Before making pesticide applications this spring, make sure to check areas near fields to prevent off-target pesticide exposure. Herbicide labels often require applicators to consult a sensitive crop registry to identify nearby non-target plants, beehives, or organic farms before application. For example, the dicamba products Engenia, Stryax and Tavium require documentation that the sensitive crop registry was checked.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship partners with FieldWatch for the Iowa Sensitive Crops Registry. FieldWatch provides applicators the locations of registered:
- Beehives/apiaries (registered using the BeeCheck Apiary Registry)
- Certified organic crops, Non-GMO crops, and commercial vegetables, nursery crops, vineyards, orchards, and Christmas trees (registered using the DriftWatch Specialty Crop Site Registry)
Pesticide applicators can view these sites by using the FieldCheck registry. Applicators with an account can designate specific areas and receive notices of new entries. For more information on accessing the website or app refer to the encyclopedia article.
Pesticide Applicator Responsibilities
Bees
Private and commercial pesticide applicators must follow any label language to minimize harm to bees and other pollinators. The Iowa Bee Rule requires commercial pesticide applicators to check the registry before an application of a pesticide toxic to bees to blooming crops. Commercial pesticide applicators cannot make the application during the most active bee foraging hours of the day ( between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.) if the application site is within one mile of any actively registered hives. Applicators are not required to contact hive owners.
Specialty crops
Follow label directions to prevent spray drift and other damage to sensitive and high value crops. Avoiding all off-site movement is the responsibility of the applicator.
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on April 6, 2026. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.
- Pesticide Safety Education Extension Specialist