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Ag Officials Developing Program to Prevent Specialty Crop Damage
Specialty crops are becoming more popular in Illinois, and the Illinois Department of Agriculture is trying to prevent the crops from being damaged by pesticides.

Officials say specialty crops, like organic farms and vineyards, sometimes are damaged from chemical pesticides used on corn and soybeans. The agriculture department is developing maps based on global information systems to locate the specialty crops. People who apply chemicals to fields will have access to the maps through the internet.

Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association president Jean Payne says the new GIS program is actually meant to provide protection for all farmers.

"So, we're really trying to meet half-way," Payne said. "Respecting the need to have our corn and soybean production, but also the need of a specialty person who may have a new crop in an area that we're not used to seeing these types of things."

Payne supports the program, which is based on a similar successful design in Indiana.

Officials say the Illinois program will allow farmers to voluntarily contact the ag department with their GIS coordinates. Applicators then have the responsibility to check the maps before spraying neighboring fields.

Payne says the groups needed a better system of communication, and she believes the new program provides that solution.

The goal is to have the program up and running by the start of next year's crop season.
06 07 10 by Newsroom
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