|  |
Pesticide Use Trends in the U.S.: a 20-Year U.S. Summary1
Frederick M. Fishel2
Introduction
The EPA, in cooperation with the USDA and FDA, is responsible for regulating the production and use of pesticides in the U.S. This document provides data on volumes used and sales of pesticides from EPA survey data available for the 20-year period, 1987 - 2001. The intent of this information is only to present an objective profile and does not attempt to interpret, reach conclusions about, or make inferences regarding the data. Conclusions should not be drawn in regards to impacts on human health, the environment, or the economy.Data sources
The data reported in this document are based upon EPA estimates. EPA does not have a program devoted specifically to estimating pesticide use; rather, they use the best available information from the public domain and proprietary sources. The data are approximate values and not statistically precise. The sources that EPA consults for compiling this information include:
- The Pesticide Data Center in the Biological and Economic Analysis Division of EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs;
- Several national database services for compiling agricultural pesticide use data, including the USDA; and
- Proprietary data sources with vendor permission, including Doane Marketing Research, Inc., Kline and Company, Inc., SRI, Inc., Wood Mackenzie; and Mike Bukley, Inc.
Explanation of data components
The data presented in the tables separate broad classes of pesticides - herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and other pesticides. The "herbicide" data combine plant growth regulators (PGR) with them, while "fungicides" and "other" pesticides are presented as combined data and include sulfur, petroleum oil, nematicides, fumigants, rodenticides, molluscicides, aquatic, and pesticides for the control of birds and fish. Data for wood preservatives, specialty biocides, and chlorine/hypochlorites are not included in the tables under any pesticide class. Totals may not add precisely due to rounding. In reporting the amount used, data contained in Tables 5 - 8 are presented as pounds of active ingredient (a.i.) per acre. The data presented in the "other" pesticide category are for miscellaneous pesticides including nematicides, fumigants, sulfur, petroleum, and other chemicals used for pesticides, such as sulfuric acid and insect repellents. These data represent the combined pesticide usage in the major markets of agriculture, home and garden - which include pesticides applied by homeowners, both indoors and outdoors. These two market sectors do not include pesticide applications by professional applicators. Industrial/commercial/governmental uses involve pesticides applied by professional applicators to industrial, commercial, and governmental facilities; plus custom/commercial applications to homes and gardens, including lawns.Tables 6 - 8 present total volumes of pesticides applied by market sector.
Additional information
- Kiely, T., D. Donaldson, and A. Grube. 2004. Pesticides Industry Sales and Usage: 2000 and 2001 Market Estimates. EPAs Biological and Economic Analysis Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, and Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides .
Tables
Table 1. U.S. pesticide expenditures, all market sectors.
Year
Expenditure (Millions of Dollars)
Herbicides/PGR
Insecticides
Fungicide and Other
Total
2001
6,410
3,124
1,556
11,090
2000
6,365
3,129
1,671
11,165
1999
6,368
3,046
1,741
11,155
1998
6,853
2,872
1,691
11,416
1997
6,846
2,957
1,528
11,331
1996
6,599
2,849
1,521
10,969
1995
6,276
3,017
1,488
10,781
1994
5,944
2,722
1,408
10,074
1993
5,094
2,479
1,259
8,832
1992
5,004
2,198
1,183
8,385
1991
4,682
2,139
1,223
8,044
1990
4,473
2,083
1,171
7,727
1989
4,305
1,978
1,141
7,424
1988
4,121
1,964
1,190
7,275
1987
3,973
2,008
1,049
7,030
1986
3,858
1,759
967
6,584
1985
3,920
1,823
963
6,706
1984
4,488
1,809
708
7,005
1983
3,870
2,074
731
6,675
1982
3,772
2,014
540
6,326
Table 2. U.S. pesticide expenditures, agricultural sector.
Year
Expenditure (Millions of Dollars)
Herbicides/PGR
Insecticides
Fungicide and Other
Total
2001
4,987
1,326
1,091
7,404
2000
5,007
1,411
1,194
7,612
1999
5,012
1,370
1,243
7,625
1998
5,632
1,427
1,209
8,268
1997
5,610
1,551
1,124
8,285
1996
5,399
1,480
1,128
8,007
1995
5,112
1,607
1,107
7,826
1994
4,008
1,293
1,036
7,137
1993
3,987
1,123
895
6,005
1992
3,915
1,058
829
5,802
1991
3,644
687
884
5,215
1990
3,463
1,067
842
5,372
1989
3,255
978
800
5,033
1988
3,080
1,010
775
4,865
1987
2,935
1,145
650
4,730
1986
2,775
914
600
4,289
1985
2,900
990
615
4,505
1984
3,390
903
418
4,711
1983
2,800
1,261
450
4,511
1982
2,465
1,109
268
3,842
Table 3. U.S. pesticide expenditures, industry/commercial/government sector.
