, and risks associated with storing pesticides. The risk associated with stored pesticides is related to leaks or inadequately protected storage sites. Large amounts of stored pesticides may pose little danger to groundwater contamination if the storage site is properly designed with secondary containment for protection in case of accidental spills. On the other hand, relatively small amounts of farm chemicals may pose a significant hazard to groundwater if stored in an improper facility or location.
2. Do you store fertilizer on your farm?
The use of fertilizer, especially nitrogen, has increased tremendously since 1960 and has lead to an increase in agricultural production. Nitrogen in the nitrate form is extremely soluble in soil. Nitrate-nitrogen levels exceeding 10 ppm in drinking water are a health hazard. Care needs to be taken when storing nitrogen fertilizer (dry, liquid, or gas) because in the nitrate form it is extremely mobile and will quickly move from sites of spillage into groundwater resources.
3. Do you store pesticides with high leaching potential or are you unsure of the leaching potential of the chemicals stored on your farmstead?
You should know the leaching potential of all chemicals stored on your farmstead. Leaching potential is defined as a chemical's tendency to move through the soil. Pesticides with high leaching potential are more likely to travel through the soil and into the groundwater than pesticides with low leaching potential. To help you determine whether the pesticides that are stored on your farmstead have high, intermediate, or low leaching potential, a list of pesticides with their common name, brand name, and their potential for leaching is included in Appendix I.
4. Are chemicals stored on a permeable surface such as wood, gravel, or dirt or on an impermeable surface with no curb?
Containment is very important in the event of an accidental spill. The floor of the storage site should be made of sealed concrete or other easily cleaned, non-permeable material. Carpeting, wood, soil, and other absorbent floors are difficult or impossible to decontaminate in case of a leak or spill. For ease of clean-up, shelving and pallets should be made of nonabsorbent materials such as plastic or metal. If wood or fiberboard materials are used, they should be coated or covered with plastic, polyurethane or epoxy paint.
5. Do you have pesticide containers that are rusting, have been patched, or have holes or tears?
A primary concern about the condition of pesticide containers is the potential for leaks or spills. If you have containers that are rusting or have holes or tears, the pesticide should be used or disposed of immediately. You should store pesticides on pallets so they can be monitored for leaks. Information about pesticide disposal programs for old and unused pesticides can be obtained from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Be careful to maintain all pesticide containers with their proper labels. Information on the pesticide label is valuable for proper clean-up and disposal if the pesticide is spilled or leaked.
6. Do you use or store farm chemicals near a well?
The closer that chemicals are regularly handled near a well, the greater the chance for a spill and well contamination. Contamination is more likely to occur if the well is shallow and located on a coarse-textured soil. Farm chemicals should be stored in a contained area and as far away from your well as possible.
7. Are farm chemicals stored in an area exposed to activities that could damage containers or result in chemical spills?
Chemicals should be stored in an area where there is little traffic or activity. If possible, they should be stored in a separate building. If a variety of farm activities occur in the same area as your chemical storage, an alternate storage location is highly recommended. Heavy traffic in machine shops puts pesticide containers at high risk of being damaged.
8. Are chemicals stored in a location that is unlocked and open to vandalism and children?
Storage of farm chemicals in a secure location is very important. Keeping out unauthorized people, especially children, is a critical function of the storage facility. Whether the storage facility is as small as a cabinet or as large as an entire building, keep it securely locked.
Mixing and Loading Practices
Mixing and loading are primary pesticide handling tasks. They are also among the most hazardous aspects of a handler's job. When you mix and load farm chemicals on the farmstead, you need to consider where you mix and load the chemicals as well as how you mix and load.
9. Do you fill your sprayer tank directly from your well?
Loading pesticides near or directly from your well is not a recommended practice. Your well has an increased chance of being contaminated if you fill your sprayer tank directly from it. Using a holding tank or nurse tank can be a good alternative to filling directly from your well when mixing and loading pesticides. This allows you to mix and load at a greater distance from your well. In the event of a spill, there is less chance of your water well becoming contaminated. Also, using a separate hydrant located away from your main water well (at least 150 feet) offers additional protection if a spill occurs. This does not offer any protection against back-siphoning.
10. Do you fill your sprayer tank with a hose that does not have a check valve or put the hose in the tank so that it is below the water line during filling?
Protect your water source by keeping the water hose above the level of the pesticide mixture. This will prevent contamination of the hose and will keep pesticides from back-siphoning into the water source. If you are pumping water directly from your water source into a mix tank, use a check valve, anti-siphoning device or backflow valve to prevent back-siphoning if the pump fails.
