Which chemicals are on a typical small farm?
Most homesteads have more chemicals than their owners realize: fuel, motor oil, solvents, cleaners, paints, wood preservatives, disinfectants for barns and equipment, pesticides, fertilizers, pool chemicals and animal health products. Each has its own hazards, including fire, burns, fumes and poisoning.
Begin with a walk around buildings, sheds, vehicles and the house. Write an inventory of what you have, where it is and how old it is. This list helps you plan storage and gives responders helpful information if something goes wrong.
Children and visitors add another layer. Anything that looks like a drink, candy or paint to a child can be poisonous, so the inventory should include products stored in garages, kitchens and under sinks, not only in barns.
How do labels and safety data sheets help me?
The label is the first source of information. It tells you what the product is, how to use it, what protective gear is called for and what to do in an emergency. For pesticides, following the label is a legal requirement as well as a safety measure.
Safety data sheets provide more detail about hazards, first aid, spill response and storage. Many manufacturers post them online, and a store that sells the product can usually provide one. Keep them in a binder in a place everyone knows about.
- Read the whole label before every use
- Keep chemicals in their original containers
- Keep a binder of safety data sheets
- Never mix products unless the label says you can
How should chemicals be stored?
Store chemicals in a dry, cool, well-ventilated place that can be locked, away from living areas, animal feed, food and water sources. Keep them out of the reach of children and pets. Separate products that should not be stored together, such as fuels and oxidizers, and read the label for specific advice.
Use sturdy shelves with lips, keep liquids on lower shelves and put containers in trays that would catch a leak. Never put chemicals into food or drink containers, because someone will eventually mistake them for something safe.
What protective equipment do I need?
The label or safety data sheet will name the gear for each product, which may include chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, long sleeves, boots, an apron or a respirator. Ordinary garden gloves and dust masks may not protect you from many chemicals.
A respirator only protects when it is the right type and fits properly. Ask your extension office, your supplier or an occupational health professional about proper selection and fit testing before relying on one.
What do I do about spills and leaks?
Plan ahead. Know where your spill supplies are and read the product's spill instructions before an accident. Keep people and animals away, ventilate the area if it is safe to do so and stay out of fumes. Do not wash a spill down a drain, into a ditch or toward a well or pond.
For anything large, unknown or dangerous, call your fire department or emergency services. Ask your local environmental agency or extension office how to dispose of leftover products and contaminated materials, since rules vary by state and county.
Keep a small spill kit with absorbent material, heavy bags, gloves and goggles in the area where you store chemicals, and check it each season so you know it is stocked and the gear still fits.
What if someone is exposed or poisoned?
Move the person to fresh air, remove contaminated clothing and follow the first aid directions on the label. Call emergency services or a poison control center right away and have the product container or label with you so you can read the name and ingredients.
Do not induce vomiting or give anything by mouth unless a poison professional tells you to. Take the container to the hospital if you go. The same steps apply to animals, so call your veterinarian or an animal poison service.
How do I dispose of old chemicals safely?
Do not pour old chemicals on the ground, in drains or in the trash. Many counties have household hazardous waste collection days or sites, and some programs take farm chemicals. Ask your county solid waste office or extension office what is available.
Rotate stock so you do not accumulate old products, and buy only the amount you will use. Fewer products on the shelf means fewer things to store, track and dispose of.
Key takeaways
- Inventory what you have and keep everything in labeled original containers.
- Read the label and safety data sheet before each use.
- Store products locked, cool, dry and away from food, feed, children and pets.
- Use the protective gear the label names and learn how to use it properly.
- Call emergency services or poison control after an exposure and have the label ready.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.