By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois State Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria) was named chair of a new Senate subcommittee to be formed in response to concern about farm chemical drift from the public and a group of specialty and organic crop growers – including aerial applications of pesticides.
The committee was formed after a 4.5-hour public meeting called by Sen. Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign), chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Conservation, on Sept. 30 at the Capitol Building in Springfield.
As chair of the unnamed subcommittee, Koehler said the group would research new mandatory notification laws recently implemented in the state of Maine, which require aerial applicators and farmers to register and provide advance warning to neighbors before spraying crop fields.
“Agriculture is one of America’s most important industries. We need to help farmers achieve success – conventional, specialty crop and organic alike,” Koehler told Farm World in an e-mail. “I believe by encouraging better communication about chemical use, we can work out a solution that’s agreeable to everyone.”
Proponents of an early-warning system want the state to regulate an online registry of when and where spraying occurs in addition to requiring personal notification to neighboring landowners at least 24 hours in advance of aerial applications.
Nearly 100 people attended the public meeting, including those representing organic and specialty crop growers, vintners, conventional farmers, the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Assoc., the Illinois Agricultural Aviation Service and the Illinois Farm Bureau. In addition, members of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Environmental Protection Society, University of Illinois extension and the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine were on hand to act as consultants.
“The committee room was full,” said Ian Watts, a Koehler spokesperson. “All sides and opinions were represented and expressed.”
Koehler said a number of his constituents had expressed concern that chemical drift threatens the livelihood of specialty farmers and may pose health risks for children and the infirm.
“I wanted the chance for the Senate Agriculture Committee to hear from individuals on both sides of the fence,” he said.
Vintners and organic farmers explained during the hearing some pesticides that enhance corn and soybeans are deadly to grape vines and other specialty crops. Organic growers said they can lose their organic certification if plants are exposed to chemical drift, though it was unclear if any had actually lost certification.
Conventional farmers and members of the chemical industry conceded there are some legitimate issues surrounding chemical drift, and both sides agreed better communication would help alleviate the problems, according to a news release issued by Koehler following the hearing.
“I was heartened to see some agreement at this initial meeting,” he stated. “I intend to work with my fellow legislators and the communities involved to find a mutually acceptable means of improving communication.”
Koehler indicated as chair of the new subcommittee formed to examine chemical drift, he would call at least one more meeting before legislators return to Springfield in January 2010. Published on Oct. 7, 2009 |