11. Do you leave your sprayer tank unattended when filling?
You are responsible for the proper mixing and loading of all the pesticides you use. When a sprayer tank is left unattended, it increases the risk of contamination due to spillage. First, regular spillage of pesticides due to tank overflow allows pesticides to concentrate in the soil and increases their potential to move downward into the groundwater. Second, if the pump should stop while filling the tank, there is a risk of back-siphoning pesticides directly into the water source. Conscientious loading of pesticides will reduce the risk to groundwater.
12. Do you mix/load chemicals up-slope or less than 150 feet from your well?
If a spill occurs up-slope from a well, the natural flow will be toward the well. If a spill occurs down-slope, contamination can still occur. Although the surface water will flow away from the well, once the water and contaminant enter the soil they may be drawn toward the well as it is pumped. Always keep distance from your well when mixing and loading pesticides. A rule of thumb is to stay at least 150 feet away from your well.
13. Do you mix/load chemicals in an area which does not have a concrete pad with a curb to contain spills?
Although pads are not required in North Dakota, they are recommended when applicators are mixing and loading chemicals. You should avoid mixing or loading pesticides in areas where a spill, leak or overflow could allow pesticides to get into water resources. If a spill does occur, having a dike, curb or other barrier will help divert the flow of spilled chemicals to holding tanks where they can be properly disposed of without risk to the groundwater.
14. Do you wash your sprayer tank out on the farmstead and dump the rinsate less than 150 feet from your well?
When rinsing your sprayer tank, spread the rinsate over cropland or an area that needs a pesticide application. This way, the chemical does not go unused. If rinsate is regularly dumped near your well, eventually levels of pesticide may become great enough to put your well water at risk. A clean water tank or nurse tank on the sprayer is a convenient way to have clean water in the field to wash out your sprayer.
Assessing Farm Chemical Storage and Handling Practices
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If you answered
"Yes" to the
following
questions. What to do Who to call Other references
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Questions Assess type Local county Storage, Handling
1 and 2. and quantity Extension office and Disposal of
to be stored. or North Dakota Pesticides and
Do you really Dept. of Agricul- Containers. NDSU
need to ture for inform- Extension Service.
store? ation about Circular AE-977.
pesticide retire-
ment program.
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Question 3. Know leaching Local county Persistence and
potential of Extension office. Mobility of Pest-
all chemicals icides in Soil
stored. and Water. NDSU
Extension Service
Bulletin 49.
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Question 4. Get designs Local county Storage, Handling
for a non- Extension office. and Disposal of
permeable Pesticides and
structure Containers. NDSU
with a barrier. Extension Service
Circular AE-977.
Midwest Plan Service.
Designing Facilities
for Pesticide and
Fertilizer Contain-
ment. MWPS-37.
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Question 5. Get rid of North Dakota Dept. Applying Pesticides
these chemicals of Agriculture or Correctly: A Guide
through a pest- local county for Private and
icide retire- Extension office. Commercial Applicators.
ment program,
or use them Brochure on the retire-
immediately. ment program "Project
Safe Send" available
from North Dakota
Dept. of Agriculture
or county Extension
office.
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Question 6. Move yourstor- Local county Midwest Plan Service.
age location Extension office Designing Facilities
away from your for storage for Pesticide and
well. facility plans. Fertilizer Contain-
ment. MWPS-37.
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Question 7. Move your Local county Midwest Plan Service.
storage loca- Extension office Designing Facilities
tion to a less for storage for Pesticide and
active area. facility plans. Fertilizer Contain-
ment. MWPS-37.
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Question 8. Place locks on
all areas that
you store farm
chemicals.
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Question 9. Try not to fill Managing Pesticides
directly from to Prevent Ground-
from your well. water Contamination.
Use a hydrant NDSU Extension
(location at Service.
least 150 feet Circular E-979.
from your well),
or a water holding tank.
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Question 10.Make sure your Local chemical Managing Pesticides
fill hose is dealer for a to Prevent Ground-
not below the backflow water Contamination.
water tank device. NDSU Extension
level and has Service.
a backflow device. Circular E-979.
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Question 11.Never leave sprayer
tank unattended.
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Question 12.Mix/load chemi- Managing Pesticides
cals downslope to Prevent Ground-
downslope from water Contamination.
your well (at least NDSU Extension
150 feet.) Service.
Circular E-979
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Question 13.Mix/load Local county Midwest Plan Service.
chemicals on Extension office Designing Facilities
a concrete pad for loading pad for Pesticide and
with a curb, plans. Fertilizer Contain-
if possible. ment. MWPS-37.
