Download Safe Mixing of Pesticides

Formulations
Reeves Petroff
Pesticide Education & Safety Program
Montana State University Cooperative
Extension Service
General and Restricted Use Pesticides
GENERAL-USE PESTICIDES
• Less likely to harm the user or the environment when
used according label instructions.
• No certification required!
• 2,4-D, Banvel , Clarity , Weed Master , Escort ,
Curtail .
RESTRICTED-USE PESTICIDES (RUP)
• Can harm the environment
used as directed.
or
the
applicator
when
not
• Certification Required
• Tordon 22K, Hoelon 3EC, Furadan, Warrior, Phostoxin
Mustang 
WHAT’S A FORMULATION?
How the pesticide is
packaged.
One pesticide = many forms.
COMMON EXAMPLE
POWDERED - DRY
SOAP
LIQUID
A PESTICIDE FORMULATION IS MADE UP OF
ONE OR MORE CHEMICALS:
Active Ingredients – a.i.
Part of the formulation that kills the pest
Active Ingredient
Tordon 22K
Inert Ingredients
Make the formulation
easier to handle or store.
Inert Ingredient
Examples: talc and clay for dry formulations.
Alcohols, solvents and antifreeze for liquid
formulations
Say What?
DRY
FORMULATIONS
•
•
•
•
WP – Wettable powder
P or G – Pellets or Granule
D – Dusts
DF – Dry Flowable
• WSB or WSP – Water Dispersable Bag or
Water Soluble Packet
• WDG – Water Dispersable Granule
Dry Formulations
• Inhalation hazard.
• Abrasive to equipment.
• Usually need to premix in water first.
G and P formulations?
• Easier on non-target, non-crop plants
• Easier to store
COMMONLY USED LIQUID
FORMULATIONS
• EC –emulsifiable concentrate
• S - soluble
EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC)
Liquid formulation containing: the active
ingredient, one or more solvents and an
emulsifier to aid in mixing with water.
Examples:
2,4-D ester
Curtail M ,
Treflan EC 
Fargo EC .
EMULSIFIABLE CONCENTRATES (EC)
ADVANTAGES
 Little agitation required. Won’t settle out when equipment is
turned off.
 Relatively non-abrasive.
 Easy to handle, store and transport
DISADVANTAGES
 Hard on non-target plants and animals.
 Easily absorbed through skin of plants & humans.
 Rubber or plastic hoses & gaskets may deteriorate.
SOLUBLE (S)
A liquid formulation in which the active
ingredient readily dissolves in water. Consists
of the active ingredient and additives.
Examples
Tordon 22K 
Krenite S 
Roundup 
Many 2,4-D products
Liquids
& MIXING
HOW can you
limit 90% of your
exposure?
Other Considerations for Liquid
Formulations
More inert ingredients may damage
non-target plants, insects or
animals.
-- Storage considerations -Containers may leak.
Formulations may freeze