The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced the availability of published chemical use statistics through a new Web site developed by North Carolina State University's Center for Integrated Pest Management. Data users can now:
Search agricultural chemical usage data based on crop, year, region, or active ingredient;
Extract various chemical usage statistics from previously published data; and
Create U.S. maps or descriptive charts based on these data. Data are currently available for crop years 1990 to 2001.
NASS began collecting chemical usage statistics in 1990. Crops and states surveyed each year change based on evolving program needs and budgeted resources. Information on the chemical use program, by year, is available on the new Web site.
This data can be accessed either by going to the NASS homepage at www.usda.gov/nass/ and clicking on the Pest Management icon or by going directly to the USDA Regional Pest Management Center's National Database Web site at www.pestmanagement.info/nass The sites also have information on contacts for technical and subject matter related questions.