Media contact:
Misti Preston
Phone: (573) 751-8596
Misti.Preston@mda.mo.gov

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2008

Department of Agriculture Reminds Producers to Follow Pesticide Label Requirements

(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) – The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding producers and pesticide applicators to correctly follow label requirements when applying pesticides to crops. The reminder follows a recent Kansas Department of Agriculture release of embargoed wheat after tests confirmed that fungicide residues were within tolerances established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"We want to remind our growers of the importance of following pre-harvest intervals and all label instructions when using fungicides and all other pesticides," said Judy Grundler, division director of the Plant Industries Division. "Though we have no reports of this problem in Missouri, we will continue to monitor the situation and be prepared to enforce pesticide label restrictions if the need arises."

The situation in Kansas resulted from apparent late applications of fungicides to wheat. The pesticide labels of the products in question required a 45-day waiting period between application and harvest (pre-harvest interval).

The Bureau of Pesticide Control at MDA monitors the sale and use of pesticides, a vital part of agricultural production in the state. The bureau also inspects applicator use records, dealer sales records, registers pesticides and works to promote best management practices for pesticide use.

Producers or applicators with questions regarding the use of any pesticide can contact the MDA Pesticide Program at (573) 751-5504.

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