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Ranch Operations, Facilities & EquipmentChemical Storage Safety
Ranch chemicals protect crops, pastures and buildings, but stored poorly they can poison people, animals and feed. Safe storage is mostly about organization, labels and keeping everything locked up and away from cattle.
Key points
- Inventory every product and discard unknowns safely.
- Use a locked, dry, ventilated building away from feed and animals.
- Keep labels and safety data sheets handy.
- Follow label waiting periods before grazing or haying.
- Keep a spill kit and know your reporting rules.
Take inventory first
Make a list of every chemical on the place, including weed and brush products, insect control products, cleaners, paints, solvents, fertilizer and any leftovers in old barns. For each, note the name, the amount and the date you bought it. Anything unlabeled, leaking or no longer needed should be handled with care. Do not guess what is in an unmarked container.
Do the inventory with a second person. A fresh pair of eyes notices products you have stopped seeing, such as old drums or cans in the back corner of a shed.
Choose the right place
Store chemicals in a dedicated, dry, well-ventilated and lockable building or cabinet. Keep them away from feed, water, living areas and cattle. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Store them off the ground and away from sources of heat and flame. Do not store chemicals in a space where flooding could carry them into wells or water.
Keep a printed copy of the inventory away from the storage building, so fire responders know what is inside if there is ever an emergency.
Check storage after every storm or flood. Water can tip containers, weaken shelves and carry spilled product into places you do not expect.
- Lock the storage area
- Keep away from feed, seed and animal medicine
- Keep dry and ventilated
- Store liquids below dry products to limit drips
- Protect from freezing and extreme heat as the label directs
- Keep a clear list of contents on the outside of the door
Labels and safety data sheets
The label is the law for most chemical products. Read it for storage, handling and disposal. Keep products in their original containers with the label attached. Safety data sheets explain hazards and first aid steps, so keep a binder of them where people can reach it. If a label is damaged, do not use the product until you can confirm what it is. Never reuse chemical containers for food, drink or animal feed.
Teach hired hands to read the label before every use, not just the first time. Labels can change, and products with similar names can have very different instructions.
Protect people and animals
Wear the protective gear the label calls for. Wash hands and clothing after handling. Keep animals away from application areas and spills, and follow label waiting periods before grazing treated pastures. Treated pasture and hay can carry restrictions, so check the label before putting cattle on or cutting hay. Ask your extension office about restricted-use products, applicator licensing and training.
Keep a record of what you applied, where, when and the weather. Some quality assurance programs and buyers ask for this, and it helps if a question comes up later.
Spill and emergency planning
Keep absorbent material, gloves, a shovel, bags and a first-aid kit near the storage area. Post emergency numbers, including poison control and your local fire department. If a spill happens, keep people and animals away, ventilate if safe and stop the source. Contain the spill so it does not reach water. Report larger spills as your state requires. In case of exposure, follow first aid instructions on the label and seek medical help.
Practice the response with family and employees once a year, so everyone knows where the spill kit and the phone numbers are.
Disposal of leftovers and containers
Do not pour chemicals down drains, onto the ground or into ditches. Rinse and dispose of empty containers as the label says. Many areas run collection programs for unwanted pesticides and containers, so ask your extension office or state department of agriculture. Buy only what you need to reduce leftovers.
Keep a record of what you sent for disposal and when. Take unknown containers to a collection event instead of opening them to see what is inside.
Common mistakes
Frequent mistakes include storing chemicals near feed, using unmarked containers, leaving the storage unlocked, ignoring label waiting periods and having no spill kit. Another is mixing up animal health products with farm chemicals. Keep them in separate places and follow the label and your veterinarian's guidance for all animal products.
Review the storage area at least once a season, and remove anything expired, damaged or no longer used.
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.