In August 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new herbicide strategy aimed at better aligning with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This new strategy will alter pesticide labels by adding extra mitigation measures that seek to reduce pesticide exposure to over 900...
There are several pesticide related bills being considered in the Illinois Senate and House currently. We’ve been told that action will need to be taken on many of these in the next couple of weeks if they are to become laws. Some have previous versions that were introduced in past years and will...
This blog post is the second in a two-part series discussing precision agriculture technologies (PATs) and the benefits they offer to farmers who adopt them. Part One discussed the history of PATs and the trends in adoption in the United States. While there are many benefits to farmers and the...
In today's rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, farmers rely on various technologies and tools to improve efficiency on their operations. Since the 1980s, precision agriculture technologies (PATs) have revolutionized how farmers manage their crops and livestock. By leveraging advanced tools...
Currently, budgets for corn and soybean production by Illinois Farmers is projected to be below breakeven on profitability. University of Illinois Farmdoc budgets can be found here.Federal Crop Insurance can be...
This blog post is the second in a two-part series that analyzes the impact of international trade on agricultural production in the United States and Illinois. Part One introduced the concepts of trade and free trade agreements while also reviewing tariffs and the value international trade adds to...
The Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) is often considered the most damaging pest to U.S. corn. While the adults can cause issues in pollination through clipping silks, the most destructive life stage is the larvae, who live below ground and feed on corn roots. Larval...
Do your pesticide applications fall under the scope of the EPA’s Worker Protection Standard (WPS)? If so, you should take a few minutes to review recent changes to the Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements. Let’s start by reviewing what the AEZ is and its purpose. The EPA introduced...
For the United States agriculture industry, trade is vital. The United States is a leading agricultural producer and exporter, with a significant portion of its output aimed at international markets. Trade agreements and other trade policies allow U.S. farmers to reach new markets, enhance...
On January 1, 2025, a new law went into effect that could affect Illinois’ pesticide applicators working in rights-of-way areas. The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has been tasked with writing the rules and has recently created a...
