mi-news-releases

News Release
NR-07-60
July 26, 2007

U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Michigan Field Office
Michigan Department of Agriculture
Post Office Box 26248
Lansing, MI  48909-6248

Phone:      (517) 324-5300
Facsimile:  (517) 324-5299
E-mail:     nass-mi@nass.usda.gov
Web site:   http:/www.nass.usda.gov

David D. Kleweno, Director

                 2006 Vegetable Chemical Usage Report Released                  

The ninth Vegetable Summary in the series of "Agricultural Chemical Usage" 
reports issued by the USDA, NASS through the Michigan Field Office. This 
report contains statistics for on-farm use of commercial fertilizers, 
agricultural chemicals, and integrated pest management practices from 
producers of targeted vegetable crops. Other publications that have 
statistics for on-farm agricultural chemical usage have focused on 
agricultural chemical usage for field crops (May 2007) and chemical usage on 
dairy cattle and dairy cattle facilities (May 2007). 

Chemical use information for fruit is collected in odd numbered years, while 
vegetable information is collected in even numbered years. Information in 
this report is provided from a survey funded by the USDA Pesticide Data 
Program. The purpose of the Pesticide Data Program is to provide reliable 
pesticide use statistics and to enhance the quality of information on 
pesticide residues in food. Multiple agencies within the USDA administer this 
program. This data series addresses the increased public interest in 
agricultural chemical use and provides the means for government agencies to 
respond effectively to food safety and water quality issues.

The entire series of chemical usage statistics since 1990 for Michigan and 
the U.S. can be found on the NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov. The 2006 
Michigan statistics will also be included in the 2007 Michigan Agricultural 
Statistics bulletin, published in September.

The 2006 Vegetable Chemical Usage Report includes farm use of pesticides for 
23 targeted vegetable crops in 19 major states. The crops surveyed in 
Michigan were asparagus, snap beans for processing, carrots for fresh market 
and processing, cucumbers for fresh market and processing, pumpkins, squash, 
and sweet corn for fresh market.

The following information on pumpkins provides an example of what can be 
learned from the report:

Herbicides were used on 70 percent of the 2006 pumpkin acreage versus 68 
percent in 2004. Nationally, 79 percent received at least one application of 
an insecticide in 2006. The most commonly used insecticide in both 2006 and 
2004 in Michigan was Esfenvalerate (Asana, Ortho Bug-B-Gon), with 19 and 17 
percent receiving application, respectively.

Fungicides were applied to 62 percent of pumpkins in Michigan in 2006, down 
from 68 percent in 2004. Fungicides were applied to 75 percent of acreage 
nationally in 2006. The most popular fungicide in both 2006 and 2004 in 
Michigan was Chlorothalonil (Bravo, Quadris) with 50 and 56 percent, 
respectively.              

Additional details about the data series can be obtained by contacting Nicole 
Norris or Dave Kleweno at (800) 453-7501.