FAQ: Pesticide Application in Christmas Tree Production

Can just anyone apply pesticides? What kind of training does an applicator have to go through?

Not everyone can apply all pesticides. To purchase restricted use pesticides, applicators must have a private pesticide certification or be working under someone who has such a certification. Although these people working under another person's certification do not have a certification themselves, they still must be trained under the worker protection Standards. To apply pesticides to anyone's property for compensation, a commercial pesticide applicator's license is required.

For more information on who has to have a pesticide license, and how this license is obtained in North Carolina see: "Licensing, Certification and Recertification Guide for Pesticides Applicators in North Carolina." http://ipm.ncsu.edu/pesticidesafety/liccert2.htm

For more information on the Worker Protection Standard see the EPA web site: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/worker.htm

Why do they have to wear the white suits while applying these pesticides?

The person most likely to be affected by pesticide application is the person applying it. On every pesticide label is a list of requirements for personal protective equipment or PPE. This may be something as simple as long sleeve shirts and long pants, or it may require gloves, chemical resistant footwear, respirators, eye protection, or other apparel designed to protect the applicator from adverse health effects from pesticide application.

The toxicity of a material can't always be judged by the PPE that is required for application. For instance, horticultural oil can be either petroleum based or vegetable based. These products are not toxic at all, but kill the insect pests by smothering them. However, a respirator may be required to be used when applying these products. The reason is that oil is a skin irritant. If spray droplets of oil are breathed in by the applicator, it would cause irritation to the lungs. Therefore, the PPE is required.

For more information of PPE see the University of Missouri publication, "Personal Protective Equipment for Working with Pesticides." http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/agengin/g01917.htm

Are there buffers required between a Christmas tree field and my property?

Pesticides can be applied to private property up to the edge of that property. Unless specific restrictions are stated on an individual pesticide label, buffers are not required. However, it is illegal for pesticides to drift from the site of application to adjacent property. Pesticide drift is any airborne movement of pesticides away from an application site, including droplets, dusts, gases, volatized pesticides, or pesticide-contaminated soil particles. Drifting pesticides can be invisible and odorless, yet still be harmful to health. Therefore, although buffers are not required, some growers choose not to plant Christmas trees up to their property line. Others leave forest trees to grow up as a buffer between the field and homes. Or a grower may choose one pesticide to apply to the majority of the field and another that may not work quite as well, may be more expensive, or may be harder to apply but is less hazardous next to the property line.

For more information on drift see the EPA website: Spray Drift of Pesticides
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/spraydrift.htm

What should I do if I think pesticides have drifted onto my property?

If a person wants to make a complaint about possible potential drift, he or she can contact the Raleigh office or local North Carolina Department of Agricultural and Consumer Service pesticide inspector. For the name of the local inspector, call your local Cooperative Extension Service office. A list of these offices can be found at: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/counties/.

Pesticides will degrade with exposure to sunlight and rainfall. Therefore, if drift has occurred, it is important to have it investigated quickly.

For more information on the Enforcement Response Unit of the Pesticide Section of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services see http://www.ncagr.com/SPCAP/pesticides/Enforce.htm.

Environment FAQ's Home | Pesticides Used in Christmas Trees | Health Concerns about Pesticide Use
Pesticide Application | Environmental Impacts

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Prepared by Jill Sidebottom, Ph.D.
Area Extension Forestry Specialist, Mountain Conifer IPM
NCSU College of Natural Resources
NC Cooperative Extension Service

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Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research Drive
Mills River, NC 28759
Phone: 828.684.3562 ~ Fax: 828.684.8715
Email: jill_sidebottom@ncsu.edu

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Web Crafter: Anne S. Napier and Jill R. Sidebottom
Email: jill_sidebottom@ncsu.edu

Updated November, 2011