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NASS Environmental Data Program
In the early 1990s when public awareness of agriculture pesticides was heightened by the Alar scare on Apples, there was little information available to refute allegations of misuse of agriculture chemicals. In response to this incident and similar concerns, a variety of water quality and food safety initiatives began to surface through legislation. As a result of the public concern and resulting initiatives, NASS began collecting chemical usage statistics on a variety of crops. In addition, 1990 farm legislation mandated that NASS submit an annual comprehensive report concerning agricultural pesticide use. To meet these requirements, NASS has annually published reports covering the major field crops and fruits or vegetables (fruit and vegetable data collected in alternate years). Since these initial efforts began, NASS has continually evaluated the base chemical use program and made adjustments where necessary.
With public interest in food safety related issues continuing to increase, the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) was passed by Congress and signed by the President in August 1996 with the intention of providing consistent standards in assuring the safety of the U.S. food supply. The act called for re-evaluation of all currently registered pesticides and created tougher standards, particularly regarding potential risks to infants and children. Original priorities focused attention on dietary risks associated with agricultural pesticide use but transition into concern for cumulative risk has introduced worker exposure and ecological risk components. In order to effectively meet the requirements of FQPA, current and reliable usage data are needed for all registered chemicals.
Until the late 1990's, NASS concentration on environmental issues centered specifically around the use of pesticides on food crops. In early 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approached NASS with a request for collaboration on expansion of our environmental program to address food safety concerns (as they relate to microbial contamination). Funding for NASS participation in the food safety arena originated with the FDA and Department's desire to develop a baseline of agricultural practices related to harvest procedures and handling practices for fresh fruits and vegetables. To date, NASS has completed data collection for the first Fruit and Vegetable Agricultural Practices Survey and is analyzing data for targeted publication in late 2000. Plans are being considered for a follow-on study for fresh fruits in the fall of 2001.
Due to the data needs related to the FQPA, concerns about the general safety of the U.S. food supply, and issues about a variety of other environmental activities, much interest has been focused on the direction of the NASS program. Data users and partners have assisted NASS by providing specific program input which allows the agency to strategically plan and develop a comprehensive environmental program for the next several years. Over the past three years, NASS has become a more active partner in discussions regarding the data needs for FQPA, including how data gaps might best be addressed, evaluation of the science for the chemical risk assessments, and priority and goal setting within the Department and data user community.
Current Program
The following is a summary of current NASS environmental surveys, the commodities that are covered, and the detail of data that are published. State funded projects often expand these efforts beyond the scope discussed in the following text. All surveys are probability based samples designed to provide statistically reliable data at the State level. Data are collected for agriculture commodities in major producing States. Data for a given survey are typically collected over a 1 to 2 month period through face-to-face interviews with farm operators conducted by experienced field enumerators. In some cases, secondary interviews with chemical custom applicators, contract labor providers, and companies involved in production contracts are necessary.
Field crop chemical use data are collected through the Agricultural Resource Management Study (ARMS). ARMS is a 3 Phase survey effort conducted by NASS in cooperation with the Economic Research Service (ERS). The overall design of ARMS facilitates collection of data on resource use, costs of production, chemical use, and the structure and financial condition of farm businesses. The Fall Phase of ARMS (Phase II) focuses on the collection of chemical usage data and pest management practices related to field crops. Additional data are collected on other cropping practices and fertilizer applications.
Currently, there are three commodities that are surveyed on an annual basis: corn, soybeans, and upland cotton. Fall potatoes and wheat data are currently collected on a rotation basis in alternate years. Discussions are currently being held on potential commodity rotation in the future to facilitate the collection of additional crops' usage data. Other field crops have been included over the last 8 years based on needs of ERS to conduct Cost of Production studies. The Agricultural Chemical Usage Field Crops Summary is released in May of each year.
Vegetable, Fruit, and Nut chemical use data are collected on the NASS Vegetable, Fruit, and Nut Chemical Use Surveys. In alternate years, pesticide usage information is obtained for fruit and vegetable crops covering 80 to 85 percent of the U.S. acreage. The fruit and vegetable surveys target virtually all fruit, nut and vegetable crops in the NASS official estimating program. Fruit and nut pesticide statistics are collected during odd numbered years for bearing acres in all States except California and Arizona, where all acreage (bearing and non-bearing) is covered. Vegetable usage data are collected during even numbered years for planted acreage.
