Des Moines Register s12

Des Moines Register

08-20-07

40 complaints over aerial spraying since July 1

By JERRY PERKINS

Complaints over aerial spraying of crops have increased this year, as farmers try to contain a soybean aphid outbreak and other problems.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has received 40 complaints over aerial spraying since July 1, compared with 13 in the 12 months previous, said Chuck Eckermann, chief of the pesticide bureau.

Most of the complaints concern the drifting onto a neighboring field or home site of a corn fungicide known as Headline, Eckermann said, or of pesticides meant to kill soybean aphids.

Iowa State Extension agronomist Palle Pedersen said this year’s infestation of soybean aphids is the worst in four years in Iowa.

Eckermann said the license of Kinco Ag Aviation, an aerial spraying company from Beech Grove, Ark., was suspended Aug. 1 by the department. The company was accused of spraying Headline on 36 seed corn detasselers last month near Marshalltown.

A hearing on the suspension was held Aug. 10 by an administrative law judge. A ruling is expected by Sept. 10, Eckermann said.

Eckermann said the state has licensed 217 businesses to apply agricultural chemicals by airplane. Of those 217, 175 are from other states, he said.

Most of the complaints have been filed by homeowners, whose houses allegedly have been sprayed with chemicals, or by organic farmers, who cannot be certified organic producers if they chemicals are applied to their crops.

The department is waiting for test results to come back before it issues more suspensions, Eckermann said. The complaints are not made public until the investigation is complete.

Marlin Rice, Iowa State University entomologist, said many fungicides and pesticides are regulated because they can be toxic.

However, he said, insecticides used today are relatively safe.

“When they are applied properly, according to label rates and on the approved crops, they can be beneficial,” Rice said. “There is some training needed for applicators, but that doesn’t always prevent a problem.”