Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
120
Azinphosmethyl
Phosmet
Methyl Parathion
Total OP active
ingredient
100
80
60
40
20
0
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Figure 3.6
Pounds of organophosphates used on California pears, 1993-2002. Source of
data: Pesticide Use Reporting database. Data extracted, analyzed, and provided
by Bob McClain of the California Pear Advisory Board. The volume of
pheromones is measured in fractions of ounces, not pounds, and does not regis-
ter on this chart.
any other commodity. 35 These researchers explain this reduction by
pointing to the economic advantage of new pyrethroids, fluctuations in
weather, as well as partnership activities. My focus is to explain the
social relations that partnerships fostered as one of the factors contribut-
ing to this organophosphate reduction (especially chapter 5).
Pear growers have reduced organophosphate use more rapidly than
any other commodity in the history of California agriculture by substi-
tuting pheromones, as shown in figure 3.6. Codling moth resistance to
organophosphates gave a strong impetus to these efforts, but the
economic advantage of pheromone mating disruption became undeni-
able by the late 1990s, according to Pat Weddle. Figure 3.6 suggests that
as pesticide resistance began to appear in the late 1990s, some growers
tried switching from azinphosmethyl to phosmet, but then found
pheromone mating disruption to be more effective and economical.
Methyl parathion was cancelled for use in pears in 2000.
Organophosphate use in pears in 2002 was 18 percent of 1998 levels.
This is the most rapid reduction in organophosphate use in the history
 
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