The University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program has released their upcoming clinic schedule with locations that span the state. Offerings will be similar to that of recent years although quite limited compared to when in-person was the only option. If you are interested in attending...

Are you preparing to take your Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) pesticide licensing exams? If so, you should check to see if you have the most recent editions of the study publications. The University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) recently revised several manuals...

Here at the Pesticide Safety Education Program, we discuss pesticide resistance topics, such as rotating pesticide chemistries, utilizing thresholds, and using non-chemical control practices such as biological or cultural control. These topics are essential in preventing pest resistance issues, but...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the final biological evaluation (BE), and associated response to comments, for 11 rodenticide active ingredients. The mitigation measures described in this final BE will also serve as the agency’s Rodenticide Strategy as outlined in EPA’s...

In December, the University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program will once again offer in-person training clinics. Offerings will be similar to that of recent years although quite limited compared to when in-person was the only option. Clinics can fill quickly so plan accordingly. ...

German cockroaches are one of the most problematic insect pests to manage. They typically infest apartment buildings and multifamily homes, which can provide refuges for the population to recover after treatments. Population recovery usually happens quickly as roaches can have up to 6 generations...

EPA release and described strategy         On July 25, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) released its draft...

Infestations of the domestic turf pest, annual bluegrass weevil (ABW), Listronotus maculicollis, have officially been identified in Northern Illinois. Historically, this insect has been a pest in highly managed turf in Mid-Atlantic states and has recently been infesting new states...

As the spray season is winding down for many Illinois pesticide applicators, the training and testing season has also slowed way down for The University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA). The month of September is the perfect...

Every summer Extension Pesticide Safety Education Specialists are asked the same type of question repeatedly by home vegetable gardeners.  The details leading up the situation at hand vary, but in the end the basic question is the same. Their vegetable plants have accidentally or mistakenly...

Pesticides play an important role in managing pests, but they must be used responsibly and according to label directions so that they don’t endanger people, pets, livestock, plants, and the environment. While there is much work done to educate pesticide users about safety, and most applications are...

This past month, the supreme court overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) (1984) with the recent Loper Bright V. Raimondo (2024) decision. Chevron v. NRDC, also known as the Chevron deference, granted federal agencies leniency in interpreting ambiguous laws based on the idea...

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. More information can be...

In a summer when many feel like they have been ambushed by cicadas, it’s easy to forget that the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) has made its way into our state.  Infestation status has been established in Cook County with no sightings documented yet in the rest of the state....

The Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) at the University of Illinois has recently expanded our team to include a new trainer. This new addition will be responsible for creating and delivering course content. Please help us in welcoming John...

At this time of year, when pesticides are commonly being used, it is important to take the time to properly clean and maintain Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The following is taken, with little revision, from the national Pesticide Applicator Core Manual first edition and was...

Illinois pesticide applicators should familiarize themselves with two new laws that restrict pesticide applications around schools. The intent of course is to minimize student exposure to pesticides when they are used to reduce the risks to students from noxious weeds, disease bearing insects, and...

Taking a test can be stressful, but with the right guidance and state of mind, you can set yourself up to be better prepared. The University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program has created a publication to help make the...

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has announced the single-day collection sites and dates for the 2024 Pesticide Container Recycling Program. Dates and locations are available on the Illinois Department of Agriculture website's ...

The Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) at the University of Illinois has recently expanded our team to include a new instructional designer. This new addition will be responsible for designing and managing the online training courses, managing the online registration system for in-person...

Do you have a pesticide applicator license? If so, how old were you when you first obtained your license? Is it safe to assume that your first applicator license wasn’t as memorable or exciting as getting your first driver’s license? Both licenses come with a significant responsibility and a...

By now, many pesticide users (particularly those who have applied dicamba or 2,4-D on soybean) may have seen newer pesticide label language concerning requirements to protect endangered species. Those who haven’t yet, will soon as this language will be added with new registrations and registration...

Have you ever found yourself needing to verify that you or any of your employees are fully licensed? Or perhaps you are in need of information on a product’s registration status? The Illinois Department of Agriculture’s website can now assist with your needs thanks to a powerful yet easy to use...

You may have noticed that the pesticide licensing fees increased this year. For some background as to why this increase was necessary, we turned to Brad Beaver, Bureau Chief of Environmental Programs at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. According to...

Are you planning to take a pesticide certification exam this year? You’ll want to plan accordingly on testing day. Be sure to bring proper identification so that you aren’t turned away at the door. The Illinois Department of Agriculture has recently updated their list of acceptable forms of...

If you plan to attend a University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program training clinic for the first time since 2020, you will likely notice that we have updated our registration system. Among the many improvements, the new system allows...

The University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program has released their upcoming clinic schedule. While locations span the state, the number of clinics are fewer than experienced previously. If you are interested in attending an in-person clinic, be sure to register early as seating is...

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a regulation intended to reduce the risks of illness or injury resulting from occupational exposures to pesticides used in the production of agricultural plants. WPS requires agricultural employers and commercial pesticide handler employers to provide...

The Illinois Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce some new faces to the Bureau of Environmental Programs. We are excited to have them on board and hope that you have the opportunity to meet them at one of the various clinic locations this winter. Source:  Maria Turner, Illinois...

In 2023, the Illinois Department of Agriculture along with the Illinois Department of Public Health conducted an agricultural/structural pesticide clean sweep program collection for the residents of Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, and St. Clair...

The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA) has confirmed the first detection of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata) in Illinois. This invasive pest has been in the US since 2014 but has been working its way across the mid-Atlantic states finally reaching the Midwest and the Land of...

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. More information can be...

Strategy aims to increase efficiencies while supporting farmers, herbicide users with continued use of important pesticide tools.   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the draft Herbicide Strategy for public comment, a major milestone in the Agency’s work...