A massive bird kill in late October that was first blamed on the weather has now been traced to pesticide misuse. An insecticide was illegally applied to grain and spread across a field of winter wheat in St. Clair County, Illinois. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, the poisoning killed more than 20,000 redwing blackbirds, 6,000 cowbirds, 900 grackles, 55 starlings, and 10 horned larks. According to investigating agencies, the farmer who owns the land where the birds were found has confessed to applying Furadan (a soil insecticide) illegally to winter wheat seed for the alleged purpose of killing nuisance blackbirds.

Blackbirds can be a major problem to farmers. Although the various species of blackbirds feed on insects and help reduce the number of pest insects, they also feed on grain. In addition, large numbers of birds weigh down the standing crop, resulting in stalk breakage, fallen grain, and reduced harvestability. This problem is greater in southern Illinois, where very large flocks of up to half a million birds form, due to reproduction during the summer and migration from areas farther north. The longer southern Illinois season, allowing grain to be harvested later, also adds to the likelihood of damage.

It is important to note that all birds in Illinois (except starlings, feral pigeons, and house sparrows) are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. A violation such as the one described above can result in a fine up to $5,000 and 6 months in prison. However, this international treaty allows birds to be controlled by permit if they are an economic or public health threat. In this situation, no permits were issued.

Even if a permit had been granted, the pesticide used is not labeled for bird control. This use constitutes a label-use violation of the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Illinois Pesticide Act, providing an additional direction of prosecution that may be possible by the U.S. EPA and Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Before you attempt to control any birds, mammals, or fish, contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources–phone, (217)782-6384–to request information about legal, safe, and effective control methods (if any) and obtain any permit(s) that may be required.

(Bruce Paulsrud and Phil Nixon: adapted from "Insecticide Blamed for Downstate Bird Kill," Chicago Tribune, October 21, 1999, including input from Vernon Kleen, Illinois Department of Natural Resources.)

Mark Mohr is a new member of the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Illinois. He will be working with the Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) team as an Extension specialist. The PAT team provides education to applicators throughout the state on pesticide use and the Worker Protection Standard. He will primarily be responsible for the equipment and calibration areas of the PAT program and will be working closely with Ag. Engineering on up-to-date application technologies. This includes proper use of equipment and techniques for safe and accurate application of pesticides, as well as spray-drift reduction.

His background and training include first-hand and continuing experience in pesticide application on his family farm in east-central Illinois and a B.S. degree in agricultural mechanization (now, technical systems management) from the University of Illinois. He is available to assist individuals with application equipment and calibration issues. His address is:

Mark F. Mohr
University of Illinois
Department of Agricultural Engineering
360 AESB, MC-644
1304 W. Pennsylvania Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: (217)333-9418; e-mail: mmohr@uiuc.edu

EPA has published for public comment a preliminary risk assessment for the pesticide chlorpyrifos. The notice of availability was published in the Federal Register on October 27 (vol. 64, no. 207, pages 57876-57877). Chlorpyrifos is one of the most widely used pesticides in the United States, with an estimated 20 to 24 million pounds applied annually. Uses include a broad range of food crops, termite control in residential and commercial buildings, and various home-garden products, among others.

Chlorpyrifos and other pesticides are being reviewed to determine whether or not their existing EPA registrations meet stringent, new safety standards required by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA). EPA's preliminary risk assessment indicates that residential and worker exposures to chlorpyrifos are of concern, and that exposures to nontarget wildlife also pose a concern. The public will have 60 days to comment on the preliminary risk assessment for chlorpyrifos. Comments must be received by December 27, 1999, identified by Docket Number OPP-34203. (See the FR notice for details.) EPA will review all comments on the preliminary risk assessment and plans to publish a revised risk assessment early next year. The preliminary risk assessment will be available on EPA's web site, http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/op/status.htm.

(Source: EPA Pesticide Program Update e-mail 10/28/99.)

