Submit feedback for the agricultural chemical use surveys: The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is accepting stakeholder feedback in the form of data series and input requests for their Agricultural Chemical Use Surveys. 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. Authority to conduct these surveys is granted by Title 7 USC 136i-2 on collection of pesticide use information requires (a) …”collect data of statewide or regional significance on the use of pesticides to control pests and diseases of major crops and crops of dietary significance, including fruits and vegetables.” And, (b)“collection by surveys of farmers or other sources offering statistically reliable data.”, and Title 7, Section 2204 which specifies that "The Secretary of Agriculture shall procure and preserve all information concerning agriculture which he can obtain ... by the collection of statistics ... and shall distribute them among agriculturists."
Beginning in May 2010, NASS agricultural chemical use data was published to the Quick Stats 2.0 database only http://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/?sector_desc=ENVIRONMENTAL (full-text, printed publications have been discontinued).
DATES: Comments will be accepted on an on-going basis.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The environmental survey program provides data on agricultural fertilizer and pesticide usage, pest management practices, and postharvest chemical applications. Agricultural chemical use data are released for selected major field crops, fruits, vegetables, nursery and floriculture, and livestock and their facilities. Postharvest chemical use data are released for off-farm pesticide applications and pest management practices for selected crops, such as apples, oranges, potatoes, corn, wheat, rice, and peanuts. Pest management practices data, provides information on practices farmers use to reduce their dependency on agricultural chemicals (such as practices which improve the effectiveness of pesticides or are an alternative to pesticides). Pest management practices are categorized into four areas: prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and suppression. Pests include weeds, insects, and fungi.
Following is a list of environmental products released during the past year:
- Agricultural Chemical Usage 2009 Field Crops Summary was released May 2010.
- Agricultural Chemical Usage 2009 Fruit Summary was released July 2010.
- Agricultural Chemical Usage 2009 Nursery and Floriculture was released January 2011.
- Agricultural Chemical Usage Postharvest Application data were released in March 2011.
Recommendations which propose a new line of data needs for NASS’s Agricultural Chemical Usage Program must address the following justification categories:
1. Availability of data?
2. Additional data needs?
3. At what geographic coverage are the data needed? (U.S., State, County, other)
