By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Senate Joint Resolution 105, which called for the creation of a website to improve communication between specialty crops growers and commercial pesticide applicators, has come to fruition with the unveiling of “Driftwatch” – an online program that allows growers to enter the location of their sensitive crops on an Internet map, which pesticide applicators may then consult.

Originally developed for Indiana at Purdue University, Driftwatch was adapted for use in Illinois through U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding and will soon be implemented in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA).

The new Web-based tool could go a long way toward improving the sometimes fractious relationship between traditional farmers and specialty crops growers all across the state, said Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Assoc. (IFCA) President Jean Payne.

“IFCA views this as a very positive communication tool,” she said of the website. “Many times pesticide applicators treating corn and soybean crops are not aware that a grower has planted organic acres of soybeans, or that a new vineyard was established in the region. Driftwatch provides a technological tool to put both parties in touch. And, using GIS coordinates, applicators can be sure to take special precautions around sensitive crops to avoid drift mishaps.”
The IFCA worked closely with Illinois state Rep. Donald Moffitt (R-Galesburg) and state Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria) to develop SJR-105, which passed in 2010 after a special hearing on chemical drift before the Illinois Senate Ag Committee compelled the industries to work together to find a solution to the problem. Though the program is voluntary, commercial pesticide applicators and specialty growers are “highly encouraged” to acquaint themselves with the website, said Payne.

“Specialty growers – vineyards, certified organic farms, nurseries, apiaries and vegetable farms – can log onto the site from the (IDOA) website and click on the Driftwatch logo. From there they use Google Maps to zoom down to their farm and draw a polygon around their farm boundaries,” she explained.
“Then, they can provide additional information on the types of crops they are growing and if they have special sensitivities to certain pesticides. The IDOA will verify that the site exists and is a legitimate site for commercial production, and will then post the information to Driftwatch.”

Pesticide applicators use the site by initially registering the territory in which they apply pesticides. E-mails sent by the IDOA will alert applicators of any newly-registered or updated specialty crops sites in their territory, allowing them to make provisions in advance of spraying near those properties.
Now that the site is up and running, getting the word out about Driftwatch is the biggest challenge facing the IFCA, IDOA and specialty crops growers.
“Pesticide applicators will learn how to utilize the site as part of the IDOA/University of Illinois Pesticide Training and Licensing Program, which applicators must take once every three years,” Payne said.

“IDOA and IFCA are working to inform the specialty grower organizations about the site, and IDOA will participate in their conventions (by demonstrating) the site. This program costs nothing to those who use it, but promises great rewards in terms of enhanced communication between growers. Pesticide drift is costly to pesticide applicators in terms of restitution, insurance premiums and penalties.

“We hope that specialty growers will embrace the site and participate, because it will take the involvement of both parties – growers and pesticide applicators – for this program to deliver on the benefits that it so clearly has to offer all involved in production agriculture,” Payne added.

Warren Goetsch, IDOA bureau chief of Environmental Programs, agreed the success of Driftwatch hinges on cooperation from both sides of the issue.
“Growers must make certain they not only enter the locations of their fields, but also enter them accurately, and pesticide applicators must make a commitment to check the site before they spray,” he stated.

Free of charge to users, the Driftwatch site can be accessed through the IDOA’s homepage at www.agr.state.il.us by clicking on the “Driftwatch” link on the right side of the screen.