- Bruce Paulsrud

The University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois Department of Agriculture released both the commercial and private pesticide applicator training (PAT) schedules during the first week of November. If you're required to retest (remember, everyone must retest every 3 years), you should have recently received a notice letter and training clinic schedule from the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

This season, there are 30 commercial clinics and nearly 150 private clinics statewide. Private applicators, please contact your local U of I Extension office for clinic details. Commercial and public applicators and operators, please call (800)644-2123 or (217)244-2123 to preregister for a clinic and to order study materials. Both clinic schedules (and much more!) can be viewed at our U of I Extension Pesticide Safety Education Website http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/~pse. If you have questions about licensing, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture at (800) 641-3934.

Note: Commercial turf and ornamental category training change
Ornamental weed, insect, and disease training sections will be covered on the first day from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. Turf weed, insect, and disease training sections will be covered on the second day from 8:00 to 10:45 a.m. The turf and ornamental equipment and calibration training will remain combined this season and will be offered during the morning (10:45 to 11:30 a.m.) of the second day. Remember, category exams are offered only during the second day of a 2-day clinic.

- Bruce Paulsrud

Following is a current list of study materials (click: http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/~pse/training/patpubs.html) offered by the Illinois Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) program. It can help you prepare for the certification exam(s) that you may need to apply pesticides in Illinois. For manuals, the publication date can be found within the first few pages, just above the "Issued in furtherance..." statement. As you will notice, categories with few licensees (for example, forest, fruit crops, livestock, mosquito, soil fumigation, and vegetable crops) have study packets available for individual study. The packet content changes irregularly as more current information becomes available. Workbooks are changed frequently to reflect new material and new training directions. Older workbooks should be fine for home study. Commercial applicators and operators will receive current editions of the appropriate workbooks included for their registration fee when they attend a training clinic.

To order study materials, contact your local University of Illinois Extension office. Commercial applicators and operators can order study materials while registering for a training clinic by calling (800)644-2123 or (217)244-2123.

- Bruce Paulsrud

DOW AGROSCIENCES–In conjunction with Pioneer HiBred, is developing genetically engineered corn to be resistant to corn rootworm. Introduction of the seed is planned for 2002.

EVEREST (flucarbazone-sodium)–Bayer–A new postemergence herbicide being developed to control foxtail and wild oats in wheat. Registration in the United States and Canada is expected early next year.

FORCE ST (tefluthrin)–Zeneca–EPA has approved this new commercial seed treatment for use on corn to control rootworms, cutworms, white grubs, wireworms, and seed corn maggots. The product is applied to the corn at a seed-corn production facility. Novartis will offer NK brand corn hybrids with their Pro Shield seed-coating technology, which binds the insecticide to the seed.

LATITUDE (silthiophan)–Monsanto–The company has begun to market this new fungicide as a seed treatment on cereals to control the disease take-all.

TILT (propiconazole)–Novartis–EPA granted a specific exemption to IL, KS, MO, NE, NM, OK, and TX departments of agriculture to use on grain sorghum. It expires 7-31-2000. [fungicide]

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, September and October 1999.)

ACTARA 25WG (thiamethoxam)–Novartis–This new insecticide is being developed on potatoes, vegetable crops, cole crops, cucurbits, tobacco, cotton, pome fruits, grapes, stone fruits, strawberries, and wheat. It will be marketed for soil applications as Platinum 25C.

ADAGE (thiamethoxam)–Novartis–This new insecticide is being developed as a seed treatment for use on canola, cotton, cereals, corn, sorghum, and potatoes.

COUNTDOWN (chlorothalonil)–Zeneca–A new name and formulation used to control various diseases in agricultural, turf, and ornamental plants.

DOW AGROSCIENCES–The company has made an agreement with Dead Sea Bromine Group of Israel to develop and produce Telapic soil fumigant, which is a combination of 1,3-dichloropropane and chloropicrin. It will be used to replace methyl bromide, which is being phased out.

