EXTENSION BULLETIN: SAFE APPLICATION OF COPPER FUNGICIDES
Issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, June 2026.
Copper-based sprays are widely used organic treatments for blight and mold. However, chronic application can build toxic soil copper levels.
Safety Guidelines:
1. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE): chemical-resistant gloves, protective goggles, and a particulate mask.
2. Spray only during low-wind windows (<5 mph) to prevent atmospheric drift onto neighboring sensitive crops.
3. Do not apply within 24 hours of forecasted heavy rainfall to minimize chemical runoff into local watersheds.
4. Rotate with microbial sprays like Bt to suppress pest immunity.
