The use of pesticides subject to reporting requirements in the US state of California fell by 1.4% to 209 million lbs (94,801 tonnes) in 2016, according to the latest survey by the California EPA’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR).
The use of pesticides subject to reporting requirements in the US state of California fell by 1.4% to 209 million lbs (94,801 tonnes) in 2016, according to the latest survey by the California EPA’s Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). The sector with the largest decline was production agriculture, which saw a 1.7% drop to 191.7 million lbs. There were increases in use of post-harvest, structural pest control and landscape maintenance treatments.
The active ingredients with the highest reported volumes of use were: sulfur (48.7 million lbs); mineral oil (25 million lbs); 1,3-dichloropropene (14.1 million lbs); petroleum oil (10.2 million lbs); and potassium N-methyl dithiocarbamate (9.3 million lbs). Sulfur accounted for 23% of all reported pesticide use in 2016, the DPR notes.
Crops treated with the most pesticides were almonds, grapevines, tomatoes and strawberries. Among the crops with the largest increase in pesticide use were: oranges (+1.2 million lbs or 12%); rice (+1 million lbs, or 23%); and grapevines (+945,350 lbs, or 6%). The largest declines were recorded for pistachios (-2.6 million lbs, or -34%) and soil fumigation (-2.6 million lbs, or -33%).
Pesticide use in California (000 lbs)1
|
Category
|
2015
|
% change
|
2016
|
|
Agriculture
|
195,115.70
|
-1.7
|
191,738.20
|
|
Structural
|
4,299.10
|
7.5
|
4,622.70
|
|
Post-harvest
|
1,475.20
|
11.9
|
1,650.80
|
|
Landscape
|
1,690.90
|
3.3
|
1,747.50
|
|
Other2
|
9,312.40
|
-1.1
|
9,213.70
|
|
Total3
|
211,893.20
|
-1.4
|
208,972.90
|
1 subject to reporting requirements – excludes home garden pesticides and disinfectants; 2 includes rights of way, public health, vector and vertebrate pest control and timber fumigation; 3 may not add up due to rounding. Source: DPR.