FMC–The company has canceled their Methyl Parathion 2 Thiodan 3EC label, due to the EPA's memorandum on methyl parathion. The company has resubmitted a label to EPA (to maintain uses on cabbage, cotton, and dried beans), which should be available for the 2000 season. [insecticide]

GUTHION (azinphos-methyl)–Bayer–Following are the revisions agreed to by Bayer and the EPA on 8-2-99. All label changes must be made by 12-01-99. Existing stock in distribution must be relabeled by 12-31-99. [insecticide]
- Apples–Reduces maximum yearly rate from 6 to 4.5 lb a.i., increases preharvest interval to 21 days, and prohibits application by chemigation or fixed-wing aircraft.
- Pears–Reduces maximum yearly rate from 6 to 4.5 lb a.i. and prohibits application by chemigation or fixed-wing aircraft.
*Peaches and nectarines–Reduces the maximum yearly rate from 4.5l to 3.375 lb a.i. and prohibits application by chemigation or fixed-wing aircraft.
- Southern pine seed orchards–Reduces the yearly rate from 18 to 4.5 lb a.i.; reduces the maximum per-treatment rate from 3 to 1.5 lb a.i.; reduces the number of yearly applications from 6 to 3; and restricts use to aerial applications only.
- Ornamental/shade/forest/Christmas trees–All uses are deleted.
- Other crops–Prohibits application by backpack or hand-wand sprayers. Reentry periods all non-tree crops changed from 48 hours to 4 days (or 5 days in areas of less than 25 inches of rainfall/year) and restricts aerial applications to closed cockpits only.

IMPULSE/PROSPER (spiroxamine)–Bayer–This new fungicide is being introduced in Europe for use on cereals and grapes.

RODEO/ACCORD (glyphosate)–Monsanto–Added to their label the control of deer weed and sumac. [herbicide]

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, September and October 1999.)

AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL BOOK III–The 1999–2000 revision is now just off the press. It includes the latest on worldwide fumigants, growth regulators, repellents, pheromones, rodenticides, and other chemicals that are used in the agriculture, horticulture, and PCO markets. Available from Thomson Publications at $24.95.

ALERT (chlorfenapyr)–American Cyanamid–EPA issued an experimental permitted use on 463 structures to evaluate the use to control termites. Authorized for use in AL, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WA. Expires 11-30-2000. (FR, vol. 64, 8-25-99)

ATRAPA VCP (malathion)–Griffin–A new formulation recently introduced for large-scale mosquito control programs. It will be marketed exclusively by Van Waters & Rogers.

AVENTIS–The company is a combination of Hoechst and Rhone-Poulenc. Both make the herbicide isoproturon. To satisfy the European Commission, they have agreed to sell the Hoechst (AgrEvo) portion of the isoproturon business to a third party. Aventis Crop Science is the new name for the crop-science division created by the merger of Rhone-Poulenc and Hoechst.

CYANAMID–The company plans to develop imidazolinone-tolerant corn hybrids in conjunction with Nidera Seeds of Brazil. Seed is expected to be available this next season under the Clearfield brand name.

FASTRAC (bromethalin)–Bell Labs–A new product for this company being introduced for rodent control. It will be available in place packs, extruded blox, and seed packs.

RHONE-POULENC AGRO–The company has formed a 50:50 joint venture with Agritope Inc.–called Agrinomics LLC–to develop programs to develop and market novel agricultural genes.

UNOCAL–The company changed the name of its West Coast agricultural products group to Prodica LLC, effective October 1, 1999. Headquarters remain at Brea, CA.

ZENECA–The company signed a 5-year research agreement with Maxygen (located in Redwood City, CA) to develop various agricultural chemical products based on Maxygen's DNA technology.

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, September and October 1999.)

CHIPCO 60818 (fipronil)–Rhone-Poulenc–A new formulation developed to control fire ants, thrips, and fungus gnats on ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers.

COMPASS (trifloxystrobin)–Novartis–A new fungicide being developed for use on greenhouse- and nursery-grown ornamentals to control powdery mildew, scab, rust, and other diseases.

CYCOCEL (chlormequat)–Olympic–As a result of the IR-4 Project, they can now add to their label for this growth regulator the use on Egyptian star cluster and yellow shrimp plant.

ENDEAVOR 5OWG (pymetrozine)–Novartis–A new insecticide being developed for use on ornamentals to control aphids and whiteflies.

