Bulletins Live! Two, or BLT for short, is a web-based application to access the Endangered Species Protection Bulletins for your area. These bulletins are an extension of pesticide labels, therefore, are enforceable.  It is your responsibility as an applicator to check each pesticide label prior to spraying to comply.

Of course, as a government website – it is NOT user friendly and time consuming. The tutorial says the application runs most successfully using the following internet browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. Note – most successfully, not always successfully. In my first attempt on my MAC – it was a no go. My Safari browser was too new. Oof.

The location search tool is very broad. I would encourage you to type in a specific field address (or zoom to the specific field), but logistically that may not be the best option. At maximum, I would search by county for the bulletins. If you’re using the same pesticide in multiple counties, I’d do a bulletin for each county for your records.

The month the pesticide is going to be applied is also required. The bulletins are available for the current month as well as the next six months. If you are going to spray the same pesticide in multiple months – you will need to generate a report for each month.

Finally, you will need to input the EPA Registration Number for each pesticide and generate a report for each. The EPA Registration Number is found on the label. Most labels are available at cdms.net for quick reference. Be sure to use the EPA Reg. No and not the EPA Est. No. or the search will not work correctly. If you have input the correct number, then you will see the trade name show up in the box below.

If a PULA (Pesticide Use Limitation Area) exists for your intended application area a red polygon will show on the map. Click on the polygon to highlight it yellow. Limitations for the area will appear in the window. Click full details to see the restrictions in the Pesticide Use Limitation Summary Table and the Codes of Limitations Table.

Print or save the bulletins for each location searched. If no restrictions are shown for the area, you should still print or save the bulletins for your records.

Points of note:

  • The reports cannot be back generated. The reports are generated for the current month and the next six months. Print/Save the reports PRIOR to application.
  • Each component of the tank mix must be generated separately.
  • Reports must be generated for all pesticides: herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, etc.
  • It’s not possible to search your county and see all the pesticides that are restricted – I tried.
  • It’s cumbersome – so take advantage of the recent rains and get in compliance.

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About the Author: Karen Corrigan

Karen Corrigan, an independent agronomist and co-owner of McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics, offers specialized agronomic consulting services to farmers in the upper Midwest. With a focus on improving production practices, Karen excels in weed science and fundamental agronomy. A Certified Crop Adviser in both Illinois and Iowa, she holds a master’s degree in agronomy-weed science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Karen is the incoming chair for the Illinois CCA Board, showcasing her leadership in the field. As an instructor at Heartland Community College, she teaches classes on agronomy, soils, horticulture, and pest management. In collaboration with friends Kelsey Litchfield and Jen Campbell, Karen hosts the monthly podcast, Girls Talk Ag. Karen is a Tazwell County Master Gardener and volunteers by giving seminars to patrons and by helping to stock their free seed libraries. She is a member of the McLean County Farm Bureau and serves as the Community Outreach Chair. Karen is the leader of the McLean County STEAM Team 4H club. Karen is also a mom of two elementary aged girls, two doodles, and a tiny rescue dog.

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