{"id":3019,"date":"2010-01-26T01:10:00","date_gmt":"2010-01-26T05:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=3019"},"modified":"2010-01-26T01:10:00","modified_gmt":"2010-01-26T05:10:00","slug":"california%e2%80%99s-pesticide-use-declined-yet-millions-of-pounds-of-toxic-pesticides-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2010\/01\/california%e2%80%99s-pesticide-use-declined-yet-millions-of-pounds-of-toxic-pesticides-continue\/","title":{"rendered":"California\u2019s Pesticide Use Declined, Yet Millions of Pounds of Toxic Pesticides Continue"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, January 26, 2010) Pesticide use declined in California for a third consecutive year in 2008, according to the state\u2019s Department of Pesticide Regulation<\/a> (DPR). Approximately 162 million pounds of reported pesticides were applied statewide, a decrease of nearly 10 million pounds – or 6 percent – from 2007. Pesticide use in production agriculture fell by 9.6 million pounds and in most other categories as well, including structural pest control and landscape maintenance. Reports are mandatory for agricultural and pest control business applications, while most home, industrial and institutional uses are exempt.<\/p>\n

DPR Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam emphasized that pesticide use varies from year to year depending on a number of factors, including weather, pest problems, economics and types of crops planted. Increases and decreases in pesticide use from one year to the next or in the span of a few years do not necessarily indicate a general trend.<\/p>\n

“California experienced another dry winter and spring in 2008, which helps explain why fungicides showed the greatest decrease in use by both pounds and acres treated,” Ms. Warmerdam said. “Herbicide use also fell by pounds and acres treated, indicating fewer weeds.”<\/p>\n

Sulfur<\/a> was again the most highly used pesticide in 2008 both in pounds applied and acres treated. It is a natural fungicide favored by both conventional and organic farmers<\/a> used primarily to control powdery mildew on grapes and processing tomatoes. By pounds, sulfur accounted for 25 percent of all reported pesticide use. Its use decreased by 5.7 million pounds – or 12 percent – from 2007 to 2008 and accounted for most of the reduction in reported pesticides.<\/p>\n

Metam sodium<\/a> and methyl bromide<\/a>, highly toxic fumigants, top the list behind sulfur for highest amount of fumigants<\/a> used throughout the state. The pesticide with the greatest rise in pounds applied was the fumigant potassium n-methyldithiocarbamate, also called metam-potassium<\/a>, which increased by 1.7 million pounds, or 45 percent, used to treat soil for growing tomatoes and carrots.<\/p>\n

Insecticide use dropped by pounds applied, but grew slightly by acres treated, a change DPR scientists said reflected more growers shifting from broad-based insecticides to newer products more specific to the pest and lower in toxicity to people and the environment.<\/p>\n

Major crops or uses that show an overall increase in pounds of pesticides applied included carrots, processing tomatoes, fresh market tomatoes, tangerines and public health purposes such as mosquito control. The data shows a decrease in pounds applied to wine grapes, table and raisin grapes, cotton, lumber and oranges.<\/p>\n

The top five counties in order of most pesticide pounds applied in 2008 are Fresno, Kern, Tulare, Monterey and Madera. All are major producers of agricultural products.<\/p>\n

Other details from DPR\u2019s 2008 pesticide report that compares 2007 and 2008 data:<\/p>\n