Bloomington, Ill.-Agriculture interests had a significant role in developing new legislation signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn to prevent lawn care fertilizer and chemical runoff into the state’s waterways. Efforts by the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Assn. (IFCA) were aimed at assuring that the final language in this legislation was workable for the lawn care industry, according to IFCA Pres. Jean Payne. “The practices outlined in the legislation mirror the best management practices that the fertilizer industry has always endorsed and also provides important uniformity with regard to the regulation of lawn care applications,” Payne advised Green Markets. “Previously, local units of government could enact their own lawn care product ordinances, creating inconsistent regulations that were difficult for the industry to track from town to town, and difficult for local officials to enforce. This legislation provides a uniform statewide regulation that will be enforced by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.” Quinn signed the bill into law earlier this month. “It’s the duty of everyone to provide and maintain a healthy environment for this and future generations,” Quinn declared at a ceremony in Elgin along the Fox River. “This is all about clean water and making sure it’s available to everyone.” Under the bill, a lawn care service needs to establish a phosphorous deficiency before applying fertilizer on a residential lawn. In addition, fertilizers may not be applied to solid surfaces, and spills must be cleaned thoroughly. No fertilizer can be sprayed or applied by a rotary or drop spreader within three feet of a body of water or if the ground is saturated or frozen. The legislation passed the General Assembly unanimously on June 3 and takes effect immediately.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain