HR0421 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0421 LRB096 12958 JDS 26967 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Agricultural pesticide products in Illinois have been proven to protect and improve crop yields by controlling weed competition, lessening insect damage, and enhancing plant health; and

WHEREAS, Aerial application is a vital part of the agrichemical supply and service industry in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Often farmers have few alternatives to using aerial spraying as the timely application of pesticide products is vital to ensure the product's effectiveness in protecting and enhancing crop production; and

WHEREAS, It is extremely important for the agrichemical supply and service industry to continue to demonstrate to the general public that it is professional and responsible in its application of pesticides; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Agriculture has authority under the Illinois Pesticide Act to administer and enforce the regulations pertaining to the application of pesticides; and

WHEREAS, Persons who use or supervise the application of pesticides for hire must obtain a commercial applicator license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Agriculture has authority to investigate claims of pesticide misuse and to take statutory action against persons who have misused pesticides; and

WHEREAS, An ever increasing number of residents in agricultural areas are not tied to the agricultural land surrounding their residences and do not have any knowledge of what or when pesticides may be applied aerially to the property surrounding them; and

WHEREAS, If an incident, such as drift, occurs, it may be advantageous to have a list of the pesticides that are commonly applied by air and first aid information for suspected exposure made available on the Department's website; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois and the agricultural industry should work to put an information system in place to describe the crop protection products commonly applied by air; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the members of the House of Representatives urge the Illinois Department of Agriculture, with the assistance of industry groups representing agricultural pesticide users, to create an informational program to help the general public obtain timely information regarding agricultural pesticides, including the categories and types of agricultural pesticides that are normally applied aerially in the State, the methods by which these products are applied, and the pests or diseases they are designed to treat, information on how to access product Material Safety Data Sheets, information on first aid procedures to follow in case of exposure, and information on how to contact the appropriate authorities, such as the Department of Agriculture, to request additional information or to report a possible case of pesticide drift or misuse; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this system should be accessible by the public through the Department's website and existing telephone notification procedures during normal business hours; and be it further

RESOLVED, That during non-business hours and on weekends, a recorded message should provide emergency contact information; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Director of Agriculture.