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Question 14.Spread rinsate Local county Applying Pesticides
out in a Extension office. Correctly: A Guide
cropped field. for Private and
Commercial Applica-
tors. Available at
your local Extension
office.
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Appendix I. Trade and Common Names of Pesticides and Their Leaching Potential
HERBICIDES ----------------------------------------------------- *Leaching Trade Name Common Name Potential ----------------------------------------------------- 2,4-D Amine 2,4-D H 2,4-D Amine 4 pound 2,4-D H 2,4-D Ester 2,4-D H 2,4-D LV Ester 2,4-D H 2,4-D LV Ester 6 2,4-D H 2,4-D LV-4 2,4-D H 2,4-D LV-6 2,4-D H 2,4-DB 2,4-DB H 2,4-DB 1.75 2,4-DB H Aatrex 4L Atrazine H Aatrex Nine-0 Atrazine H Accent Nicosulfuron nd Accord Glyphosate L Agsco 400 2,4-D H Agsco MXL Herbicide E MCPA I Ally Metsulfuron H Amber Triasulfuron nd Amiben Chloramben H Amine 4 2,4-D Weed Killer 2,4-D H Amitrol-T Amitrole H Antor Diethatyl I Arena Alachlor I Ascend Bentazon H Assert Imazamethabenz H Assure II Quizalofop-P I Atrazine Atrazine H Atrazine 4L Atrazine H Atrazine 4L Herbicide Atrazine H Atrazine 90 Atrazine H Atrazine 90 DF Atrazine H Atrazine 90 WDG Herbicide Atrazine H Avenge Difenzoquat L Balan Benefin L Banvel Dicamba H Banvel SGF Dicamba H Barrage 2,4-D H Basagran Bentazon H Beacon Primisulfuron nd Betamix Desmedipham + Phenmedipham I Betanex Desmedipham I Bicep Atrazine + Metolachlor H/I Bladex Cyanazine I Blazer Acifluorfen I Bronate Bromoxynil + MCPA L/I Bronco Alachlor + Glyphosate H/L Brush Rhap Low Volatile 4-D 2,4-D H Buckle Triallate + Trifluralin I Buctril Bromoxynil L Bullet Alachlor + Atrazine I/H Butyrac 175 2,4-DB H Butyrac 200 2,4-DB H Cannon Alachlor + Trifluralin I Carbyne Barban nd Cheyenne Fenoxaprop + MCPA + Thifensulfuron + Tribenuron L/I/H/nd Chiptox MCPA Sodium MCPA nd Class 40 A 2,4-D H Class 80 A WSP 2,4-D H Class MCPA MCPA H Class MCPE MCPA I Class Trust Trifluralin I Classic Chlorimuron I Cobra Lactofen L Command Clomazone I Commence Trifluralin + Clomazone I Confidence Alachlor I Cornbelt 2,4-D 2,4-D H Cornbelt Atrazine 4L Atrazine H Cornbelt Atrazine 90 DF Atrazine H Cornbelt Hi-Pen 2,4-D H Cornbelt LV-4 2,4-D H Cornbelt LV-6 2,4-D H Cornbelt Saddle Alachlor I Cornbelt Trifluralin Trifluralin I Crop Star GB Alachlor I Crossbow Triclopyr + 2,4-D I/H Curtail Clopyralid + 2,4-D nd/H Curtail M Clopyralid + MCPA nd/I Cycle Metolachlor + Cyanzine I Cyclone Paraquat L Dacamine 4D 2,4-D H Dakota Fenoxaprop + MCPA H/I Depend Bentazon H Diquat Diquat L Diuron Diuron I Diuron 80 WDG Diuron I DPD Ester Brush Killer 2,4-D H Dual Metolachlor I Envert 171 2,4-D H Eptam EPTC I Eradicane EPTC I Eradicane Extra EPTC I Evik Ametryn I Express Tribenuron nd Extrazine II Cyanazine + Atrazine I/H Fallow Master Glyphosate + Dicamba L/H Far-Go Triallate I Farmland Liquid Atrazine 4L Atrazine H Formula 40 2,4-D H Freedom Alachlor + Trifluralin I Fusilade 2000 Fluazifop-P L Fusion Fluazifop-P + Fenoxaprop L Galaxy Acifluorfen + Bentazon I/H Glean Chlorsulfuron H Gramoxone Extra Paraquat L Harmony Extra Thifensulfuron + Tribenuron H/nd Herbicide 273 Endothall H Hi-Dep 2,4-D H Hoelon Diclofop L Honcho Glyphosate L Judge Alachlor I Jury Glyphosate L Karmex DF Diuron I Kerb Pronamide I Krenite Fosamine I Laddok Bentazon + Atrazine H Landmaster