DATCP: Columbia County atrazine prohibition area expands

Contact: Jane Larson (608) 224-5005

MADISON—Beginning April 1, 2009, some corn growers in Columbia County will have to find different products to control weeds in certain corn fields because the use of atrazine, a popular corn herbicide, is prohibited.

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has added about 1,830 acres to existing atrazine prohibition areas in the Town of Lowville. The additional acres connect two prohibition areas in the south central part of Columbia County.

A prohibition area is a location where atrazine or weed control products that contain atrazine, cannot be used. There are 101 atrazine prohibition areas in Wisconsin, covering approximately 1.2 million acres.

Test results from drinking water wells in the area and a follow-up environmental investigation prompted the expansion. “The investigation determined that if growers continued to apply atrazine on area fields, these applications would likely contribute to additional groundwater contamination,” explained Stan Senger, Environmental Quality section chief. “It’s an unfortunate circumstance for the farmers in the area that rely on atrazine for weed control, but it’s not entirely unexpected as the new acreage lies between two areas where the use of atrazine is already prohibited.”

While selecting weed control products, Senger advises farmers or pesticide applicators to pay close attention to the labels as some products contain a mixture of active ingredients.

“Check the product label carefully for active ingredients because it may not be obvious that a pesticide contains atrazine just based on the product name,” Senger said.

Maps of the expanded prohibition area and all other atrazine prohibition areas are available on the department’s web site at http://www.datcp.state.wi.us then search on ‘atrazine.’

For questions on atrazine use in Wisconsin or the prohibition areas, contact Rick Graham, water quality specialist, at 608-224-4502 or rick.graham@wi.gov.

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