Pocket Gopher Fumigant Safety

Apply gopher fumigant from the tractor seat.

Q: Is Gopher General safer than applying aluminum phosphide by hand?

Gopher General reduces repeated hand placement of aluminum phosphide during application. Instead of opening individual burrows and placing tablets one at a time, the operator loads and closes the hopper, then applies fumigant from the tractor seat. Operators still need to follow all PPE, handling and applicator requirements on the current fumigant label.

Q: Does Gopher General keep aluminum phosphide below ground during application?

Gopher General is designed to dispense aluminum phosphide while the shank is underground. The metering system starts after the machine reaches working depth and stops before the shank comes back out of the soil, helping keep fumigant in the underground treatment tunnels during normal operation.

Q: What PPE is required when using Gopher General with aluminum phosphide?

The PPE required when using Gopher General depends on the current label and applicator instructions for the aluminum phosphide product being used. Operators should follow those requirements for loading, application, unloading, maintenance and any other product handling.

Q: Can Gopher General be used with Phostoxin or Weevilcide?

Gopher General can be calibrated for slow-release aluminum phosphide products such as Phostoxin and Weevilcide. The operator remains responsible for following the current product label, applicator instructions and all applicable requirements for the fumigant being used.

Q: Does it make a difference if I use tablets or pellets?

Yes, pellets gas off much quicker than tablets. This means you get a heavy dose of fumigant that lasts for a short while. If the gopher isn’t in the vicinity, it won’t be affected. Tablets release fumigant for a much longer period. When the gopher checks its territory. It will eventually come into the area with still potent fumigant gas and be controlled.

Hand-applying aluminum phosphide means stopping at individual burrows, finding the tunnel and placing the fumigant by hand. Gopher General moves that work into the tractor pass.

Instead of constantly handling these chemicals, the operator loads the machine using the PPE and procedures required by the fumigant label, closes the hopper and treats the field from the tractor seat.

How it Works

Less hand placement

Gopher General meters aluminum phosphide into underground treatment tunnels instead of requiring tablets to be placed into individual gopher burrows by hand.

Dispensing starts and stops underground.

The metering system begins after the shank reaches working depth and stops before it comes back out of the soil.

Air delivery keeps tablets moving

Moving air carries the fumigant through the delivery system and into the treatment tunnels.

Open Bottom Systems

Get clogged when soil blocks the outlet, creating an annoying and potentially hazardous situation.

The Gopher General Way

Uses moving air to deliver the fumigant, keeping you moving and handling the fumigant less.

Gopher Fumigant Application

Avoid the plugging point of an open-bottom system

Open-bottom gravity systems can plug when soil blocks the outlet.

Gopher General uses moving air to carry the fumigant through the delivery system instead. That eliminates the open-bottom plugging point and keeps tablets moving toward the treatment tunnels.

Explore Features & Benefits

No More Hand Fumigant Placement

Safe use still starts with the fumigant label.

Gopher General can reduce repeated handling during application, but aluminum phosphide still requires proper training, PPE and handling.

Operators using products such as Phostoxin or Weevilcide must follow the current product label and applicator instructions for certification, PPE, storage, transport and application.

Safety notice: Always follow the current fumigant label. Gopher General does not replace product-label requirements.