A new registry is available for Pennsylvania producers to prevent pesticide use from affecting their land and farms. 

"While pesticide applicators are about protecting against drift, it can at times be an unavoidable threat," says Russell Redding, state secretary of agriculture. "FieldWatch will give users the tools they need to proactively safeguard their surroundings and provide for enhanced outreach amongst Pennsylvanians and their neighbors."

FieldWatch is a free, voluntary program that allows participants to register their land to protect it from chemical drift, which can affect organic production, herbicide-sensitive crops and pollinator protection efforts.

The program encourages communication between crop producers who grow pesticide-sensitive crops, beekeepers and pesticide applicators, and will allow them to map fields or pollinator gardens using a software program. Pesticide and herbicide applicators can also notify growers and beekeepers of spray applications through the program.

Currently, under state law, businesses such as apiaries, pesticide applicators and plant merchants must register with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. FieldWatch was endorsed by the Pennsylvania Pesticide Advisory Board for use in Pennsylvania. It is currently used in 22 states and provinces, providing a consistent registry for pesticide applicators across multiple states.

For more information, go to fieldwatch.com.

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.