BW Glyphosate + 2,4-D L/H Lariat Alachlor + Atrazine I/H Lasso Alachlor I Lasso II Alachlor I Leader Bentazon H Lexone Metribuzin H Linex 4 L Linuron I Linex 50 DF Linuron I Lorox Linuron I Low Vol 4 Ester Weed Killer 2,4-D H Low Vol Ester 4 2,4-D H Low vol Ester 6 2,4-D H Marksman Dicamba + Atrazine H MCP 2 Sodium Herbicide MCPA nd MCP Amine 4 MCPA H MCPA 4 Ester Herbicide MCPA I MCPA Amine Herbicide MCPA H MCPA LV Ester MCPA I Micro Tech Alachlor I Mirage Glyphosate L Nortron Ethofumesate I Option II Fenoxaprop L Pacer Bentazon H Pardner Alachlor I Pinnacle Thifensulfuron H Pledge Bentazon H Poast Sethoxydim I Princep Simazine I Propanil 4E Propanil I Propanil 60 DF Propanil I Protocol Glyphosate L Prowl Pendimethalin I Pursuit Imazethapyr H Pyrazon Pyramin I Ramrod Propachlor H Ranger Glyphosate L Rascal Glyphosate L Rattler Glyphosate L Rescue Naptalam + 2,4-D H Rhomene MCPA H Rhonox MCPA I Rodeo Glyphosate L Ro-Neet Cycloate I Roundup/RT Glyphosate L Ruler Glyphosate L Salute Trifluralin + Metribuzin I/H Salvo Low Volatile Weed Killer 2,4-D H Savage 2,4-D H Scope Bentazon H SEE 2,4-D LV4 2,4-D H Select Clethodim nd Sencor Metribuzin H Silhouette Glyphosate L Simazine 4L Simazine I Simazine 80 W Simazine I Simazine 90 DF Simazine I Simazine 90 WDG Simazine I Solution 2,4-D H Sonalan Enthalfluralin I Sostrum Atrazine Atrazine H Stall Alachlor I Stall MT Alachlor I Stampede CM Propanil + MCPA I Starfire Paraquat L Stinger Clopyralid H Sulv 2,4-D H Sutan + Butylate I Sutazine + Butylate + Atrazine I/H Tiller Fenoxaprop + 2,4-D + MCPA L/H/I Tordon Picloram H Treflan 5 Trifluralin I Treflan 80 DC Trifluralin I Treflan EC Trifluralin I Treflan M.T.F. Trifluralin I Treflan TR-10 Trifluralin I Tri-4 Trifluralin I Trific 60 DF Trifluralin I Trifluralin 10G Trifluralin I Trifluralin 4 AT Trifluralin I Trifluralin 4 EC Trifluralin I Trilin 10 G Trifluralin I Trilin 4 AT Trifluralin I Turbo Metribuzin + Metolachlor H/I Weed Pro 3# Amine 2,4-D H Weed Pro 4# Low Vol 2,4-D H Weed Pro 6# Low Vol 2,4-D H Weed Pro Atrazine Atrazine H Weed Rhap A-4D 2,4-D H Weed Rhap LV-6D 2,4-D H Weedar 64 2,4-D H Weedar Sodium MCPA MCPA nd Weedestroy MCPA I Weedone 170 2,4-D H Weedone LV 4 2,4-D H Weedone LV 6 2,4-D H ----------------------------------------------------- * L=low, H=high, I=intermediate, nd=no data /=separation of different potentials for products containing multiple pesticides
INSECTICIDES ----------------------------------------------------- *Leaching Trade Name Common Name Potential ----------------------------------------------------- Ambush Permethrin L Asana XL Esfenvalerate I Counter Terbufos I Cygon Dimethoate H Diazinon Diazinon I Dipel Bacillus thuringiensis nd Di-Syston Disulfoton I Dyfonate Fonofos I Force Tefluthrin nd Furadan Carbofuran H Guthion Azinphos-methyl I Lannate Methomyl H Lorsban Chlorpyrifos I Malathion Malathion L Methyl parathion Methyl parathion L Mocap Ethoprop H Monitor Methamidophos H NOLO (TM) Bait Nosema locustae fungus nd Orthene Acephate H Parathion Ethyl parathion L Penncap M Encapsulated methyl parathion L Phosphamidon Phosphamidon H Pounce Permethrin L Pydrin Fenvalerate I Reldan Chlopyrifos-methyl I Scout X-TRA Tralomethrin L Sevin Carbaryl I Supracide Methidathion I Temik Aldicarb H Thimet Phorate I Thiodan Endosulfan L Vydate Oxamyl H ----------------------------------------------------- * L=low, H=high, I=intermediate, nd=no data /=separation of different potentials for products containing multiple pesticides
