Acknowledgements
The authors would like to extend their appreciation and thanks
to the individuals who participated in this survey. This project could not have been completed without
their help.
We would like to gratefully acknowledge the help and support
we received from Cornell Cooperative Extension agents.
We would like to extend special thanks to Mr. Richard
Hager and Mr. Herb Phelps, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for their
help in obtaining and allowing for recertification credits to be offered for filling out this survey.
Without this, our survey would have been extremely limited.
Special thanks to Donna Kowalski, Research Aide, Pesticide
Management Education Program, Cornell University and Kathy Brower, Program Support for entering
data, mailing out certificates, contacting basic manufacturers and helping put this report
together.
Finally and most importantly, we would like to thank
all of the poultry producers who took time out of their busy schedules to complete the
survey.
Introduction
The need for IPM research has become critical over the
last 11 years due to Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) 88 and the
new Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). In 1988 FIFRA was amended. A requirement of FIFRA
88 was that all pesticides registered by the EPA prior to 1984 had to now go through the
current, more rigorous reregistration process. Unfortunately, poultry are considered a
minor crop by the agrichemical companies. Therefore, many of these companies have made
the economic decision not to pursue the reregistration of these pesticides due to the
high costs of the additional required testing. Furthermore, we have not had new chemistry
for poultry arthropod pest management for almost 13 years. Also, the new Food Quality
Protection Act of 1996 establishes a strong health-based safety standard for pesticide
residues in all foods including poultry products. It also requires EPA to consider
non-occupational sources of exposure, including drinking water and exposure to other
pesticides with a common mechanism of toxicity when establishing tolerances. As a result,
it makes it extremely difficult for registrants to develop new chemistry for poultry
arthropod pest management.
This has generated a tremendous problem for poultry
pest management by allowing the use of only a few pesticide active ingredients, which has
resulted in exceptionally high levels of pesticide resistance in our pest populations. In
the absence of effective pesticides, the poultry industry is now desperate for new,
cost-effective pest management options and is more willing to try pesticide alternatives
such as biological control.
Researchers and extension personnel must continue
to work toward development of user-friendly recommendations and systems which encourage
use and acceptance of IPM practices. Integration of appropriate poultry IPM information
into animal health, management, and production programs will help enhance adoption of IPM
practices by clientele.
Previous Work and Present Outlook
The overall assessment and effectiveness of
pest control techniques for the New York State poultry industry is an ongoing process
for scientists at Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Science. Not only must the
specifics of pest dynamics and pest-induced losses be assessed, but the more general problem
of designing and implementing appropriate pest management systems for producer acceptance must
be addressed as well.
The New York poultry industry produces approximately
$86 million dollars worth of processed poultry products that are sold in New York and around
the world. Although small in comparison to some southeastern broiler states which produce
over a billion dollars in processed poultry products and small in comparison to the New York
dairy industry, the New York poultry industry makes a significant contribution to the total
agribusiness production of the state equal in size to that of the cabbage and onion industries
combined. In addition, New York produces two products which are internationally recognized
the ISA-Babcock laying hen and the Long Island duck.
The largest portion of the New York poultry
industry is the egg industry with 86% of poultry revenue. Over 931 million eggs are produced
by poultry farms in the state, enough to provide every citizen in the state with 50 eggs.
The value of those cartoned and delivered eggs in 1996 was $52 million dollars. These
revenues traditionally have been divided among a diverse group of farmers as shown in the
agricultural census of 1997:
Number of Farms |
Number of Chickens |
| 319 |
50 to 3,199 |
| 31 |
3,200 to 100,000 |
| 10 |
More than 100,000 |
Although New York is not a major poultry meat
production state, there are broilers and turkeys being grown and processed in New York
for niche markets. About 8 million, high value Kosher broilers are processed in the state,
of which 25% are grown in New York. In addition, another million broilers are grown to be
sold live to processors in Canada and a few hundred thousand are sold live in New York City.
