Pesticide Application Checklist

Choose a pesticide from the UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines for the target pest considering:

• Impact on natural enemies and pollinators. For more information see Protecting Natural Enemies and Pollinators.
• Potential for water quality problems using the UC IPM WaterTox database.
• Impact on aquatic invertebrates. For more information, see Pesticide Choice (PDF), UC ANR Publication 8161.
• Chemical mode of action, if pesticide resistance is an issue. For more information, see Herbicide Resistance: Definition and Management Strategies, UC ANR Publication 8012.
• Endangered species that may be near your site. Find out using the Department of Pesticide Regulation's PRESCRIBE program.

Before an application:

• Ensure that spray equipment is properly calibrated to deliver the desired pesticide amount for optimal coverage.
• Use appropriate spray nozzles and pressure to minimize off-site movement of pesticides.
• Choose sprayers and application procedures that keep pesticides on target.
• Avoid spraying during these conditions to avoid off-site movement of pesticides:
  • Wind speed under 3 mph or over 10 mph
  • Temperature inversions
  • Just prior to rain or irrigation (unless it is an appropriate amount, such as when incorporating a soil-applied pesticide)
  • At tractor speeds over 2 mph
• Identify and take special care to protect sensitive areas (for example, waterways or riparian areas) surrounding your application site.
• Review and follow labeling for pesticide handling, personal protection equipment (PPE) requirements, storage, and disposal guidelines.
• Check and follow restricted entry intervals (REI) and preharvest intervals (PHI).

After an application:

• Record application date, pesticide used, rate, and location of application.
• Follow up to confirm that treatment was effective.

Consider water management practices that reduce pesticide movement off-site.

• Consult relevant publications:
  • Protecting Surface Water from Sediment-Associated Pesticides in Furrow-Irrigated Crops (PDF), UC ANR Publication 8403.
• Consult the Department of Pesticide Regulation Groundwater Protection Program (GWPA) website for pesticide information and mitigation measures.
• Install an irrigation recirculation or storage and reuse system. For more information, see these publications:
  • Reducing Runoff from Irrigated Lands: Tailwater Return Systems, UC ANR Publication 8225 (PDF).
  • Reducing Runoff from Irrigated Lands: Storing Runoff from Winter Rains, UC ANR Publication 8211 (PDF).
• Redesign inlets into tailwater ditches to reduce erosion. For more information, see UC ANR Publication 8225 Reducing Runoff from Irrigated Lands: Tailwater Return Systems (PDF).
• Use drip rather than sprinkler or flood irrigation.
• Limit irrigation to amount required using soil moisture monitoring and evapotranspiration (ET). Use CropManage (online decision-support program) to guide irrigations.
• Consider the use of cover crops.
• Install sediment traps.
• Consider vegetative filter strips or ditches.
• Apply polyacrylamide (PAM) tablets in furrow and sprinkler irrigation systems to prevent off-site movement of sediments.

Consider practices that reduce air quality problems.

• When possible, reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by decreasing the amount of pesticide applied, choosing low-emission management methods, and avoiding fumigants and emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations.

For more about mitigating the effects of pesticides, see the Mitigation page.