Chemical drift occurs when pesticides are blown downwind when applied to fields. Currently farmers are not required to alert their downwind neighbors that chemicals might be floating their way. Children have been sprayed, organic farms have been sprayed, and we all get an extra dose of chemical pollution in our waterways.

Recent incidents, and the passage of legislation in Maine that requires farmers to notify adjacent property owners of aerial chemical applications, have inspired Senator Dave Koehler, D-Peoria and committee Chairman Sen. Michael Frerichs, D-Champaign, to call for a public hearing. That hearing is scheduled for September 30th at 10:00 AM at the State Capital Building in Springfield, room 409. If this issue has affected you, please let them know by attending the hearing or submitting comments to Sen. Frerichs’ Springfield office at 217-782-2507.

Read a recent article from the Journal Star on chemical drift: Questions lead to public hearing on chemical drift