Pesticides Essay

The term pesticide covers a wide range of compounds including insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, molluscicides, nematicides, plant growth regulators and others. Among these, organochlorine insecticides, used successfully in controlling a number of diseases, such as malaria and typhus, were banned or restricted after the 1960s in most of the technologically advanced countries.

When spraying pesticides on fields, farmers must pay attention to label readings. Such as the amount that can be sprayed on the crop and how long to wait before you can harvest your crop. Pesticides have active and inert ingredients. Active ingredients are all the chemicals in the pesticides that repels or kills the specific pest on your crop. Inert

The EPA closely monitors the levels of residue that is left on the meats and crop to ensure the safety of the public. The FDA and USDA also keep close eye on residue that may be left behind be performing their own tests.

There are many categories of pesticides such as, insecticides, nematicides, molluscicides, herbicides and fungicides. These all attack different types of pests that can cause havoc in commercial farmers fields, personal greenhouses and home gardens.

Insecticides are specifically designed to kill insects on crop. Such as Ear Worms on an ear of corn. But most insecticides are specifically designed to target eggs and larvae of insects. Insecticides aren’t only used in agriculture though. They have been used for medicinal purpose as well.

Nematicides are a pesticide that is used to kill nematode worms, which are tiny microscopic parasitic worms that live in soil or water. They only feed on living material such as your crop in your fields. They can even cause trouble in small greenhouse gardens.

Molluscicides are a pesticide that kill mollusks such as Snails and Slugs. They are only generally used in large scale agricultural operations but can be used for personal and commercial