A group of students listens to a presentation from a graduate student in a greenhouse.

Pesticides

A pesticide is defined as any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest, or intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant or desiccant.

All university personnel (includes faculty members, staff members, students, and any other university- affiliated individuals) who label, store, use, transport, dispose of, or clean up spills of pesticides are responsible for adhering to federal and state regulations, as well as Cornell Health & Safety Policy 8.6.

It is essential that teaching, research, extension, exterior ground maintenance and structural pest control involving pesticide use be conducted properly and legally for the protection of the pesticide applicator, other employees, staff, students, public health, and the environment.

The responsibility for ensuring that all work with pesticides at Cornell is conducted properly and legally rests on the individual user.

Pesticides in the news

Important Information To Know

For more information about specific pesticides in the news, go to CALS OEH Pesticides page.

Learn more about specific pesticides
a corn field
Corn field at Musgrave Research Farm. Credit: Matt Hayes (CALS)

Outdoor Ornamental Plants & Turf Pesticides

Beginning December 31, 2024, Article 33 (ECL 33-1301(13)) prohibits the treatment of outdoor ornamental plants and turf with pesticide products containing clothianidin or dinotefuran and beginning December 31, 2026, this prohibition is further expanded to include pesticide products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, or acetamiprid.

To learn more, go to CALS OEH Specific Pesticides   

Dacthal

EPA Finalizes Cancellation of the Pesticide Dacthal

WASHINGTON – Today, Oct. 22, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the cancellation of all products containing the pesticide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

To learn more, go to CALS OEH Specific Pesticides 

Neonicotinoids

 "Birds and Bees" Act, Nation-Leading Legislation to Protect New Yorkers and Wildlife From Harmful Pesticides December 22, 2023, Albany, NY

Pesticide Certification

Cornell requires that all individuals handling pesticides as a part of university programs to be certified pesticide applicators.

Policies, Certification, and Regulations
Specific NYS Regulatory Requirements
Record Keeping and Reporting
Management and Environmental Protection
Health and Safety
Specific Pesticides
Transporting Pesticides

Pesticide Resources

Contact the Pesticides Office

Phone: 607-255-0485
Email: pesticides [at] cornell.edu (pesticides[at]cornell[dot]edu)