FOLICUR 3.6F (tebuconazole)–Bayer–EPA has approved an application to use for disease control on grasses grown for seed. (FR, vol. 64, 7-28-99)

MAVRIK (fluvalinate)–Welimark–Due to registration requirements, they have deleted from their label the use on commercial and residential turf. Unless withdrawn, this deletion will be effective 2-22-2000. (FR, vol. 64, 8-25-99) [insecticide]

MEDALLION (fludioxonil)–Novartis–Added to their label the use on ornamentals as a foliar spray to control Myrothecium, Cercospora, Fusarium, Cylindrocladium, and Sclerotium as a soil drench.

MERIT (imidactoprid)–Bayer–Added to their label the control of cutworms.

PENDULUM (pendimethalin)–American Cyanamid–As a result of the IR-4 Project, they can now add to their label the use on white ash, Mexican fan palm, pygmy date palm, and service berry. [herbicide]

SUMAGIC (uniconazole)–Valent–Added to their label for this growth regulator the use on additional bedding plants, bulb-crop applications, and cutting-dip treatment on chrysanthemums.

TALSTAR (bifenthrin)–FMC–As a result of the IR-4 Project, they can now add to their label the use on camellias, crape myrtle, English ivy, Chinese holly, and linden. [insecticide]

TRUPOWER (MCPA/bromacil/clopyralid)–Riverdale–A new turf herbicide designed to control hard-to-kill broadleaf weeds.

VERTICILLIUM DAHILIAE WSB-850–Arcades–EPA issued an experimental permit for this biofungicide, to use on 500 acres of elm trees to control Dutch elm disease. Authorized for use in CO, CT, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, NJ, NC, OH, and PA. The permit expires 6-01-2001. (FR, vol. 64, 8-4-99)

VISION (cyfluthrin/imidacloprid)–Bayer–A combination insecticide being marketed to the home and garden market to control various insects on lawns and ornamentals.

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, September and October 1999.)

ABOUND (azoxystrobin)–Zeneca–Added to their label the control of brown rot, alternaria spot, fruit rot, anthracnose, leaf rust, powdery mildew, and shot-hole on peaches.

CAPTURE 2EC (bifenthrin)–FMC–Received EPA registration to use on eggplant, beans, peas, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, other cole crops, sweet corn, cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins and watermelons to control aphids, stink bugs, lepidoptera insects, thrips, plant bugs, leaf beetles, Japanese beetles, and whiteflies.

CONFIRM (tebufenozide)–Rohm & Haas–Received EPA registration to use on pome fruits to control codling moth, leaf rollers, bud moths, eye spotted moth, lesser apple worms, and green fruit worms.

DETUR/E-RASE (oil of jojoba)–IJO Products–Received EPA registration to use on grapes to control whiteflies and powdery mildew.

ELITE 45DF (tebuconazole)–Bayer–EPA has approved an application to use on grapes for disease control. (FR, vol. 64, 7-28-99)

FLINT (trifloxystrobin)–Novartis–EPA has approved application to use on all cucurbits (cantaloupe, cucumber, honeydew, muskmelon, watermelon, pumpkin, and summer and winter squash) to control powdery and downy mildew. This use is in addition to its existing labeled uses on pome fruits and grapes. (Clemson Extension, SC Pumpkin News, vol. 4:2.)

INLINE (1,3-dichloropropene)–Dow AgroSciences–A new soil fumigant being developed to control nematodes and symphylans in vegetables.

METHYL PARATHION–Due to EPA action, the following uses will be canceled: apples, peaches, pears, grapes, nectarines, cherries, plums, carrots, succulent peas, succulent beans, tomatoes, artichokes, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celery, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard greens, rutabaga, spinach, and turnips. [insecticide]

RETAIN (AVG)–Abbott Labs–EPA issued an experimental permit for this growth regulator to use on 854 acres of stone fruits to improve harvest management. Authorized for use in AL, CA, GA, IL, NM, MA, MI, MT, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, and WA. Expires 4-1-2001. (FR, vol. 64, 8-4-99)

SERENADE (QST strain of Bacillus subtilis)–Agraquest–A new fungicide for the control of downy mildew, early blight, and brown rot on grapes, potatoes, and tomatoes.

VALERO (cinnamon oil)–Mycotech–A new insecticide being used on grapes to control mites and other insects.

(Michelle Wiesbrook, unless otherwise noted, adapted from Agricultural Chemical News, September and October 1999.)