College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

Blog Archive

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Training and testing reopen for the 2026-2027 pesticide certification season

October 5, 2026

October marks the beginning of the 2026-2027 pesticide training and testing season. General Standards and Private exams taken on or after October 1, 2026, will count toward licensure through the end of 2029 once an Illinois pesticide license is issued.* Here’s what Illinois Pesticide Operators and...

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Soybeans in the foreground ready to be harvested my an approching combine

A quick PHI check can prevent costly mistakes

October 5, 2026

Harvest is underway as Illinois farmers and growers work to bring in the crops they have spent an entire season protecting from insects, diseases, and weeds. Before harvesting a field, take a moment to confirm that you have passed the pre-harvest interval (PHI) for any pesticides that were applied...

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tractor sprayer in corn field

Know this about pesticide use in agriculture

October 2, 2026

This summer I was invited to participate in creating a video about pesticide use in agriculture as part of the Illinois Farm Families Innovation Grows Here docuseries on pesticides. To prepare for this, I was provided with a host of good questions which I carefully thought about and wrote down my...

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New World screwworms are primarily controlled through Sterile Insect Technique

Sterile Insect Technique: How it works and why it matters

October 1, 2026

SIT and Public PerceptionThe Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has received increased attention over the past year due to the expansion of SIT programs and its role in controlling insects of public health importance. The method uses laboratory-reared, sterilized male insects released into targeted...

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pesticide bottles on a shelf

Household hazardous material collection events scheduled for fall 2026

September 14, 2026

Now is the time to get rid of any old or unwanted pesticides in your chemical storage area. The Illinois EPA one-day household hazardous waste collection schedule for this fall has been released to the public. Please note, all one-day collections require pre-registration. All events are open to all...

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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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lawn being sprayed with a pesticide

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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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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well head near an ag field

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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Pile of empty containers

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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plastic jugs

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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New Grain Facility and Livestock Manual

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:...

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hand pump sprayer and groundivy

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...

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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...

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corn field with blue sky and dirt road

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...

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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...

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College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

101 Mumford Hall (MC-710)

1301 W. Gregory Dr.

Urbana, IL 61801

Email: extension@illinois.edu

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