Some commonly used hay preservatives are slated for a new label that could mean significant changes for custom hay balers and some farmers who bale hay for others. Manufacturers of propionic acid were asked by the Environmental Protection Agency last July to label their products as a pesticide. This includes regular propionic acid and buffered solutions of propionic acid. Propionic acid used on stored grain is already labeled as a pesticide. A pesticide is defined as something that prevents, destroys, repels or mitigates any pest.
Pests can include plants, insects, rodents, fungus, bacteria or mold.
Because propionic acid prevents mold-growth, it is considered a pesticide. Years ago it was labeled as a pesticide for use on hay but manufacturers were mistakenly told by EPA that they no longer had to register the product. EPA is now correcting the mistake. EPA has not set a deadline for manufacturers to have their products relabeled. It is possible there will be hay preservatives with pesticide labels in the marketplace this year.