Pesticide Applications in U.S. Agriculture
Modern agriculture in the U.S. is heavily dependent on the application of chemical compounds both before and after planting a crop. The proper application of these chemicals to the target crop or pest is dependent on the condition of the equipment used for their application and the quality of the carrier [usually water] that the chemicals are mixed with.
• The sprayer that is used for applying chemicals to a field or crop should be properly cleaned between the application of different materials. The label for the chemical that was applied by the sprayer will likely stipulate the use of a particular commercial tank cleaner product. If so, then best sprayer cleanout results will be obtained if the stipulated product is used.
• Click here for a sprayer cleanout video from the Univ. of Nebraska.
• Pay particular attention to mixing order of products added to a spray mix since mixing in the wrong order can create a concoction that will reduce efficacy of the applied pesticide. Tank-mixing of chemicals that are to be applied should be done in the order stipulated on the label for the products that are used.
• Proper nozzles should be used, and they should be checked often to ensure effective application.
• Use height sensors to ensure that the spray boom maintains a uniform height above the target.
• Follow the product label regarding details about quality of the water that is used as a carrier for a pesticide that is to be applied. Particularly be cognizant of the temperature of the water that is used as a pesticide carrier since water temperature can affect the performance of some pesticides. Click here for a Purdue Univ. publication titled “The impact of water quality on pesticide performance’.
• Follow the product label regarding additives that may be used/added to the spray mixture to mitigate water quality issues.
• Follow the product label regarding the volume of mixture that should be applied per acre to attain maximum effectiveness from application of the applied pesticide. Specifically, contact herbicides depend on coverage for maximum effectiveness, so erring on the side of exceeding the volume amount stipulated in the label is better than cutting the volume below that stipulated in the label.
CropLife America commissioned the Univ. of Arkansas to assess the environmental benefits from and impact of pesticide use in corn, cotton, and soybean crops in the U.S. This resulted in a report titled “Life cycle assessment of impacts of eliminating chemical pesticides used in the production of U.S. corn, soybeans, and cotton“. A brief summary of the findings presented in the report follow.
• Use of pesticides [fungicides, insecticides, herbicides] in U.S. crop production increased rapidly in the 1960-2008 period. This large increase was mainly the result of increased use of herbicides for weed control.
• Not using pesticides results in a precipitous decline in crop yields.
• Not using pesticides in the growing of corn, cotton, and soybeans resulted in more land, energy, and water use, and more greenhouse gas emissions.
• Using pesticides enhanced productivity and reduced the pressure on water, land, and energy resources used in the production of the three crops.
• This independent assessment demonstrated that pesticide use in agriculture plays a critical role in increasing crop yields and decreasing the consumption of natural resources used in the production of those yields.
• A final point from this assessment is “pesticide use in agriculture is a major contributor to food security both now and in the future”. This is a significant finding for the world’s increasing population that will continue to grapple with food security.
Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, June 2024, larryh91746@gmail.com