Issue 5, June 22, 2022

New Guide Available on Handling Pesticide Drift Complaints

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 made according to label directions, cases of misuse still occur unfortunately. The most common type of pesticide misuse is pesticide drift and when it occurs, emotions can run high while seeking answers. Additionally, time is of the essence.
While written for producers and gardeners, this new guide could be beneficial to really anyone affected by drift. It can be used to help navigate the often challenging task of determining if pesticide drift could be the cause of injury to sensitive plants and if so, what to do about it.  The guide discusses:

  • What drift is
  • How it can be prevented
  • What if it occurs
  • Who can help
  • What role each involved party plays
  • The drift complaint process
  • Answers to common questions concerning drift injury and complaints
  • Contacts for suspected exposure and first aid
  • Health and environmental concerns about pesticides
  • Additional resources

This new guide can be found at the University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program’s website under Resources or via the following URL https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/public_pesticide_drift_complaint_guide.pdf

Author:
Michelle Wiesbrook

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