There are also 12.1 million pounds of turkey grown and processed in New York. The turkey and
broiler meat grown and processed in the state are worth more than $5.1 million dollars.
Responses from the last industry survey undertaken
in 1992 indicated that "Over half (56%) of the producers felt that flies were one of the
most important pests affecting the industry, followed by lesser mealworm and other
destructive beetles (48%), and northern fowl mites (8%)." Most (61%) felt that flies
were the most difficult pest to control as well.
Many poultry producers feel they are losing the war
against flies in their houses due to pesticide resistance. Over time, the percentage of
resistant flies increases and the insecticide that was once effective now provides only
partial control for a short time. Resistance to chemicals spreads rapidly among farms by
fly migration. This has been demonstrated using the insecticide permethrin (Ectiban, Atroban).
When it was first introduced, permethrin controlled flies for 4-8 weeks. Now control only lasts
a few days. Resistance problems are further compounded by the fact that dairy farms and
other animal production facilities use most of the same insecticides that poultry producers
use. Pesticides that were available and effective to poultry and livestock producers six
years ago (when the last survey was undertaken) have become ineffective due to resistance
or have been removed from the marketplace.
In the absence of the above mentioned products
and techniques, it is essential to determine what control measures (chemical, cultural,
and biological) are being utilized to combat pests of the poultry industry. In addition,
it is important to determine the efficacy of current pest control practices as well as the
economic results brought about due to the changes in pest control strategies.
Regulators and programs attempting to address the
issues surrounding pesticides have a critical need to obtain use information about those
chemicals being applied in the crop production systems grown in New York State. Pesticide-use
data are lacking for many commodities in most states (Gianessi, 1987). In today's setting, the
absence of pesticide-use information has created numerous misunderstandings associated with
consumer concerns over food safety and health effects of pesticides. In addition, public policy
decisions, corporate manufacturing decisions and other decisions which have an impact on
agricultural programs and productivity are often misguided due to a lack of this type of
information.
Regional programs such as IR-4 and IPM along with
state regulatory agencies are generating significant amounts of data on various pesticide
topics which can be computerized for faster retrieval and on-line updating. Long range tactical
and strategic decisions will require more extensive information, especially in regard to
pesticide recommendations and use, disposal and storage. Also, recent developments regarding
pesticides in groundwater, residues in food, endangered species, and the general acceleration
of the EPA reregistration process are placing an increased pressure on the agriculture system
to provide the needed reliable data.
Pesticides will undoubtedly continue to play a
major role in pest management programs in the future, but their true impact and significance
must be broadly examined. Metcalf (1980) has reviewed the changing role of insecticides
in agriculture. Croft and Brown (1975) examined the impact of insecticides on natural enemies
of insects and mites. Turpin and Maxwell (1976) reported on pesticide use surveys conducted
among Indiana growers. Pesticide use surveys are available for New York (Roberts, 1981; Stark
and Ackerman, 1988; Partridge et al., 1992) and the northeast (Specker et al., 1986; USDA,
1978). This current project has attempted to assess overall costs, economic benefits, and
pesticide use impact.
Present pest management techniques rely heavily
on chemicals. Today, pesticides and their cost of application are a significant production
expense for producers. Over 7 million pounds of pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, and
fungicides) are annually applied in New York agricultural production systems. This single
method approach, although often effective, can have serious drawbacks including the
development of pesticide resistance and destruction of natural enemies of these pests.
The data generated from this report will allow researchers and others to evaluate and
assess the use/need of agricultural chemicals in the poultry industry.
A systems approach to pest management
utilizing optimal integrated pest management practices [chemical (least toxic),
cultural and biological] and best production practices would greatly benefit the poultry
industry in New York State. Although such a system is under development at Cornell University
through the Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM), additional information on the use and
effectiveness of current control practices is necessary to aid in the assessment, evaluation
and planning of this effort. The collection and evaluation of such data is expected to greatly
aid other states in similar poultry program developments as well.
