There's Something in the Air
By Good Earth Food Alliance Grower, Amy Brucker
The machinery wove back and forth through the field, slowly dousing each plant with herbicide and stretching just beyond the rows to catch the weeds on the edges too. I watched with trepidation. Which way was the wind blowing? Did the farmer know I was there? Did the farmer know I grow vegetables organically and that my field is only 30 feet from his corn? As the farmer came over the field, our eyes met and I was relieved to know he saw me and took note of my efforts to raise vegetables by hand. He slowed and maneuvered his large machinery carefully around the rows near my field. The wind speed was minimal and I felt very fortunate to live next to someone who showed such responsibility and care in his farming practices.
About a week later I started to notice a difference. The last few broccoli plants in the row were turning pale. The last raspberry bush in the row had whitish leaves and was failing to thrive. The strawberries at the end of the row began to shrivel. Even under optimal conditions, it was likely that a small amount of chemical drift had hit my field. I began to understand why organic farmers are up in arms about chemical drift.
Yesterday in Springfield, the Illinois state Senate Committee on Agriculture and Conservation listened to 4 1/2 hours of testimony on farm chemical drift and decided to form a subcommittee to study what other states are doing to address this important issue. My friend and neighbor, Laura Collins, attended several of the sessions and listened intently to the dialog. She wasn't there because of wilted raspberry leaves; she was there because her two children were sprayed with a fungicide by an aerial sprayer. Here's what Laura had to say about the hearing:
As a mother of 2 children sprayed with the fungicide Quilt in August of 2008 (confirmed by an IDOA investigation) I was glad to see the well attended turnout at Wednesday’s hearing. I was only able to attend the first two panels so cannot comment on the 3rd panel or final discussion. I would like to thank Senator Koehler for his work in bringing this issue to a committee hearing and Representative Moffitt for asking several pointed questions regarding specifics in our case.
Regarding Mr. Bretthauer’s presentation on “Operation Safe Fly-In,” I was pleased to learn of its existence and scientific rigor in helping assure that crop sprayers are properly configured. However, Mr. Bretthauer’s testimony that 80-90% of pilots spraying in Illinois cooperate with the voluntary safety training seems overly optimistic. I believe in the case of aerial chemical application annual safety training and inspections ought to be mandatory, much like commercial vehicles are subject to annual safety inspections by IDOT. This requirement would help ensure that every aircraft capable of spraying chemicals was inspected and documented.
Regarding the sanctions imposed on pilots found to violate the regulations on safe spraying standards, I wonder as to the effectiveness of warning letters and fines of $500 - 750. The pilot found guilty of spraying our children last year was issued one of these advisory letters. What consequence does this equal beyond a symbolic slap on the wrist? What recourse do we have that ensures this same mistake of spraying over a house and humans will not happen again? I believe that some of the suggestions brought forth by Teresa Santiago, namely online registry for pilots, records of flight paths, and adhering to only spraying in prescribed weather situations are a decent start. In addition, I support a stronger enforcement for pilots and equipment, including required annual inspections of planes and up to date licensure and safety training. Consequences need to be stricter than a warning letter. A look at legislation passed in other states seems a good place to start. Opponents to these suggestions might give the argument that these steps would further burden financially-strapped farmers, however, we heard testimony of the dire financial consequences chemical drift can have on chemical free & organic farms while chemical companies continue to record healthy profits.
As a mother and citizen I believe additional steps need to be created to streamline a system of communication and information regarding chemical drift. In the instance where our children were sprayed last August, it took diligent and persistent efforts to uncover the facts of the parties involved and specific fungicide sprayed on the children. Full disclosure of chemicals used, their short and long-term health and environmental consequences and recommended remedies are certainly our right to know.
Finally, when Senators questioned Brian Poeppel from Broad Branch farm as to if he had tested his crops after a chemical drift incident I couldn’t help but wonder why the burden of proof should rest on his shoulders when he wasn’t the farmer applying the chemicals. There is no practice that I am aware of that small and organic farmers engage in that negatively impacts conventional farmers in the same way that chemical drift can financially, environmentally, and otherwise impact organic and chemical-free farms. This fiscal and moral responsibility should rest equally on the parties purchasing and applying the chemicals.
Today was a good step in the dialogue on this important issue. I am glad to that a permanent committee is forming and that Senator Koehler will continue his investigations.
Sincerely,
Laura Bush-Collins
Old Blue Illinois, Inc. / Trillium Dell Timberworks, dba
1277 Knox Road 1600 North
Knoxville, IL 61448
309.289.7921 office, 309.224.9980 cell
309.289.6031 fax
www.trilliumdell.comIt's evident that the time has come for more dialogue, better understanding of the farming practices of others, and to deeply question the global and human benefits of chemicals.
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