Year
Expenditure (Millions of Dollars)
Herbicides/PGR
Insecticides
Fungicide and Other
Total
2001
792
510
233
1,535
2000
762
468
255
1,485
1999
794
463
289
1,546
1998
728
425
292
1,445
1997
743
386
214
1,343
1996
721
458
208
1,387
1995
700
527
202
1,429
1994
679
533
197
1,409
1993
660
406
191
1,257
1992
648
378
186
1,212
1991
616
328
176
1,120
1990
593
307
169
1,069
1989
630
317
180
1,127
1988
600
394
240
1,234
1987
576
330
210
1,116
1986
642
316
192
1,150
1985
600
315
180
1,095
1984
720
365
150
1,235
1983
720
288
144
1,152
1982
852
305
142
1,299
Table 4. U.S. pesticide expenditures, home and garden sector.
Year
Expenditure (Millions of Dollars)
Herbicides/PGR
Insecticides
Fungicide and Other
Total
2001
631
1,288
232
2,151
2000
596
1,250
222
2,068
1999
562
1,213
209
1,984
1998
493
1,020
190
1,703
1997
493
1,020
190
1,703
1996
479
910
185
1,574
1995
465
883
179
1,527
1994
456
895
175
1,526
1993
446
870
174
1,490
1992
441
762
168
1,371
1991
423
724
162
1,309
1990
417
710
160
1,287
1989
420
683
161
1,264
1988
441
601
175
1,217
1987
462
534
189
1,185
1986
441
529
175
1,145
1985
420
518
168
1,106
1984
378
542
140
1,060
1983
350
525
137
1,012
1982
445
600
130
1,175
Table 5. U.S. pesticide amounts used, all market sectors.
Year
Million Pounds of Active Ingredient
Herbicides/PGR
Insecticides
Fungicides
Other
Total
2001
553
105
73
472
1,203
2000
542
122
74
496
1,234
1999
534
126
79
505
1,244
1998
555
103
86
462
1,206
1997
568
112
81
467
1,228
1996
578
116
79
456
1,229
1995
556
125
77
452
1,210
1994
583
124
79
443
1,229
1993
527
115
80
440
1,162
1992
554
116
81
435
1,186
1991
546
114
86
408
1,154
1990
564
121
91
425
1,201
1989
567
123
98
405
1,193
1988
557
132
99
403
1,191
1987
532
141
100
402
1,175
1986
590
151
109
416
1,266
1985
611
161
110
422
1,304
1984
634
173
109
429
1,345
1983
573
185
115
435
1,308
1982
620
198
117
447
1,382
Table 6. U.S. pesticide amounts used, agricultural sector.
Year
Million Pounds of Active Ingredient
Herbicides/PGR
Insecticides
Fungicides
Other
Total
2001
433
73
42
359
907
2000
432
90
44
382
948
1999
428
93
45
390
956
1998
465
69
54
348
936
1997
470
79
53
353
955
1996
481
81
51
342
955
1995
461
85
49
338
933
1994
485
80
48
326
939
1993
425
72
47
320
864
1992
450
78
45
311
884
1991
440
77
47
284
848
1990
455
82
50
297
884
1989
460
85
54
274
873
1988
450
91
54
272
867
1987
425
98
52
271
846
1986
481
105
59
282
927
1985
501
113
59
288
961
1984
516
122
56
294
988
1983
455
131
59
296
941
1982
503
141
59
308
1011
Table 7. U.S. pesticide amounts used, industry/commercial/government sector.
Year
Million Pounds of Active Ingredient
Herbicides/PGR
Insecticides
Fungicides
Other
Total
2001
49
15
19
50
133
2000
48
17
19
52
136
1999
52
19
24
53
148
1998
41
21
24
52
138
1997
49
20
20
52
141
1996
49
24
20
52
145
1995
48
28
20
53
149
1994
52
30
23
54
159
1993
56
30
25
56
167
1992
58
27
28
57
170
1991
60
26
30
58
174
1990
63
27
31
60
181
1989
63
27
31
60
181
1988
64
27
32
61
184
1987
65
28
34
61
188
1986
68
29
36
64
197
1985
70
30
37
64
201
1984
78
31
38
65
212
1983
80
32
40
69
221
1982
80
33
41
69
223
Table 8. U.S. pesticide amounts used, home and garden sector.
Year
Million Pounds of Active Ingredient
Herbicides/PGR
Insecticides
Fungicides
Other
Total
2001
71
17
12
63
163
2000
62
15
11
62
150
1999
54
14
10
62
140
1998
49
13
8
62
132
1997
49
13
8
62
132
1996
48
12
8
62
130
1995
47
12
8
61
128
1994
46
13
8
63
130
1993
46
13
8
64
131
1992
46
12
8
66
132
1991
46
12
9
67
134
1990
46
12
10
68
136
1989
44
12
13
70
139
1988
43
13
13
70
139
1987
42
14
14
70
140
1986
41
16
14
70
141
1985
40
18
14
70
142
1984
40
20
15
70
145
1983
38
22
16
70
146
1982
37
24
17
70
148
Footnotes
1. This document is PI-142, one of a series of the Pesticide Information Office, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date January 2007. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Frederick M. Fishel, associate professor, Agronomy Department, and director, Pesticide Information Office; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to them in this publication does not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of suitable composition. Use pesticides safely. Read and follow directions on the manufacturer's label.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.