mi-press-releases

News Release
NR-12-50
August 2, 2012

U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Michigan Field Office
Michigan Department of Agriculture
Post Office Box 30239
Lansing, MI  48909-6248

Phone:      (517) 324-5300
Facsimile:  (517) 324-5299
E-mail:     nass-mi@nass.usda.gov
Web site:   www.nass.usda.gov

Jay V. Johnson, Director

2011 Chemical Use Data for Fruit

USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released 
information on pesticides and pest management practices used on fruit for the 
2011 crop year.  The statistics are based on data collected on the Fruit 
Chemical Use Survey in the fall of 2011 for 23 fruit crops in twelve states.  

According to Jay Johnson, Director of the USDA, NASS, Michigan Field Office, 
insecticides were applied to 89 percent of Michigan bearing apple acres, down 
two percentage points from 2009. Insecticides were applied to 84 percent of 
the US bearing apple acres, down three percentage points from 2009.  The most 
widely used insecticide active ingredients in Michigan, with percent of acres 
applied in parenthesis, were chlorpyrifos (67 percent), azinphos-methyl (60 
percent), and imidacloprid (42 percent). At the National level, the top three 
were carbaryl (46 percent), chlorantraniliprole (45 percent), and 
chlorpyrifos (44 percent).  

Fungicides were applied to 90 percent of the Michigan apple acres, down 2 
percentage points from 2009.   Fungicides were applied to 84 percent at the 
US acres, down 1 percentage point from 2009.  The most commonly used 
fungicides in Michigan were captan (81 percent), mancozeb (80 percent), and 
ziram (39 percent).  At the National level, the top three were mancozeb (40 
percent), sulfur (39 percent), and myclobutanil (35 percent). 

For blueberries, insecticides were applied to 96 percent of Michigan bearing 
acres, unchanged from 2009.  Insecticides were applied to 84 percent of the 
US bearing acres, also unchanged from 2009.  The most widely used insecticide 
active ingredients in Michigan were phosmet (77 percent), zeta-cypermethrin 
(48 percent), and methoxyfenozide (46 percent).  The most commonly applied 
insecticides at the US level were phosmet (38 percent), zeta-cypermethrin (32 
percent), and malathion (30 percent).  

Fungicides were applied to 94 percent of Michigan bearing acres, up one 
percentage point from 2009.  At the National level, fungicides were applied 
to 87 percent of the bearing acres, unchanged from 2009.  The most widely 
used fungicides in Michigan were pyraclostrobin (67 percent), fenbuconazole 
(66 percent), and ziram (46 percent).  The most widely used fungicides were 
fenbuconazole (55 percent), pyraclostrobin (50 percent), and captan (44 
percent).
 
Insecticides were applied to 86 percent of Michigan tart cherry bearing 
acres, down two percentage points from 2009.   Insecticides were applied to 
87 percent of bearing tart cherries in the National program.  This was up two 
percentage points from 2009.  The most widely used materials in Michigan were 
phosmet (44 percent), imidacloprid (34 percent), and esfenvalerate (28 
percent).  The most widely used materials in the National program were 
azinphos-methyl (48 percent), phosmet (41 percent), and imidacloprid (32 
percent). 

Fungicides were used on 91 percent of Michigan bearing acres, down two 
percentage points from 2009.  Fungicides were used on 91 percent of the 
National bearing acres, up three percentage points.  The most commonly 
applied chemicals in Michigan were chlorothalonil (73 percent), sulfur (58 
percent), captan (51 percent).  The most commonly applied chemicals were the 
same and used on 67, 58, and 49 percent of acres, respectively.

The statistics by crop and by state are online at: 
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Chemical_Use/index.asp
.