Introduction to Worker Protection Standard
Katelyn Miller, Field Crops and Forage Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a regulation originally issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992. It covers pesticides used in the production of agricultural plants on farms, forests, nurseries, and greenhouses. The WPS requires employers (agricultural and commercial pesticide handlers) to provide specific information and protections to workers, handlers, and other persons when WPS labeled pesticide products are used in the production of agricultural plants. It's intended to reduce the risk of injury and illness resulting from pesticide exposures on agricultural establishments.
Based on the WPS How to Comply Manual, the WPS applies to you if:
Knowing if you fall under WPS is important, but there are also some definitions that are crucial to understanding when it applies.
Agricultural Plants are plants grown and maintained for commercial or research purposes. Examples include food, feed, fiber plants, seedlings, tress, etcetera.
A worker is anyone who is employed for compensation (including self-employed) and performs tasks like harvesting, pruning, weeding, or watering in the production of agricultural plants.
A handler is anyone who is employed for compensation (including self-employed). They perform tasks such as mixing, loading, or applying pesticides; assisting in pesticide applications; cleaning, repairing, or adjusting spray equipment, or acting as a flagger. A person is not a handler if they only handle pesticide containers that have never been opened or have been emptied and cleaned according to instructions on the pesticide product labeling.
A crop advisor is any person who assesses pest numbers, damage, pesticide distribution, or the status or requirements of agricultural plants.
Other Persons include nonworkers, family members, customers, government officials, and any bystanders.
To determine if you fall under the Worker Protection Standard, or need more information on how to comply, check out the WPS How to Comply Manual at https://www.pesticideresources.org/migrated/wps/htc/htcmanual.pdf, or contact your local DEC office.
DEC Region 8 Regional Headquarters in Avon: 585-226-2466
DEC Region 9 Regional Headquarters in Buffalo: 716-851-7200
WPS How to Comply Manual (pdf; 2415KB)
Field Crops
Dairy
Business
Livestock
Grains
Upcoming Events
Southern Tier Crop Congress
January 28, 2026 : Southern Tier Crop Congress
Belfast, NY
Join SWNYDLFC and CCE Allegany County for the upcoming Southern Tier Crop Congress. CCA, DEC and PA applicator credits are available!
Northeast Grazing and Livestock Conference
January 30 - January 31, 2026 : Northeast Grazing and Livestock Conference
Manchester, NH
100% VIRTUAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE! This is the largest conference of its kind in New England and New York, bringing together over 300 farmers, graziers, educators, and service providers from across the Northeast. Over two days, we'll take a deep dive into topics specific to raising pasture-based livestock in our region
Boots in the Barn: Cornell Dairy Research Updates
January 13, 2026
January 20, 2026
January 27, 2026
February 3, 2026
February 10, 2026
February 17, 2026
February 24, 2026
Join us for some or all!
Announcements
Cows, Crops & Critters Newsletter Sponsorship
TRYING TO REACH GROWERS AND AGRIBUSINESSES IN OUR SOUTHWEST REGION OF NEW YORK?Weekly Email Update: Shared with 625+ households who have signed up with our program.
Monthly Paper Mailer: To reach our stakeholders and farmers who lack internet access, we send out a monthly mailer where your company's logo and contact information would be featured with a mailing list of 330+ households.
If you sponsor our weekly and monthly publications you reach approximately 955 households.