Pesticide Application Checklist

Choose a pesticide from the 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, UC ANR Publication 8161. (PDF)
• Chemical mode of action if pesticide resistance is an issue. For more information, see Herbicide Resistance: Definition and Management Strategies, UC ANR Publication 8012. (PDF)
• 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.

• Avoid spraying during these conditions to avoid off-site movement of pesticides.
  • Wind speed over 10 and under 3 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, product 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:
  • Reducing Runoff from Irrigated Lands: Orchard Floor Management Practices to Reduce Erosion and Protect Water Quality (PDF), UC ANR Publication 8202.
  • Reducing Runoff from Irrigated Lands: Causes and Management of Runoff from Surface Irrigation in Orchards (PDF), UC ANR Publication 8214.
  • 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 pes-ticide information and mitigation measures.

• Install an irrigation recirculation or storage and reuse system. Redesign inlets into tailwater ditches to reduce erosion. For more information, see these publications:
  • Reducing Runoff from Irrigated Lands: Tailwater Return Systems (PDF), UC ANR Publication 8225.
  • Reducing Runoff from Irrigated Lands: Storing Runoff from Winter Rains (PDF), UC ANR Publication 8211.

• Use drip rather than sprinkler or flood irrigation.

• Limit irrigation to amount required using soil moisture monitoring and evapotranspiration (ET). For more information, see:
  • Reducing Runoff from Irrigated Lands: Understanding Your Orchard’s Water Requirements (PDF), UC ANR Publication 8212.
  • Using the Pressure Chamber for Irrigation Management in Walnut, Almond, and Prune (PDF), UC ANR Publication 8503.

• Consider using cover crops (PDF).

• Consider vegetative filter strips or ditches. For more information, see Vegetative Filter Strips (PDF), UC ANR Publication 8195.
• Apply polyacrylamides 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.