When you hear a song on the radio that’s been around for years, you find yourself singing along. Kansas farmers feel the same way about their atrazine best management practices. Through their state checkoffs, Kansas corn and grain sorghum growers funded research at Kansas State University to develop atrazine best management practices in 1996. Fifteen years later, growers are still using these BMPs to reduce atrazine runoff, according to Jere White, executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association.
“Looking back at 1996, “The Macarena” was the #1 hit song. I’m sure many of our growers can still dance The Macarena, but they are more likely to remember many of the Kansas atrazine BMPs released that same year,” White said. “When you look at our use of BMPs including no-till and reduced till practices, our growers have been very proactive and successful in reducing atrazine runoff.”
Atrazine continues to be a target of environmental groups and trial attorneys. While the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Drinking Water Standard for atrazine is a conservative 3 parts per billion, activists are pursuing lawsuits over atrazine levels that are well within the legal limits. The World Health Organization, however, recommended in October that the drinking water standard for atrazine should be set at 100 parts per billion.
“Atrazine continues to be the poster child of activists and junk scientists, but it is a necessary part of weed control for our corn and grain sorghum farmers,” White said. “Over the years, we have learned how to use much lower rates and more responsibly. In fact, atrazine is a key component for many growers in their use of conservation tillage, which has a multitude of environmental benefits.”
Farmers can choose the practices that fit best in their farm management scheme. The BMPs include practices like incorporating atrazine in the top two inches of soil, using pre-plant applications in the spring or fall; reduced rates, split applications and establishing vegetative or riparian buffers.
Vegetative buffers and riparian forest buffers continue to be a popular and effective method to reduce runoff for growers whose fields are near waterways. Buffers continue to be promoted by the Kansas Conservation Commission and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as an effective way to reduce runoff.
“In addition to reducing runoff, conservation buffers offer important habitat for wildlife,” White said. “This is a win-win for growers and the environment.”
When considering Best Management Practices, farmers should select BMPs that fit within their management systems, are economical and will be most effective in reducing atrazine runoff.
“K-State Extension offices can advise growers on best management practices that work best local areas, and I would encourage growers to visit their local extension office for advice,” White said. “Many of the BMPs that were developed are widely used today and are a basic part of farming practices.”
