In 2024, 241 pesticide misuse complaints were filed with the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Of those, 202 cases have been completed (reviewed and closed or an enforcement action taken) as of early April 2025.
Of those completed cases, 103 were closed and no evidence of misuse was found. Additionally, 3 advisory letters were issued, 80 warning letters were issued, and 21 notices of fines were issued.
Where there were violations of the Illinois Pesticide Act (either misuse or an applicator license violation) and the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act, 194 were ag related and 47 were lawncare related. Only 12 cases involved dicamba which is much fewer cases than in recent years.
Of course frequent pesticide misuse or complaints of this can lead to new pesticide related laws. For a list of ones being considered now, please see a previous article in this blog.
How can we do better in 2025?
As we prepare for the 2025 application season, it’s important to think about ways to prevent pesticide misuse and off-target movement. Here are some quick reminders for when you are out spraying:
- Be observant of your surroundings. Nice weather brings more people outside, whether its kids at school playing, folks working in their gardens, or people simply out enjoying a walk. Remember that human exposure is a very serious matter. Watch for people. You may need to stop your application and plan to resume it later when it is safe to do so.
- Communicate well. If someone asks you what you are spraying, be honest and tell them. It also can be helpful to tell them why the application is being made. The reason may seem obvious to you but not to them. Share the benefits that pesticides provide. It’s an important part of the story. Also, provide them with the National Pesticide Information Center’s (NPIC) number so they can get more information about the application. They can call to speak with trained toxicologists and have their concerns about their health risks addressed.
- Make good decisions. Do not spray in conditions that are likely to result in off-target movement. Remember that the bad decisions of a few will give the entire industry a bad reputation.
- Read and follow all label directions. Many misuse violations can be traced back to not reading and following the label.
Source: Information provided by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Image credit: Dmytro, AdobeStock
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Michelle Wiesbrook provides subject matter expertise and training in pesticide safety with an emphasis on horticultural weed science. She serves as the Illinois Pesticide Review newsletter editor, collecting and organizing material.