With the snow piled high in February, we in Wisconsin think of summer as a long way off. But only by acting before March 1 can we protect our loved ones from unwanted pesticide exposure this summer. Wisconsin’s Pesticide Notification Registry, created in 1993, is designed to help people keep track of pesticide use in their neighborhoods. Under this free program, a commercial applicator must give at least 12 hours advance warning to those on the registry before applying pesticides nearby. 

"The registry provides useful information for people who want to avoid health threats from pesticides in their neighborhoods," said Susan Mudd, State Program Director for Citizens for a Better Environment. But she points out that "while this is a useful program, many Wisconsin residents still don’t know about it."

Maria Powell, a Milwaukee resident, has found the registry to be invaluable. "I was pregnant last summer, so it was good to know which areas to stay away from. This coming summer, I’ll have a new baby, so we’ll be able to go out without having to worry about whether or not we’re being exposed to pesticides from surrounding lawns."

Once a person has requested to be notified, they still must renew their registration yearly. If you signed up in the past and have not sent in your renewal card by March 1, you will be taken off the list. According to Karen Fenster, pesticide specialist at the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection, a relatively large percentage of those on last year’s list have yet to renew. 

To be notified of pesticide applications in your neighborhood, you can request a postcard be sent to you by Citizens for a Better Environment. The postcards must be received by DATCP by March 1 for notification during this calendar year. To request a registration card and pesticide information kit, contact Citizens for a Better Environment at (414) 271-7280 or (608) 251-2804. 

For general information on the pesticide rule and registry, call DATCP at (608) 224-LAWN. For pesticide emergencies, call the Division of Emergency Management at (800) 943-0003. To report violations of the pesticide rule, call DATCP at (608) 224-4500.