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Show Check stored pesticides Are your leftover pesticides still potent? Duane Hatch, Utah State University extension horticulturist, says slack days of winter offer a good time to check the agricultural chemicals in your storage. Dispose of those that are too old to be effective ef-fective for use on your garden or farm. Realize that shelf life will be longer for most products stored at cool temperatures not lower than 40 degrees F. The wettable powders and dusts can stand freezing, but may decompose at high temperatures. Some liquids are resistant to freezing. Some, such as Roundup, are not. Note the label for cautions on freezing, Hatch advised. ad-vised. He says that even when different pesticides are stored under ideal conditions, con-ditions, their effective life varies. For example, once the bottle of Malathion has been opened, you shouldn't expect it to maintain its effectiveness more than two years. Orthene has two to three years of storage life. Diazinon and Sevin will last from four to five years. Roundup weed killer that has not been allowed to freeze should be stable for at least two years. Most lawn weed sprays will last four to five years. Fungicides such as Benlate have a shelf life of about two years when kept tightly closed and dry. Captain should last at least three years if stored under cool and dry conditions. Hatch reminds that all pesticides should be kept in the original labeled container and stored in an area that is not accessible to children. He advises a location that can be locked and where extreme hot or cold temperatures can be avoided. Because of storage and disposal problems, Hatch advises preparing only enough pesticides, when they're being used, to do the current job. He emphasizes, do not dispose of any extra mix sprays or the unwanted concentrate materials by dumping in street drains or flushing into the sewer. He advises homeowners not to bury containers or contents in their yards. Rather, wrap the homeowner sizes of unwanted chemicals in several thicknesses of newspaper, tie securely and put in the normal garbage disposal. Avoid contaminating con-taminating waterways with pesticide chemicals. |