Maryland Department of Agriculture extends pesticide-use survey deadline

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) has extended the deadline for the 2014 Pesticide Usage Survey to Aug. 15.

The report. conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), is the 10th pesticide-use survey MDA has conducted since 1985. As a result of the Pesticide Use Information and Reporting Workgroup, which was formed following legislation passed in 2013, the 2014 survey includes, for the first time, questions related to the time of year the product is applied and which crop is targeted for application.

“This survey will provide us with comprehensive information about what pesticides are being used around the state and what trends are developing,” Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder said. “This crucial data will help agriculture and industry professionals understand what is being used, and it will provide public and environmental health experts with information that can help them focus their research and monitoring efforts.”

The voluntary survey is sent to all farmers, private applicators, commercially licensed businesses and public agencies that obtain a permit from the MDA to apply pesticides, as well as a random sampling of farmers who are not certified applicators. NASS will call  everyone who does not respond by the deadline to complete the survey.