Terra Brockman is a busy woman. As founder of the not-for-profit Land Connection, she works tirelessly to promote “community-based food systems in the Midwest in which every farmer has the opportunity to grow food in a sustainable manner, and every person has the choice to enjoy local and organic foods.” She’s one of Illinois’ most persuasive advocates of creating a sustainable food system.

But when we last met, she wanted to talk about something other than The Land Connection’s workshops or initiatives. Something besides her just-published book. Brockman wanted me to know about an Illinois Senate Agriculture and Conservation public hearing that will be held Sept. 30 on chemical drift.

Agricultural chemical drift isn’t a new issue.

Environmentalists have long cited chemical fertilizers, herbicides and insecticide runoff with polluting bodies of water. In 2005, when the U.S.D.A. collected such data, Illinois farmers used 30 million pounds of herbicide on corn alone. But there’s a new player on the agricultural chemical block: fungicides.

Four years ago conventional farmers began worrying about the potential spread of soybean rust from the South to the Midwest. Even though soybean rust has not yet been able to withstand northern winters, “the idea of taking preventive measures against disease was off and flying” said Western Illinois University agriculture professor Gordon Roskamp.

Everyone agrees that crop spraying in Illinois is increasing dramatically. Proponents insist it’s safe, and that strict adherences to U.S.D.A. protocols and guidelines are followed to insure that spraying affects only targeted fields, with little impact elsewhere on crops, animals, or humans. Those opposed strongly disagree. They cite the lack of enforcement during the previous administration of those U.S.D.A. restrictions, many of which concerned weather conditions such as wind, humidity and heat. Clare Howard of the Peoria Journal-Star wrote a recent series of articles about the crop-spraying controversy. Carlock, Ill., organic farmer Denny Wettstein was quoted saying that, “with fewer farmers doing their own spraying than in the past, most chemical applications are now done by companies under contract with the farmers.

Terra Brockman will be guest speaker at the Illinois Stewardship Alliance fundraiser Sept. 25 at Pasfield House. She will be signing copies of her book, also available at Food Fantasies. The event will include a sparkling wine and cheese reception at ISA’s new location across from Pasfield House, a silent auction and a local foods menu. Call 528-1583 or visit ilstewards.org.

“These big companies have so many acres to cover and they can’t interrupt their schedule due to weather. They won’t stop,” Wettstein said.

Grapevines can be particularly susceptible to chemical drift — a threat to Illinois’ wine industry, not least because most are adjacent to conventionally farmed corn and soybeans. Mackinaw Valley Vineyard owner Paul Hahn experienced devastation this year because of drift from the herbicide 2,4-D. “My vineyard was burned real bad this spring,” he says in Howard’s articles. “I can’t tell the extent yet, but it’s bad. All my neighbors know I have grapes, and they all know what 2,4-D (drift) does to grapes, but someone used it.”

Even more terrifying is a rural Knox County family’s story. When Rick Collins picked up his two young children, he found his babysitter’s yard had just been sprayed by a passing plane. In the pool, his six-year-old daughter, Arianne, had dunked her head under the water. Three-year-old Liam, however, was still wet from the spray. Collins rushed the chil-