Luther defends lawn herbicide spraying

Luther College has defended the May 27th herbicide application on campus.

Luther officials say according to readings taken during the Memorial Day weekend, the contractor hired by Luther, "No Lawn Left Behind" of Des Moines, was well within state, local and college policies regarding herbicide drift. when it applied fertilizer and herbicides.

"The college takes its responsibility to the environment and the Decorah community very seriously which is why our policies regarding the application of herbicides are even stricter than the state's policies," said Luther College Director of Facilities Services Rich Tenneson.

The college maintains a standard that there be a minimum of 30 feet between spraying equipment and non-target areas. On Sunday, May 27th, the closest proximity to the Decorah Municipal Pool fence was 50.5 feet, said Luther officials.

In applying herbicides, the college will not spray when wind speed exceeds 10 miles per hour.  The college says No Lawn Left Behind used a wind anemometer throughout the application period in order to measure wind speeds on site. Wind speeds recorded Sunday, May 27th, did not exceed eight miles per hour, according to college officials.
 
Thecollege claims the highest temperature recorded on Sunday, May 27th, was 74 degrees.  However, the National Weather Service says the high temperature on Sunday, May 27th, was90 degrees.  The manufacturer's guidelines for Horsepower, the spray used, specifies it can be used in temperatures up to 90 degrees.

Concluded the statement from Luther College, "The college's policy on herbicide application employs a holistic approach to turf management through fertilization, aeration, overseeding, use of salt-resistant grass seed adjacent to sidewalk edges and irrigation. Luther's Facilities Services assesses the need for herbicide application, schedules the application and keeps appropriate records of each application. We have chosen contractors who take Luther College's environmental concerns to heart, and who abide by all national, state and local regulations."