In the Fall of 2000, data are being collected for 42 vegetable crops in 19 States. In the Fall of 1999, chemical use statistics were collected for 30 fruit and nut crops in 14 States. Agricultural Chemical Usage - Vegetables is released in July of odd numbered years while Agricultural Chemical Usage - Fruits and Nuts is released in July of even numbered years. The next release will be for vegetables and will be published in July 2001 for the 2000 crop year.
Nursery and Floriculture chemical use data will be collected for the first time in early 2001 for the 2000 crop year. NASS anticipates that key data variables available from this first data collection effort will include products applied, where applied, amount of active ingredient applied, area treated, number of applications, method of application, production categories, and who made applications. Current survey specifications call for release of Agriculture Chemical Usage - Nursery and Floriculture in the fall of 2001. Subsequent Nursery and Floriculture chemical use surveys will be conducted every other year.
Data are collected for chemical use applications following harvest for specific commodities on the annual Postharvest Survey. NASS implemented an annual Postharvest pesticide use survey in 1997 to address levels of pesticide use on specific commodities that are treated following harvest. To date, 6 commodities have been surveyed: apples, potatoes, corn, wheat, soybeans, and oats. This year NASS is conducting a postharvest survey for peanuts and rice. Decisions on future commodities for the Postharvest survey will be made at a later date after seeking input from data users.
Agricultural Chemical Usage - Postharvest Applications is released in May of each year for data collected for previous year applications. Postharvest data were published for soybeans and oats in May 2000. The next release for peanuts and rice will be available in May 2001.
A survey directed toward whole farm pesticide use and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices was conducted annually by NASS from 1997 through 1999. NASS collected pesticide usage data related to livestock, general farm use, pasture, and rangeland in the fall of 1997. On the December 1998 Fall Area Survey, NASS collected pesticide usage information on barley, oats, hay, pasture and rangeland. Collection of chemicals applied to livestock were collected in late Fall 1999, but was limited to beef and dairy cattle applications, including information on pesticide applications to cattle structures. In addition, this survey effort provided IPM data to assist the Department in analysis of grower participation in IPM. Due to the general purpose design of the Fall Area Survey, reliable pesticide use statistics were not always achievable at the state level for targeted commodities.
The initial data released from the Fall Area Survey were published in the Pest Management Practices Summary. The 1999 Pest Management Practices publication was released on April 4, 2000 and the 2000 report will be available in May 2001. Agricultural Chemical Usage - 1997 Livestock and General Farm Summary was published in April 1999 with use statistics for general farm use, livestock, pasture and rangeland and in May 1999 for barley, oats, hay (alfalfa and other), and pasture and rangeland. Agricultural Chemical Usage - 1999 Cattle and Cattle Facilities was published in April 2000.
For calendar year 2000, the Fall Area Survey has been discontinued, but similar data will be collected through integration with other data collection efforts. A survey will be conducted in February to March 2001 to gather information on pest management practices. Also, data collection has been completed for a Swine and Swine Facility chemical use study with data release scheduled for December 2000. Tentative plans also exist for a Sheep and Sheep Facility study in early 2001.
NASS recently conducted the first Fruit and Vegetable Agricultural Practices Survey in early 2000 designed to establish a baseline of grower and packer practices related to fresh fruit and vegetable production. These agricultural practices relate to field environment, irrigation water, manure use, harvest operations and workers, packing operations and workers, and crop identification systems. NASS's involvement in this area is directly linked to the Department's efforts to address the President's FY 2000 Food Safety Initiative.
Future NASS Environmental Data Program
The core NASS environmental survey programs are: Field Crop, Fruit and Vegetable Chemical Use; Agricultural Practices; Post Harvest Chemical Use; Integrated Pest Management; Livestock Chemical Use; and Nursery and Greenhouse Chemical Use. These survey programs have originated at different times to satisfy varying data requirements, some of which have since changed. As with any evolving science or program, the needs of data users are always changing. Therefore, the environmental program is open for review to determine the relevant data needs for the future.
NASS is seeking input to assist in strategic planning for the future. The following questions provide a general outline of the types of issues that concern NASS as we consider future program direction.
Due to the ever changing needs of the agricultural community and primary data users, the NASS data collection plan for chemical use and usage data has been dynamic the past ten years. Although responsive to needs of the user community, this has not always provided the most efficient use of resources nor provided an ability to integrate new initiatives into existing program areas. With a recent reorganization of Headquarter's staff, NASS has recommitted agency resources to ensure that future programs be established systematically but continue to respond to evolving data needs. This commitment will also ensure that our primary client, the farmer, will be more efficiently served and not overly burdened in the process.