One might think that there's nothing to do on the local farms and ranches during the winter, and it's true that it's a relatively quiet time.

But there are important activities to be done: maintenance and repairs of equipment; searching catalogs for vegetable and flower seeds and plants for the upcoming season; pruning and shaping of trees and vines; attending numerous educational forums to keep informed of industry changes and research findings; filling out sustainability surveys to evaluate and improve practices; maybe fingering checks for payments from previous years' crops. Tax planning and filing is compressed for the March 1 deadline for farmers and fishermen.

The one activity that captures attention annually is the application of various materials by spraying. Somehow that bold and visible mechanism stirs concerns in the community.

We may use cleaning sprays in our kitchens, hair sprays in the bath, degunkers and starting fluids in our shops; but the sight of powerful tractors pulling tanks of material through acres of orchards or vineyards causes alarm to many.

But the concept is simple: a small amount of selected material, be it a pest suppressor, an oil, a soap (all variations of chemicals) can be distributed over a wide area by being suspended or dissolved in a large volume of water and sprayed under pressure.

Some frequently asked questions:

1. Are all sprays poisonous? No, at least not to humans in the doses applied. Some sprayed materials are intended to kill or suppress a specific insect pest known to be present in harmful numbers, but this might be accomplished by other means than poisoning it (suffocation by oil, for example). Other sprays are intended to prevent bacterial or fungal infections or to keep fruit from falling off the tree prematurely. Farmers these days use target-specific, “soft” chemicals for control because they don't want to kill beneficial predator insects that provide natural biological control.

2. Then why do the applicators wear protective gear? This is not unlike our wearing an apron in the kitchen or coveralls in the shop. The spray suit protects the applicator's clothes, it protects him from contact with concentrates when filling the sprayer, it prevents absorption of spray mist, and it keeps him warm, especially at night or in the early morning. Those are chosen times to spray because there is less likelihood of wind to blow the spray away from the intended target. Very few spray materials require the use of a mask or respirator, but many applicators like to wear them anyway as “an abundance of caution.”

3. Does every farmer have to spray? In order to avoid damage to their crops and to maintain the health of their plants, most farmers spray – organic farmers included. Spraying is the most efficient mechanism for getting materials onto the plants or trees. It is not done by either the calendar or guesswork, but when a professional pest control advisor (or trained grower) identifies a problem and selects a treatment based upon what will be both safest and most effective. The timing of treatments is usually critical.

When you see our local farmers at work, know they are using up-to-date methods to continue to grow safe, healthy food and fibers for our use.

And join us in celebrating them during National Agriculture Week March 13 through 19 and Ag Day on Tuesday, March 15.

Remember: Every day is Ag Day for us!

Margaret Eutenier is a member of the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture. She lives and farms in Kelseyville, Calif.