Other Programs
CEPEP has partnered with the programs below to provide more information on human health safety and environmental protection. Please refer to the following programs on this page for more information on:
Colorado Department of Agriculture
The Colorado Department of Agriculture has the following responsibilities when it comes to pesticide regulations:
- To regulate pesticide distribution and use to prevent adverse effects on individuals and the environment
- To inspect the sales of restricted use pesticides (RUPs)
- To inspect the use, storage and disposal of pesticides and certain devices for pesticide application
File Pesticide Drift or Misuse Complaint
To file a pesticide draft or misuse complaint you can contact CDA’s Pesticide Enforcement or fill out this form and mail:
Matthew Lopez
Pesticide Enforcement Division
305 Interlocken Parkway
Broomfield, CO 80021
CDA Pesticides Program
Check out the CDA website for information on the regulation pesticide distribution and use in the state, including the sale of restricted use pesticides (RUPs) and the use, storage, and disposal of pesticides and related devices.
Pesticides Registered in Colorado
Check one of the following lists if your intended pesticides are Restricted Use Products (RUPs) to determine if a specific pesticide applicator license is required in your area:
Pesticide Residue Labs
Check out the following resources for more information if you have soil, water, and/or plant samples that need to be tested for pesticide residue:
CSU Extension Water Quality Programs
Water quality protection is an important responsibility of any pesticide applicator, private, public, or commercial. Colorado State University’s Water Quality Programs has many resources to help you protect water from agricultural chemicals, including links, presentations, and publications.
Agriculture Chemicals and Ground Water Protection Report
The Colorado Water Resources Research Institute. Summarizes the first 15 years of the Agricultural Chemicals and Groundwater Protection Act and provides an overview of activities and monitoring data.
Agricultural Chemicals and GroundWater Protection Program Water Quality Database System
The database represents all groundwater quality data collected by this program since monitoring began in 1992. It provides groundwater quality monitoring results by year and geographic location for pesticides and inorganic compounds including nitrate–nitrogen.
Best Management Practices for Agricultural Pesticide Use to Protect Water Quality
Colorado State University’s Extension addresses Best Management Practices for preventing non-point source contamination of water resources by agricultural pesticides.
CSU Extension IPM Programs
Colorado State University’s Integrated Pest Management Center aims to advance the knowledge and adoption of IPM enhanced coordination and responsiveness of IPM research, and increased availability of safe, affordable, and high-quality crops to consumers. The Center’s website contains resources on identifying pests, pest trapping, and plant diagnostics
Pollinator Protection
Pesticides are an important part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan. The areas treated are often shared by pollinators like bees, butterflies, wasps, and some birds and bats. Pollinators are essential in the survival and propagation of many flowering plants both in farms and on the urban landscape.
How to Reduce Pesticide Risk for Honey Bees
- Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM includes a combination of cultural, mechanical, biological organisms and pesticides. If pests cannot be managed by a combination of IPM strategies, a pesticide application may be necessary.
- Follow the pesticide label. Many labels contain bee hazard statements under the “Precautionary Statements”.
- Communicate with beekeepers near sites that require pesticide application. FieldWatch/DriftWatch are useful tools to help identify hive locations.
- Register for FieldWatch to locate hives.
- Know if there is an established RT25 for the pesticide you want to use. This is the residual time for 25% mortality of a hive based on a foliar application. It is assumed that if no more than 25% of the hive is affected, the hive will recover. More information and the data available for active ingredients can be found HERE.
Resources
Check out these resources to learn more about pollinators and how to protect them from the effects of pesticides:
- Protecting Bees and Pollinators – AmericanHort
- Managing Alternative Pollinators – Western SARE
- Colorado IHM Book, 2nd edition – CSU Extension
- The Complex Life of the Honey Bee – Purdue Pesticide Program
- Protecting Bees: Find Pollinator Attractive Plants – Colorado Native Plant Society (CNPS)
- Native Bee Watch: A Colorado Citizen Science Field Guide – Citizen Science
- Protecting Pollinators – Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA)
- Pollinators and Pesticide Stewardship – Weld County
- Honey Bees and Colony Collapse Disorder – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- USDA Honey Production Report
- Colorado Pollinator Workgroup
Educational Resources for GMO Information
GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, have been developed with genetic engineering. Humans have been making changes to plant and animal DNA for thousands of years. Currently, there are 11 GMO crops available in the U.S.
To find out more information on GMOs, head to GMO Answers where you can find information about how GMOs are made, why farmers plant GMOs, how they are regulated, as well as information about their health and safety.
Controversies in GMOs
While GMOs have shown promise in addressing various agricultural challenges, they are not without controversy. Concerns about the environmental impact, potential health risks, and ethical considerations have sparked debates. Some argue that rigorous testing and regulatory oversight are necessary to ensure the safety of GMOs for both humans and the ecosystem. Proponents emphasize the potential benefits, including increased crop yields, reduced reliance on chemical inputs, and the ability to combat hunger and malnutrition on a global scale. As discussions around GMOs continue, finding a balance between innovation and responsible use remains a crucial aspect of shaping the future of agriculture.
Fact Sheets
Resources
Check out these resources to read more about GMOs:
- Genetic Literacy Project: GMO FAQ – Frequently asked questions about agricultural biotechnology
- Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects – The National Academies Press
- GENetic Engineering Risk Atlas (GENERA) – Searchable database of peer-reviewed research on the relative risks of GMO crops
- Best Food Facts – Scientific Experts provide food facts
Colorado Poison Center and Pesticide Exposure
Time is critical with any pesticide poisoning! Get immediate help from a:
- a local hospital;
- a physician; or
- poison control center
1-800-222-1222
If you believe you have been poisoned or injured by pesticides on an agricultural establishment covered under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS), your employer must:
- Make transportation available from the job site to a medical care facility.
- Provide information about the pesticide to which you may have been exposed
First Aid for Pesticide Exposure
Swallowed poison.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222)
- Induce vomiting ONLY if emergency personnel on the phone or label tells you to do so.
- Some petroleum products or caustic poisons will cause more damage if the person is made to vomit.
Pesticides in eye:
- Hold the eyelid open and wash quickly and gently with clean running water from the tap or a designated eye wash station for at least st 15 minutes.
- If possible, have someone else contact a Poison Control Center for you while the victim is being treated.
- DO NOT use eye drops or medications in the wash water.
Dermal absorption:
- If pesticide contact skin, drench area with water and remove contaminated clothing.
- Wash affected area thoroughly with soap and water.
- Discard contaminated clothing or thoroughly wash it separately from other laundry THREE TIMES!
Inhaled pesticides.
- Bring victim to fresh air immediately.
- Loosen victim’s tight clothing.
- If the victim has stopped breathing, give artificial respiration (if you know how) and 911.
- Open doors and windows.
Mr. Yuk
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Use Mr. Yuk to help show others how to avoid pesticide poisonings. Mr. Yuk can be used by many different people in both the home and the workplace: parents, grandparents, hospitals, daycare center, after-school programs, and senior centers. To order two free sheets of Mr. Yuk® stickers (10 stickers per sheet), simply send a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope to: Pittsburgh Poison Center |
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