Computerization of pesticide information is rapidly
becoming a necessity as regulatory agencies expand their activities through enforcement,
monitoring, and certification of pesticide applicators. Educational institutions responsible
for providing information and pesticide applicator training must also expand their capabilities
for quick updating, fast retrieval, and delivery of information when needed. Data generated
from this project will improve the timeliness and quality of pesticide information and pest
control strategies for New York poultry producers. Also, by using the Pesticide Management
Education Program WWW page, information can be developed and accessed for use by USDA personnel.
Extension and research specialists can also access PMEP's Web page (http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu)
to assist producers in developing pest management strategies, as well as assessing chemical
use/needs.
Objectives
- To obtain the following information for poultry production systems within New York state:
Birds housed/caged (layers, pullets, broilers)
Average production (eggs/meat)
Each pest affecting the bird
- To develop informational programs for producers and expand the database of
information currently accessible through Cornell's Pesticide Management Education
Program World Wide Web page for access by university, USDA, regulatory personnel and
others needing pesticide impact assessment information.
Project Design, Implementation and Analysis
Procedures:
1 - General Methods: Working directly with Cornell
Cooperative Extension personnel, university IPM specialists, and the New York State Department
of Agriculture and Markets, a direct contact/mail survey program was undertaken to gather
information for the production systems outlined above. Working closely with poultry/field
crops IPM specialists, data was collected relative to the use of alternative pest control
techniques and the economic benefits derived from the use of those alternatives. Direct
contact with producers was undertaken through winter meetings initiated by Cornell
Cooperative Extension agents/specialists and the Cornell Pesticide Management Education
Program. Pesticide applicator training recertification credits were awarded to those
attending a formal presentation relative to the survey, as well as completing the survey form.
The importance of various pesticides in EPA's
Special Review and those affected by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) was
evaluated. Pesticides currently in use, as well as those expected to be registered/reregistered
in the near future, were considered that relate to grower/producer decisions in pest management.
2 - Assessment and Reporting:
Computerization of pesticide information is rapidly becoming a necessity as regulatory
agencies expand their activities through enforcement, monitoring, and certification of
pesticide applicators. Educational institutions responsible for providing health,
environmental and pesticide safety education must also expand their capabilities
for quick updating, fast retrieval, and delivery of information when needed.
Data generated from this project will improve the timeliness and quality of pesticide
information and pest control strategies for New York producers. Also, by using the
World Wide Web-based CENET system, an extension, computer-based information delivery
system in New York, information can be developed and accessed for use by USDA personnel.
Northeastern extension and research specialists can also access CENET to assist producers
in developing pest management strategies, as well as assessing chemical use/needs.
Educational Delivery Component:
Extension is an integral part of this project as
the survey results are expected to address an impending problem that producers may soon
face. Because poultry are considered a minor crop, the cancellation of many pesticides once
available for producers to use has been a trend for several years now. Due to FQPA and market
demands, manufacturers do not feel that it is economically feasible to pay for reregistration
for many of the more effective materials on the market. By completion of this survey,
researchers will now be able to recognize those pesticides that producers need to
remain economically viable. The following is a list of project activities:
- Publications: A copy of the survey results will be made available to NAPIAP,
pesticide coordinators, state lead agencies and others interested.
- Database computerization: Pesticide use information from the survey will be made
available through the Pesticide Management Education Program (PMEP) WWW agricultural
pesticide use database (http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu).
- Computer access: The results from the survey will be accessible from the
Cornell Cooperative Extension Network (CENET) and our PMEP WWW page via the Internet
to researchers, regulatory personnel, and growers.
- IPM Strategy modification: The information generated from this survey will give
IPM researchers insight into the IPM strategies being implemented in the field. From
this, they will be better able to determine whether these strategies need to be modified
or whether more education with growers needs to take place. Researchers will also be able
to determine where targeted grower education efforts on specific pest management topics is
warranted to enhance IPM efficacy, use and adoption.
Next
