Considerations for On-Farm Fertilizer and Pesticide Storage

Growers storing large amounts of fertilizer on-farm may fall under storage regulations.

High N fertilizer prices may persuade some growers to buy liquid or dry fertilizer products in bulk and store on-farm until they are ready to apply them. Other growers may be storing fertilizer on-farm due to the size of their operation or custom work they perform. Regardless of the reason, growers choosing to store large amounts of fertilizer need to be aware that their activity may be regulated by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) under the Agricultural Chemicals and Groundwater Protection Act. This law requires storage facilities and mixing and loading areas for fertilizers and pesticides when they are stored and handled in quantities that exceed set minimum thresholds. The rules also establish performance standards for the construction and operation of secondary containment of bulk liquid fertilizer and pesticide storage facilities; fertilizer and pesticide mixing and loading areas; and bulk dry fertilizer and pesticide storage.

The purpose of these rules is to prevent spills and leaks that may occur during the storage and mixing and loading of agricultural chemicals from contaminating groundwater. These rules and regulations apply to all operating bulk agricultural chemical storage and mixing/loading facilities, commercial or private that exceed the set minimum thresholds.
Answer the following questions to determine if these regulations apply to your operation.

1. Do you store liquid fertilizer in a container or series of interconnected containers with a capacity of greater than 5,000 gallons for a period of 30 consecutive days or more?
2. Do you store bulk (containers larger than 100 pounds) dry fertilizer in quantities of 55,000 pounds or more for a period of 30 consecutive days or more?

Field mixing and loading of fertilizers is exempt.

Pesticides
Secondary Containment

1. Do you store pesticides in containers larger than 55 gallons for liquid pesticides or 100 pounds for dry pesticides for more than 15 consecutive days?
   
   If you answered no to question 1, secondary containment is not required, skip questions 2 and 3.



2. Do you store pesticides in containers larger than 55 gallons that are not Department of Transportation (DOT) 57 or MACA 75 approved?
3. Do you store pesticides in containers larger than 660 gallons?

If you answered yes to either question 2 or 3, secondary containment and a mixing and loading pad is required.

Mixing and Loading Pads

1. Do you mix and load at one site annually (any site within 300 feet of another site is considered one site for these regulations) more than:

   a. 500 gallons of liquid formulated product (concentrate as it comes from the supplier), OR
   b. 3000 pounds of dry formulated product, OR
   c. 1500 pounds of active ingredient of a combination of liquid and dry product?

Field mixing and loading of pesticides is exempt.

Regardless of whether you fall under these regulations, growers should consider implementing certain minimum standards for the storage and handling of agricultural chemicals for security reasons and water quality protection. These include: keeping separate, weather proof, secured storage areas for fertilizers and pesticides; having secondary containment in place for stored products; and using a mixing and loading area that won’t impact water resources. Best Management Practices for Pesticide and Fertilizer Storage and Handling, XCM-178 (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/CROPS/xcm178.pdf) is a good resource for assessing your storage situation.

If you have any questions regarding on-farm storage, please call Rob Wawrzynski with the CDA’s Groundwater Protection Program at (970) 223–7017. The CDA web site (www.ag.state.co.us) also contains information regarding these rules and regulations.

by Rob Wawrzynski
Groundwater Protection Coordinator
Colorado Department of Agriculture