Ep. 216 Chemical Trespass in Illinois: How Herbicides Are Impacting Native Trees and Ecosystems | #GoodGrowing

In this episode of the Good Growing Podcast, hosts Chris Enroth and Emily Swihart are joined by horticulture educator Ryan Pankau to unpack a 2024 study from the Illinois Natural History Survey. The topic? Chemical trespass—how herbicides and other pesticides are drifting into Illinois’ natural areas and impacting native ecosystems, impacting a keystone group of trees - oaks.

Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/44Ue4HbGS7Y

Skip to what you want to know: 
00:33:12 Hello Emily!
01:35:06 Welcome, Ryan Pankau!
02:18:18 What report are we talking about? Understanding the extent and consequences of chemical trespass for Illinois ecosystems
02:57:12 How has the landscape of Illinois changed historically to where we are today?
10:16:15 What is chemical trespass?
12:58:18 What organizations conducted this study?
16:49:15 What type of data was collected? What species seemed to be most impacted?
19:14:23 What is the ecological impact of pesticide trespass in our forests?
24:30:24 Does this just impact trees on the edges of fields or throughout a forest?
25:20:02 What did the data show in the collection samples?
27:31:09 What was the percentage of chemical trespass observed?
29:56:00 Can we solely rely on visual assessment to determine levels of herbicide trespass?
33:32:06 What they didn't find much of - dicamba and neonics
34:46:00 What does a tree that has been impacted by herbicide drift look like?
40:32:17 The importance of the lab tests in this study.
41:02:16 What do you do when your tree is impacted by herbicide trespass?
48:50:01 Can you prevent this damage or is there a way to protect trees and gardens from being damaged?
56:51:03 While there seemed to be a big focus on herbicide trespass, the study found a lot of fungicide in the later season samples. What is the impact of fungicide?
1:01:12:15 Our key takeaways from this report

Contact us! 
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Emily Swihart eswihart@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu
 
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Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.

All photos by Chris Enroth
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
 
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Creators and Guests

Chris Enroth
Host
Chris Enroth
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties
Ken Johnson
Host
Ken Johnson
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott Counties
Ep. 216 Chemical Trespass in Illinois: How Herbicides Are Impacting Native Trees and Ecosystems | #GoodGrowing
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