FUNGICIDES ----------------------------------------------------- *Leaching Trade Name Common Name Potential ----------------------------------------------------- Basicop Copper nd Bayleton Triademefon I Benlate Benlate nd Blite Out Plus Maneb + Triphenyltin hydroxide I/L Bravo Chlorothalonil I Champ Copper nd Champion Copper nd Dithane Mancozeb I Du-Ter Triphenyltin hydroxide L Kocide Copper nd Kocide 404S Copper + Sulfur hydroxide nd Maneb Plus Zinc F4 Maneb + Zinc I/nd Manex II Mancozeb I Manzate Mancozeb I Mertect Thiabendazole I Microthiol Sulfur nd Penncozeb Mancozeb I Pro-Tex Maneb + Triphenyltin hydroxide I/L Ridomil Metalaxyl H Ridomil MZ58 Metalaxyl + Mancozeb H/L Ridomil/Bravo Metalaxyl + Chlorothalonil H/I Rovral Iprodione I Sulfur DF Sulfur nd Super Six Sulfur nd Super Tin Triphenyltin hydroxide L That Flowable Sulfur nd Thiolux Sulfur nd Tilt Propiconazole I Top Cop Tribasi Copper nd Top Cop W Sulfer + Copper nd Topsin Thiophanate methyl I Uniflow Sulfer nd ----------------------------------------------------- * L=low, I=intermediate, H=high, nd=no data /=separation of different potentials for products containing multiple pesticides
SEED TREATMENT ----------------------------------------------------- *Leaching Trade Name Common Name Potential ----------------------------------------------------- Agri Strep Streptomycin nd Agrosol Captan + Thiabendazole I Agrosol Pour-On Thiram + Thiabendazole I Agrosol T Thiram + Thiabendazole I Agrox 2-Way Captan + Diazinon I Apron Metalaxyl H Apron-Terraclor Metalaxyl + PCNB H/L AS-50 Streptomycin nd Baytan Triadimenol nd Bean Guard Captan + Carboxin I Benlate Benomyl I Captan Captan I Chloroneb Chloroneb I DB Green Maneb + Lindane I DB Green + Vitavax Carboxin + Maneb + Lindane I Diazinon Diazinon I Dithane Mancozeb I Double R Imazalil nd Dustret A Maneb + Streptomycin I/nd Dustret T Thiophanate methyl I Enhance Plus Carboxin + Maneb + Lindane I Fir Bark Zineb nd Flo-Pro IMZ Imazalil nd Formaldehyde Flormaldehyde nd Gammasan Captan + Lindane I Germate Plus Carboxin + Diazinon + Lindane I Grain Guard Mancozeb I Granol NM Maneb + Lindane I Granox Plus Maneb + Thiabendazole I Gustafson 42S Thiram I Isotox Seed Treater F Captan + Lindane I Lindane Lindane I Lorsban 30 Chlorpyrifos I Lorsban 50-SL Chlorpyrifos I Mancozeb Mancozeb I Maneb Maneb I Maneb + Lindane Maneb + Lindane I Maneb-Lindane Maneb + Lindane I Manex II Mancozeb I Nu-Gro Captan Captan I Nu-Gro Captan Carboxin Captan + Carboxin I Nu-Gro Soybean Seed Protect Captan I Nuzone Imazalil nd Omega Prochloraz I Polyram Metiram L PST Plus Bark Mancozeb I Rival Captan + PCNB + Thiabendazole I/L/I RTU-PCNB PCNB L RTU-Vitavax-Thiram Carboxin + Thiram I Seed Mate Captan Vitavax Captan + Carboxin I Seed Mate Maneb Lindane Maneb + Lindane I Sim-Tec Plus Thiabendazole I Spud Bark Mancozeb I Terra Coat PCNB I Tops 2.5D Thiophanate methyl I Triple Noctin Thiram I Vitavax Carboxin I Vitavax 200 Carboxin + Thiram I Vitavax Pour-On Carboxin + Thiram I VTL Carboxin + Thiram + Lindane I Yield Shield Thiram I ----------------------------------------------------- * L=low, I=intermediate, H=high, nd=no data /=separation of different potentials for products containing multiple pesticides
AE-1077, April 1994
