Winter is a good time for indoor activities. For many people the most enjoyable indoor activities include watching football and basketball games. There are constructive things you can do as well.

One of the best ways to use your time inside, while the weather is too bad for outdoor activities, is to plan for the coming year. Many homeowners like to browse seed and flower catalogs to choose the best vegetables and flowers to plant in the garden and yard once spring arrives. Farmers spend their time studying soil sample reports to determine the amount of fertilizer and lime to apply to each field and studying the information they have accumulated to determine the varieties of seed they will plant and which pesticides they will use.

It is always wise to devote considerable time to selecting the various items that will be purchased during the coming months. The proper selection of plants, fertilizers, liming materials, and pesticides can save considerable money and can also prevent many problems later.

Residents of North Carolina are very fortunate that they can rely on the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service (NCDA&CS) to regulate and monitor the sale of these products. All seeds, fertilizers, liming materials, and pesticides must be registered with NCDA&CS before they can be sold in North Carolina.

The primary reason for requiring these products to be registered is to ensure the public that they are actually getting what they pay for. Some of the products must be tested to make sure they contain what the manufacturers advertise, while other products must pass certain standards that are established either by NCDA&CS or specialists from the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. It is illegal for anyone to sell these type products in North Carolina without first having them registered.

If products are offered as fertilizers, they list the amount of each nutrient in percentages. Those selling these products must submit samples for testing, and these samples must contain at least the amount listed. These products are then sampled randomly to make sure the manufacturer is providing what they advertise.

Products offered as liming materials must be registered as well. If they are substitutes for agricultural lime, they must list the lime equivalency - how they compare to actual lime. With this information, it is easy to determine just how much of the material should be applied to get the same effect as applying lime.

Seeds are regulated for several reasons. They must be the variety that is advertised, the percentage of germination that can be expected must be indicated, and the amount of other seeds in the bag must be indicated. This is especially beneficial for homeowners purchasing lawn seeds. It is frustrating to go to the trouble and expense to plant a lawn, only to find that the bag of seed that was purchased contained a lot of weed seeds or other lawn seeds that were not wanted.

Pesticides are labeled and registered for a variety of reasons as well. The primary reason is for safety. Certain products are extremely toxic and, if used improperly, can cause serious problems for the user or for the environment. The other reason is for effectiveness. It is important for the consumer to know that the product will control the pest that is intended.

Whether you are a homeowner or a farmer, I would encourage you to pay special attention to the products you will be purchasing this spring. During tight economic times, it is easy to be caught in the trap of trying to save a few dollars. It is frustrating to find out later that the products you purchased are not what you thought they were or did not perform as you were told they would.

It is a good idea to gather as much information as possible about any product before purchasing it. Do not rely on testimonials of other people who may be provided by the person selling it or on outdated or vague research results from other regions of the country.

If you are considering a new product that you have never used before, I would encourage you to call your Extension agent at 910-671-3276 to find out as much information about the product as possible. The agent can probably tell you if the product is reliable and can probably also tell you how the product may respond if used. If there are certain precautions about the product or questions about its performance, the agent will share that as well.

Use your spare time wisely this winter. Do your research and make sure you get what you pay for.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 12/18/01