Typically, herbicide use is fairly limited in well-established bioenergy crops such as perennial grasses. These high yielding crops may receive casual maintenance applications of herbicide for specific weed problems since the dense canopy has a tendency to crowd out most weed competition. Nevertheless, the crop establishment years are particularly vulnerable to weed pressure which can lead to significant yield reductions or complete stand failure. Perennial grasses as well as annual crops require an aggressive weed control program during establishment to ensure successful growth.
Ensuring the health of Genera Energy’s crops is high on our priority list, but as with all of our operations, the health of our people takes precedence. To ensure that chemicals are applied and handled appropriately, we perform safety training and hazard assessments with the on-farm operator. This involves thoroughly covering each individual herbicide’s labeled safety precautions and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). This not only includes our own employees, but the individuals that operate as contractors in our spraying operations as well.
Some of the general topics covered are:
- Identifying herbicides that are considered restricted-use herbicides
- Ensuring herbcides are labeled for the crop and location being treated
- PPE requirement such as long sleeves, rubber gloves, safety glasses, etc.
- Appropriate application rates and tank mixes
- Being aware of spray drifts or dust
- Ensuring that no one is outside the confines of the tractor cab or in the general vicinity when spraying
- Safe methods of handling herbicides, e.g. make certain that hands are thoroughly washed prior to eating or drinking
- Triple rinsing containers prior to disposal
- Detailed safety plans if contamination or exposure occurs (each herbicides label and MSDS should have specific instruction for skin exposure, eye exposure, and ingestion)
- Reminder of where the MSDS folder is located in the event of an incident
- Contact information for the Poison Control Center
This list is in no way exhaustive, but is a necessary starting point to begin the conversation about how applying and handling chemicals fits into your biomass supply chain’s safety plan.
By Lance Stewart, Supply Chain Manager
