Sources of Pesticide Use Data in California

Jenny Broome

Editor's Note: This information was compiled for use by the SAREP Biologically Integrated Farming Systems program principal investigators.  Special thanks to Larry Wilhoit of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, James Liebman of the US Environmental Protection Agency, and Don Villarejo of the California Institute for Rural Studies for providing information and/or reviewing earlier drafts.

There has been a growing interest in California in obtaining information on agricultural chemical inputs.  These data can be used to evaluate a commodity's extent of reliance on specific agricultural chemicals and thus potential impact of regulatory changes such as the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996.   The information can also be used to evaluate over time the impact of recent initiatives to reduce use or reliance on particular agricultural pesticides and fertilizers like the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) program of SAREP.   It can also be used to set priorities for research programs by commodity groups interested in taking this approach.

California pesticide use data for all non-animal, production agricultural applications can be obtained through the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), county agricultural commissioners, and the University of California's Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Project.  In addition, data can be obtained on sales of pesticides through DPR and on estimates of sales through the US Environmental Protection Agency(US-EPA).  The US Department of Agriculture also conducts surveys every one to three years to obtain data on pesticide and fertilizer use.

This article presents more detailed information on how to obtain these data.

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Since1990, California has had a full use reporting system for all non-animal, production agricultural applications in the state. Each month a grower who applies the pesticide must file a Pesticide Use Report (PUR) with the county agricultural commissioner (CAC). Licensed pest control operators must file a PUR within seven days of an application. PUR reports include: county; geographic location (section, township, range, base and meridian);field identification; operator ID/permit number; operator name and address; applicator name and address; commodity/crop/site treated; acres or units planted; acres or units treated; date and time of application; application methods (air, ground, other); US-EPA/California pesticide registration number of product; pesticide product name and manufacturer; total amount of product applied; and the person who prepared the report. The CAC files the data with DPR which then performs some error checking, maintains the statewide data in a searchable database, and releases the data to the public.

In addition to the PUR, each county agricultural commissioner issues Permits for Use of Restricted Materials. All private applicators (farmers)who intend to use only unrestricted materials for commercial purposes within the county are also required to obtain a type of permit known as an Operator Identification Number. All of these permits include detailed crop and location information and, in the case of permits for restricted materials, must also specify what materials are planned for use and what pests they are intended to control. The PUR data and the permit data are public records and anyone can obtain full access to the data without any restriction except a promise not to use the information for litigation purposes.

A complete description of the California pesticide use reporting system is available at the DPR Web site at www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pur/purmenu.htm

Department of Pesticide Regulation

Summary Data. Summary of Pesticide Use Report Data, Indexed by Chemical and by Crop. Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, Calif. Published annually, 1996 is the most recent available year. These statewide summary data by crop and by chemical are available in printed form or on computer diskette. Contact: Cashier, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation, 830 K Street Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814-3510. This summary data is also available from the DPR Web site by chemical and by year (1993 - 1997) at www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pur/purmenu.htm

Individual and Summaries of Pesticide Application Records. The full data sets of individual application records of the PUR from 1990 to 1996(most recent) are also available from DPR. Entire year data sets are available on CD-ROM for $60 per year for 1995 and 1996. These PUR data can be purchased through the Information Systems Branch, contact: Ada Ann Scott, (916) 445-4110or Bev Martin, (916)445-4059. In addition, some PUR data can also be obtained from DPR's Environmental Monitoring and Pest Management Branch as individual application records or in summary tables, contact David Supkoff, at (916)324-4185.

Pesticide Sales Data. Annual Reports, Pesticides Sold in California, by Pounds of Active Ingredients. Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, Calif. Published annually, covers only active ingredients and pounds sold; there are no data on formulated products or on use.

DPR maintains several additional databases on registration and use of pesticides available at www.cdpr.ca.gov/dprdatabase.htm

UC Statewide IPM Project

DPR's PUR data has been checked for errors and made available (years 1990 through1994) through an on-line database by the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Project at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu. Individual application records are available or summaries by date, county, crop, and active ingredient.

Agricultural Commissioners

The PUR data can also be obtained directly from the CAC in many but not all counties. The most recent data are available from the counties before they are available through DPR. Requests usually must be custom prepared by the county staff. In some of the smaller counties, only the raw, hard copy PUR data are available but most counties can furnish diskettes with the full year's data. In addition to the PUR data, electronic copies of the Permits for Use of Restricted Materials and the permits known as an Operator Identification Numbers are also available in most counties. The counties with very small amounts of agriculture do not make this permit data available via diskettes. PUR data and permit data must be purchased from each county agricultural commissioner. Costs vary from $25 to several hundred dollars. Prices may vary depending on who is requesting the data, i.e. government agencies versus private for-profit or non-profit corporations.

United States Government Agencies

Information on pesticide use and sales can also be obtained through agencies of the United States Government. Two important sources are listed below.

US Environmental Protection Agency. Aspelin, A.L. 1997. Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage, 1995 and 1996 Market Estimates. Office of Pesticide Programs, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. This publication
includes estimates of pesticide sales and use. It covers only general categories of pesticides(e.g., fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, other). Available over the Web at www.epa.gov/oppbead1/95pestsales/index.html

US Department of Agriculture. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Agricultural Chemical Usage Summary. US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC. These volumes are issued everyone to three years and cover vegetable crops, field crops, and fruit and nut crops. The data are the results of grower surveys for only selected crops in selected states; for most of the crops covered California is included. Ordering information and some of the data are available at www.ntis.gov/fcpc/ntcallae.htm#Agriculture-Inputs&Technology   

Other Useful Publications

There are several other publications that may be useful in analyzing the impact alternative farming practices have on reducing pesticide use and environmental hazards. A brief list of key references follows:

Pesticide Toxicology Lists.

Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP). 1997. List of Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).1996. Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity. California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, Calif.

Rutz, R.1997. History of the listing of pesticides as restricted materials in California. Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, Calif.

Pesticide Enforcement Branch. 1997. California Restricted Materials Requirements. Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento, Calif.

Statewide Trends in Pesticide Use.

Liebman, J. 1997. Rising Toxic Tide: Pesticide Use in California 1991-1995. Pesticide Action Network and Californians for Pesticide Reform. San Francisco, Calif.

Wilhoit, L. et al, 1998. An Analysis of Pesticide Use in California 1991-1995, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Sacramento, Calif. PM-01. This report, released in December 1998, contains a more detailed look at statewide trends and which pesticides accounted for the increases reported in the Liebman report. The report may be accessed at www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/dprdocs/puranal.htm

Agricultural Production Statistics.

California Department of Food and Agriculture. 1996.California Agricultural Resource Directory, including Agricultural Production & Export Statistics for 1995.California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, Calif. This Web site also has data on the USDA estimates of pesticide and fertilizer use. Available at www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/

For more information: SAREP, One Shields Ave., University of California, Davis, CA 95616. email: sarep@ucdavis.edu

DEC.5 98 Contributed by Jenny Broome