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Pictures of the two handbook covers described in the article

Newly revised pest management handbooks now available

August 11, 2026

You have been patiently asking for them for a while now. The long-awaited revision of two pest management handbooks has finally happened! University of Illinois Extension specialists have been working hard to update these popular reference guides and we are excited to make them available. ...

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The Illinois Lawn Care Application Notice Act, communication is key

August 6, 2026

As a landscape professional, communicating with your clients is vital. A solid relationship built on trust can yield continuous business. Communication with clients should be informative and timely. That investment of time spent with them is valuable because you can gather their needs or wants and...

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illustration of computer and screwdriver with text reading system maintenance

Online training and testing closed for maintenance during September 2026

August 3, 2026

The summer field season is underway and Illinois applicators and operators are doing what they do best! With the training and testing season nearing its end, now is the time to enroll anyone who still needs a 2026 license. Please know that the online testing and training system used by the...

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Colorful mixed landscape bed next to a building

Starting a lawn care business? Here's how to get licensed for pesticide application

July 16, 2026

More and more lawn care companies have emerged in recent years. Many business owners are just starting their companies and need to obtain the appropriate pesticide applicator license before applying pesticides, including herbicides. To help simplify the process, we have put together the...

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Several pesticide treated corn seeds that have been dyed purple and teal and closely grouped on an exposed soil surface.

EPA seeks comments on the ESA draft fungicide strategy

July 6, 2026

If you apply pesticides in agricultural settings, you are likely aware of the strategies the EPA has developed to comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The EPA has already finalized strategies for agricultural herbicides and insecticides, and several agricultural pesticides now include the...

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Agricultural field that the EPA requires specific mitigations be calculated for through new Endangered Species Act labeling

Understanding new ESA label requirements for the 2026 Illinois spraying season

June 8, 2026

Spraying season has officially begun in Illinois agriculture, and this year, additional steps may be necessary to make an application due to a recent label change resulting from new Endangered Species Act (ESA) strategies. The ESA herbicide and insecticide strategies are being implemented more...

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When using pesticides, watch for wells

June 4, 2026

If you apply pesticides, good environmental safety practices can help protect sensitive areas that influence drinking water quality. Be aware of wells and geographic conditions such as sink holes. Read and follow all label directions. Know that different product labels may contain different...

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2026 Agrichemical container recycling program schedule

June 2, 2026

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has announced the single-day collection sites and dates for the 2026 Pesticide Container Recycling Program. You can view this year’s dates and locations on...

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2026 Illinois bills concerning pesticides

April 24, 2026

Illinois state legislators are working on several bills that, if passed, would introduce new regulations or restrictions on pesticide use in the state. Most of these bills will not make it out of their respective legislative committees, but some have strong support in the Illinois House and Senate...

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Household hazardous material collection events scheduled for spring 2026

April 7, 2026

Spring is the perfect time for cleaning your chemical storage area and disposing of any old or unwanted pesticides. To assist with this effort, the Illinois EPA will hold one-day household hazardous waste collections. Their schedule for this spring has been released to the public. Please note, all...

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