Virginians who use pesticides have a new resource in their corner. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a new website called "Virginia Pesticide Safety," that is aimed at providing one-stop shopping for information on safe and effective use of pesticides.
The site is designed for multiple audiences, including consumers, pest management professionals, farmers, gardeners, golf course operators and others.
"If you've ever applied a pesticide to your lawn to kill weeds or insects without reading the label first," says Matt Lohr, VDACS Commissioner, "this site is for you. One of the things you will learn is that the 'label is the law.' And that's not just for professionals, grounds keepers or farmers. It applies to the average consumer, too."
New VDACS Pesticide Safety Page
The site came about when staffers in VDACS' Office of Pesticide Services realized that a lot of misinformation is spread about pesticides and their uses. The homepage headlines news regarding pesticides, features videos, and has tabs for entry to sections geared toward homeowners, industry and children. Kids can learn about everything from fire ants to mosquitoes with coloring sheets, online activities and informational pages. The section for homeowners explains how Integrated Pest Management can cut down on pesticide use in the home and gives advice on hiring a pest control firm and choosing the proper pesticides. The industry section includes information about certification, licensing, training, laws pertaining to pesticide use and more.
"I encourage Virginians of every age to go to vapesticidesafety.com to learn how to be responsible stewards of our land and water resources," says Lohr. "This site is a true one-stop educational venue for all things related to pesticide use in Virginia and we hope people will bookmark it for times when they have questions and need ready answers."
The site not only offers information and educational resources but also features links where even more information can be gathered.
Visit the site at www.vapesticidesafety.com