Agricultural Chemical Use - Postharvest Wheat 2010

POSTHARVEST WHEAT 2010

Overview
The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)
Agricultural Chemical Use Program is the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s official source of
statistics about on-farm and postharvest fertilizer
and pesticide use and pest management practices.
In the summer and fall of 2010, NASS collected
data about pesticide applications on all wheat and
pest management practices for all grains handled

at off-farm storage facilities. This postharvest
survey was conducted for wheat marketed from
June 1, 2009 through May 31, 2010. These results
are based on 1,634 reports from operators in 14
program states: Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota,
Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas and
Washington.

Agricultural Postharvest Chemical Use Wheat Program States , 2009-2010

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

www.nass.usda.gov

Insecticides

A total of 267,700 pounds of insecticides were
applied to postharvest wheat in the 14 program
states. In terms of total amount applied, silicon
dioxide was the most common insecticide.
In terms of percent of volume treated, aluminum
phosphide and s-methoprene were the most
commonly used insecticides, at 15.5 and 2.0
percent, respectively. Aluminum phosphide is an
insecticidal fumigant used to kill insects, insect
larvae and mites. S-methoprene is an insect
growth regulator.

%

Lbs. per
1,000
Bushels

Lbs.

Aluminum phosphide

15.5

0.236

118,300

Carbon dioxide

0.2

0.389

1,900

Chlorpyrifos-methyl

0.1

0.161

500

Deltamethrin

0.1

0.029

100

Malathion

0.3

0.204

1,700

Phosphine gas

0.2

0.008

(Z)

Silicon dioxide

0.3

15.307

139,100

S-methoprene

2.0

0.072

4,800

(Z) Total applied is less than 50 lbs.

de

Million Bushels

%

Lbs.

Colorado

78.3

20.3

10,700

Idaho

110.8

11.7

Kansas

758.4

Minnesota

r
he
Ot

Ins

Fu
n

ec

gic
i

tic

Vo
Ha lum
nd e
led

ide

s

s

Percent of Volume Treated and Total
Applied by Pesticide Class

%

Lbs.

3,400

(D)

(D)

37.3

108,400

(D)

(D)

171.0

1.0

2,100

Missouri

26.5

20.9

1,300

(D)

(D)

Montana

165.9

1.6

10,400

0.8

9,600

Nebraska

142.3

23.1

14,300

North Dakota

428.0

0.1

6,600

Ohio

106.0

16.2

19,400

Oklahoma

167.0

63.4

33,400

Oregon

184.8

6.8

1,200

(D)

(D)

South Dakota

137.1

4.2

1,300

Texas

373.3

10.0

16,600

(D)

(D)

Washington

389.2

14.0

38,600

(D)

(D)

3,238.7

18.1

267,700

0.1

18,800

Total

Ra
Ma te p
r ke er
tin
gY
ea
r
To
tal
Ap
pli
ed

Vo
lu

Insecticides

State

Insecticides Used by
Program States

m

In the 2009-2010 marketing year, a total of 24
separate pesticide active ingredients were used
on wheat handled by off-farm storage operators
in the 14 program states. Insecticide active
ingredients were the most widely used pesticide
class, accounting for 18.1 percent of the total
volume handled. Only 0.1 percent of the volume
was treated with fungicides.

Bt. Kurstaki ABTS-351, cyfluthrin, imidacloprid,
lambda-cyhalothrin, pirimiphos-methyl and
thiomethoxam were also applied. Due to the
small number of reports of these chemicals, data
were withheld to avoid disclosing information for
individual operations.
eT
rea
ted

Pesticides

(D) Insufficient reports to publish data for this pesticide class.

%

Lbs.

(D)

(D)

(D)

(D)

Percent of Applications by When Applied

Fungicides

In the program states, fungicides were the next
most common pesticide class applied to wheat
after harvest, with a total of 18,800 pounds
applied. In terms of total amount applied, the
most widely used fungicides were difenoconazole
and thiram. The fungicides carboxin, imazalil
and ipconazole were also applied. There were an
insufficient number of reports to publish data for
these fungicides.

Ra
Ma te p
r ke er
tin
gY
ea
r
To
tal
Ap
pli
ed

Fungicides

Vo
lu

m

eT
rea
ted

Fungicides Used by
Program States

%

Lbs. per
1,000
Bushels

Lbs.

Difenoconazole

(Z)

6.937

8,100

Mefenoxam

(Z)

0.744

900

Metalaxyl

(Z)

1.278

400

Tebuconazole

(Z)

0.835

300

Thiram

(Z)

23.651

6,400

Tritconazole

(Z)

2.042

200

5%

9%

15%

71%

In Bound

During Binning

While Stored

Out Bound

Percent of Applications by Method*
5%

4%

9%

4%

9%

(Z) Percent of volume treated was less than 0.05 percent
for all fungicides.

Other

Other chemicals were the less commonly used
class of active ingredients. Program states
reported using sulfuryl fluoride on postharvest
wheat. Due to the small number of reports of
these chemicals, data were withheld to avoid
disclosing information for individual operations.

When Applied and Method

Postharvest wheat chemical applications happen
at different times in the storage process and
are applied by different methods. Of all the
postharvest chemical applications made to wheat
in 2009-2010, 71 percent was applied during
storage. The most common method of application
was mixing pellets or tablets, accounting for 70
percent of all applications.

70%
Direct Powdering

Direct Spray

Mixing Pellets/Tablets

Re-circulation

Seed Treatment

Top Dress

* May not add to 100 due to rounding.

Pest Management Practices

State

Mechanical Device

Cleaning Activity

n
Pic
Sp k U
i lle p
dG
rai

Ae
Co rati
nt on
ro
lle
r

Most Common Mechanical
Devices and Cleaning Practices
Used for Pest Management

Co
Ve ntro
Ar geta l
ou ti
nd on
Bin
s

Grain storage operations used several different mechanical devices and cleaning practices to deter pests. For
all grains handled, the most commonly used mechanical device was the aeration controller, 47 percent of the
operations used this device. The two most common cleaning practices were controlling vegetation around
the bins and picking up spilled grain, 96 percent of the operations engaged in both of these practices.

Cleaning Activity

Percent of Operations
Colorado

40

82

84

Idaho

71

94

99

Kansas

45

98

98

Minnesota

51

98

98

Missouri

24

93

96

Montana

24

99

93

Nebraska

39

92

93

North Dakota

48

100

97

Ohio

46

92

93

Oklahoma

56

98

98

Oregon

66

88

86

South Dakota

54

100

100

Texas

43

97

98

Washington

63

92

96

Total (Average)

47

96

96

For More Information

The 2010 agricultural chemical use data for postharvest wheat were published March 16, 2011 and are
available on the NASS website: www.nass.usda.gov.
To access the database directly, go to 'quickstats.nass.usda.gov' and under 'Sector,' select 'Environmental.'
For assistance call the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540.
NASS will publish additional data from the Agricultural Chemical Use Program
through 2011, including:
Corn, Organic Corn, Upland Cotton and Fall Potatoes, 2010 Crop Year - May 2011
Vegetables, 2010 Crop Year - July 2011

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

www.nass.usda.gov