A Fresh Take on Farm Safety
Syngenta partnerships encourage education for growers, applicators and even kids.
June is National Safety Month — an annual observance sponsored by the National Safety Council to remind all of us to stay safe in the workplace and in our daily lives.
When it comes to safety, Syngenta focuses on the proper use of its products, according to Caydee Savinelli, Ph.D., the U.S. stewardship team and pollinator lead at Syngenta. Numerous educational opportunities are available to help users learn about product safety.
Online Trainings Ensure Compliance
Syngenta provides webinars to help fulfill the paraquat training requirements put forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “For paraquat users, EPA requires training every three years. Each state tracks the trainings to make sure users are in compliance,” Savinelli says. “Syngenta conducts atrazine training with farmers as well to ensure that the product stays on the field and does not reach waterways. We also support the Growing Matters’ BeSure! campaign for the proper use of neonicotinoids.”
Additionally, the stewardship team works with university pesticide safety education programs, supports the National Pesticide Safety Education Center, participates in the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators, and helps county extension agents.
“Each of these groups provides important pesticide safety education to farmers, applicators and other users,” Savinelli says. “Without this infrastructure, it would not be possible to reach all of the people who use our products.”
Correct Product Disposal Enhances Farm Safety
While using products safely is critical, properly disposing of containers following use is also important. Through its decades-long collaboration with the Ag Container Recycling Council (the Council), Syngenta is helping customers do just that.
According to Scott Birchfield, manager of environmental stewardship and emergency response at Syngenta, the goal of the partnership with the Council is to help customers properly dispose of product containers while keeping their properties, workspaces and the environment safe.
“With the recent focus and deeper understanding of the environmental impacts of plastic pollution, many companies are looking for solutions to reduce their environmental footprint,” Birchfield says. “Syngenta has been on the forefront of this effort for over 20 years.”
Syngenta recognizes the importance of sustainability and is committed to providing customers with simple ways to contribute to a healthier environment. From proper application to mindful disposal, Syngenta encourages all customers to participate in environmental stewardship.
“Because this program is free, participation is easy and helps customers achieve their environmental goals,” Birchfield says. “We all want to do everything we can to help ensure our environmental footprint is as small as possible.”
Farm Kids Get Specialized Trainings
As part of its commitment to farm safety, Syngenta also supports the work of Progressive Agriculture Foundation®, whose mission is to help keep farm children safe. Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® is recognized as the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America.
Progressive Agriculture Safety Day provides age-appropriate, hands-on educational lessons primarily designed for children ages 4 to 13 years old. Since the program’s inception in 1995, it has reached more than 2 million individuals in 45 states, two U.S. territories and nine Canadian provinces.
Farming is a serious profession with numerous safety considerations. Syngenta is committed to collaboration, education and stewardship practices to help keep everyone safe, both during National Safety Month and all year long.
- June is National Safety Month, commemorated by a reminder to always stay safe in the workplace.
- Package recycling programs make a difference in environmental safety.
- Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® provides age-appropriate, hands-on education for kids growing up on farms.
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