This section refers to crop protection materials, including insecticides, fungicides, & herbicides if and when used.
Water used to mix crop protection materials must meet water microbial quality requirements outlined in 2.04 Irrigation and Water Use and follow the label's direction for its intended use. This applies to water used by custom applicators.
Application of agricultural inputs will be performed only by a trained, licensed or certified application personnel, as required by prevailing regulations. Certificates of training shall be on file in JAS Family Farms food safety documentation. If private applicators are used, then a copy of their license shall be maintained on file.
Use of agricultural inputs shall comply with label directions and prevailing regulation, including application rates, workers protection standards, reentry times, personal protection equipment, container disposal, storage, and all requirements specified for the chemical compound.
All applications shall be documented for both organic and food safety requirements, and also local County Requirements. Application records should identify, Date and time of application, rate/quantity used, location, crop applied to, method of application, manufacturer, product name and EPA #, applicator name and pre-harvest interval.
For any plant protections material applied that requires an Operator ID, a Pesticide Use Report must be submitted to the appropriate county Agricultural Commissioner's Office by the 10th of the month following pesticide use. Copies of the use report shall be maintained with JAS Family Farm Records. PURs can also be submitted online via CALAgPermits.
All crop protection product labels shall be maintained on file in the office. The label must show proof of product EPA registration for use in the United States and all use permissions and restrictions.
If any crop protection product is stored on the ranch, it should be stored securely, with lock, and in an area separate from plant materials and packaging materials. Empty containers should not be stored on the ranch. If empty the following policies must be adhered to:
All equipment used to apply crop protection materials shall be rinsed and cleaned following use. Procedures shall refer to label instructions
Prior to disposing of empty agriculture chemical/ plant protections container, the container must be rinsed 3 times with water and completely dry, and follow label directions for disposal. To dry, puncture holes in the container to allow all the water to drain out. Priority should be made to recycle the containers. Contact the local Agricultural Commissioner's Office for Collection and Recycling Procedures.
If any equipment owned and managed by JAS Family Farm in used to apply crop protection products, it should be calibrated at least once annually.