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Method for Estimating Pesticide Use for County Areas of the Conterminous United States

Open-File Report 2000–0250
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr00250

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Abstract

Information on the amount and distribution of pesticide compounds used throughout the United States is essential to evaluate the relation between water quality and pesticide use. This information is the basis of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program studies of the effects of pesticides on water quality in 57 major hydrologic systems, or study units, located throughout the conterminous United States. To support these studies, a method was devised to estimate county pesticide use for the conterminous United States by combining (1) state-level information on pesticide use rates available from the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, and (2) county-level information on harvested crop acreage from the Census of Agriculture. The average annual pesticide use, the total amount of pesticides applied (in pounds), and the corresponding area treated (in acres) were compiled for the 208 pesticide compounds that are applied to crops in the conterminous United States. Pesticide use was ranked by compound and crop on the basis of the amount of each compound applied to 86 selected crops. Tabular summaries of pesticide use for NAWQA study units and for the Nation were prepared, along with maps that show the distribution of selected pesticides to agricultural land.

Suggested Citation

Thelin, G.P., and Gianessi, L.P., 2000, Method for estimating pesticide use for county areas of the conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2000–0250, 67 p., https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr00250.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • The National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy’s State Pesticide Use Database
  • Method For Estimating County Pesticide Use
  • Limitations of the County Pesticide Use Data for Water-Quality Assessment
  • Summaries of Pesticide Use
  • The National Water-Quality Assessment’s Study Unit Summaries
  • Map Displays of Pesticide Use Data
  • Summary
  • References
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Method for estimating pesticide use for county areas of the conterminous United States
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2000–0250
DOI 10.3133/ofr00250
Year Published 2000
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) National Water Quality Assessment Program
Description 67 p.
Country United States
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details