News & Media :: Daily Log
Do You Know
Jul 1, 2010
Conventional potato production in Washington State remains remarkably pesticide intensive, according to the most recent data (crop year 2005) on pesticide use from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
On the average acre of potatoes planted in Washington in 2005 --
- Over 10 different pesticides were applied, including 4.6 fungicides, 2.2 herbicides, 3 insecticides, and 1.3 other pesticides;
- Over 17 acre-treatments were made on each acre (an "acre-treatment" is the application of a single pesticide to an acre or field);
- Almost 10 pounds of fungicides were applied per acre, over 5 pounds of insecticides, and 2 pounds of herbicides, for a total 14 pounds of H+I+F per acre.
The above totals do not count the average 103 pounds per acre of "Other Pesticides" applied on Washington State potato fields. These other pesticides include the soil fumigant metam-sodium, which is applied at a rate of 158 pounds per acre and dichloropropene (applied at 160 pounds/acre).
Access full details on pesticide use in Washington State potato production in 2005 on the Center's website.
