OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Eastern Washington farmers need to be careful when fumigating soil because of unfavorable weather conditions, the state Department of Agriculture says.

Applicators must be aware of air conditions at a site before they begin work and aware of weather forecasts during applications, according to EPA label restrictions.

Weather inversions may cause soil fumigation vapors to move off target and violate federal pesticide restrictions, said Clint Weed, the department's pesticide compliance program manager.

Fumigation normally occurs soon in the Columbia Basin but applicators with questions should contact their farm chemical fieldman or the department, Weed said.

The department's general number for label advice is 360-902-2040.

The department is investigating allegations of human exposure from a fumigant application conducted Sept. 27 in Desert Aire, south of Mattawa in Grant County.

-- Dan Wheat