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Sustainable Agriculture Literature Review - Boulder County

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7.1 Pesticide Usage<br />

Pesticides are commonly broken out into three major types: herbicides, insecticides, and<br />

fungicides (Graph 15). 528 They are used to control approximately 600 species of insects,<br />

1,800 weed species, and numerous species of fungi and nematodes all, of which are<br />

considered serious pests in agriculture. 529 There are three basic ways to evaluate<br />

pesticide usage. The first is the number of different pesticides applied on a given acre, the<br />

second is the total pounds of pesticide active ingredients applied per acre in a given year,<br />

and the third is the toxicity profile of pesticides used (section 10.1 Food Safety).<br />

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Graph 15: Overall Pesticide Usage 1964 to 2001 530<br />

The total pounds of active pesticide ingredients applied to crops rose steadily from early<br />

1960 until the 1980s, from which time it has remained relatively unchanged. 531 The initial<br />

increase in pesticide usage can largely be attributed to both the adoption of monocropping<br />

practices, which can make crops more vulnerable to pests, and to excessive or imprecise<br />

application of pesticides. Due to quality improvements in the mix of pesticide active<br />

ingredients, increases in the ability to target specific pests, and improved pesticide<br />

application methods and management by farmers, usage and growth rates leveled out. 532<br />

Additionally, between 1982 and 1990, commodity prices fell and as a result large amounts<br />

of land were taken out of production. 533 Despite these reductions in quantity, the per-unit<br />

price of synthetic pesticides has continued to increase. 534<br />

According to the USDA, since about 1990, pesticide usage has edged above the 1982<br />

peak, largely due to expanded use of soil fumigants, defoliants, and fungicides on<br />

potatoes, fruits, and vegetables. Total herbicides and insecticides have remained relatively<br />

unchanged despite more intensive insecticide treatments on cotton and potatoes, and an<br />

increased share of wheat acres treated with herbicides. 535<br />

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