Reading an agricultural chemical label — six things to check before you open the cap

Many farmers buy products on the shop's recommendation and mix them the way they always have, without ever reading the label to the end. The problem is that a label is not an advertisement but a document registered with the government. Every line in it has legal effect and affects the safety of the people in your household.

Six things to find every time

1. The common name of the active ingredient

The big name on the bottle is the trade name, which can change at any time. The name to remember is the common name printed in smaller type, together with the percentage concentration. Two bottles of different brands with the same common name are the same substance, so buying both and alternating between them does nothing at all for resistance.

2. The registered crops

The label states which crops the product is permitted for. Using it on a crop not on the list does not only risk damaging the crop; it also leaves residues in that produce for which there is no set limit, which is an immediate problem if it is sampled for testing.

3. The application rate

This number comes from trial results, not an estimate. Using less than stated breeds resistant pests. Using more than stated adds residue without improving results.

4. The pre-harvest interval

The number of days you must leave between the last spraying and harvest. This number decides whether your produce sells or is rejected.

5. Warnings and protective equipment

It states what you must wear when mixing and when spraying, which are often not the same. Mixing is more dangerous because you handle the concentrated product.

6. First aid instructions

This section is written to be read in normal times, not during an emergency, because during an emergency there will be no time to read it.

Always keep the label

When you have to take someone to hospital, what the doctor needs most is the label or container, not a description like "the big bottle of blue stuff". Taking a photo of the label on your phone on the day you buy it takes ten seconds and is worth a great deal on the day you need it.

What the label does not tell you

The label tells you how to use the product safely, but not whether your field should use it. That decision depends on the pests actually found, the crop's growth stage and the field's history of chemical use, which is something to discuss with someone who looks at the actual field.
Important note
This article explains general safety principles. It is not a recommendation to use any particular chemical. Mixing rates, the crops a product may be used on and the waiting periods required differ by product and change with government notifications. Always treat the product label as the authority, and consult an agricultural specialist or our staff before deciding to use it.