New York Ag Connection - NASS: Fungicides Common Apple, Blueberry, Peach Pesticide

New York Ag News Headlines

NASS: Fungicides Common Apple, Blueberry, Peach Pesticide
New York Ag Connection - 07/29/2010

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Agricultural Chemical Use Program is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's official source of statistics about on-farm and post-harvest fertilizer and pesticide use and pest management practices.

In the fall of 2009, NASS collected data about chemical use and pest management practices for 23 fruit crops in 12 states, which included California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Washington. Apples, blueberries and peaches were the most prevalent fruit crops covered by the 2009 Fruit Chemical Usage Survey, with each being grown in at least six states.

Fungicides were the most common type of pesticide used on apples, blueberries and peaches. They were applied to 87 percent of the blueberry acres and 85 percent of the peach and apple acres. Insecticides were applied to 87 percent of apple acres, 84 percent of blueberry acres and 81 percent of peach acres. Herbicides and other chemicals were less extensively used.

On apples, Carbaryl was the most widely used insecticide. It was applied to 51 percent of the apple acreage at a rate of 1.707 pounds per acre. On peaches, Esfenvalerate was the most widely used insecticide. It was applied to 51 percent of the peach acres at a rate of 0.126 pounds per acre.

On blueberries, the leading insecticide applied was Phosmet. It was applied to 36 percent of the blueberry acres at a rate of 1.848 pounds per acre.

Nitrogen, the most widely used fertilizer ingredient, was applied to 89 percent of blueberry acres, 80 percent of the peach acres and 67 percent of the apple acres. Nitrogen was applied at an average rate of 79 pounds per acre to the peach crop, 73 pounds per acre to blueberries and 36 pounds per acre to apples.

Phosphate was applied to 69 percent of the blueberry acres, 33 percent of the apples acres and 23 percent of the peach acres. Potash and sulfur were less extensively used.

Fruit growers reported using several management practices to aid in the deterrence of pests through prevention, monitoring and suppression. Among the commonly used practices were: scouting for insects and diseases, irrigation of crop acres and the use of alternative pesticides with different mechanisms of action.

The 2009 agricultural chemical use data for fruit were published Wednesday and are available through the Quick Stats database on the NASS website: www.nass.usda.gov.