Pesticide News

Home Blogs Pesticide News

Pesticide News

Latest Posts

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...

Finish this story

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...

Finish this story

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...

Finish this story

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...

Finish this story

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...

Finish this story

Grain Facility and Livestock Manuals revised, tests offered online

April 1, 2026

The Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program Grain Facility (SP39-8) and Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program Livestock (SP39-15) Manuals have been updated for 2026, and are now available on the University of Illinois Extension PubsPlus online store:...

Finish this story

Do you still need training and testing to apply pesticides?

March 25, 2026

The growing season is upon us finally! With the new green growth will also come pests unfortunately. Do you have what you need to deal with them? Do you still need to obtain your Illinois pesticide applicator or operator license? Only a couple in-person pesticide safety education clinics remain and...

Finish this story

Promoting safety awareness and practices: February’s National Pesticide Safety Education Month

January 30, 2026

February is National Pesticide Safety Education Month, and the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), the American Phytopathological Society (APS), and the Entomological Society of America (ESA) are inviting you to participate in promoting pesticide safety awareness and practices during February...

Finish this story

Certified to apply Paraquat? Has your training expired?

January 29, 2026

Just a quick reminder that Paraquat users are required to participate in product training every three years. EPA requires that Paraquat applicators take an EPA-approved training program every three years in order to mix, load, apply, or handle Paraquat. Users should check the date printed on their...

Finish this story

Front doors of the Environmental Protection Agency building

EPA launches new tools to help applicators meet ESA mitigation requirements

January 26, 2026

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced new digital tools designed to help pesticide applicators comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) mitigation requirements. These requirements, which have expanded in recent years, require applicators to implement runoff and spray...

Finish this story