TM's Pesticide Data Program Update 2003 Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP), USDA September 2003 Transferred to the web by NE PMC9/05/03

Pesticide Data Program (PDP) Update – August 2003

The Pesticide Data Program (PDP) website includes information about PDP testing in 2003 and plans for 2004.  This note is a summary of information included in the February 2003 PDP Progress Report and the PDP Program Plan for July–December 2003.  Both reports are on the PDP website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/pdp/Status.htm. 

Fresh Commodities 

In January 2003, PDP initiated testing of sweet potatoes and tomatoes.  PDP also continued to test fresh commodities that were part of the 2002 PDP program—asparagus, cucumbers, mushrooms, onions, peppers, and spinach. 

In October 2003, PDP will begin testing cantaloupe and pears.   And, in January 2004, PDP will begin testing apples, grapes, and strawberries. 

Fresh apples, cucumbers, grapes, pears, spinach, and strawberries have been part of the PDP program in previous years.  The PDP Commodity History is on the PDP website at http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/pdp/Overview.htm.  With the continual changes to pesticide use practices for many commodities, updated PDP residue data will provide valuable information on the effects of changed practices.

Testing of mushrooms will end in September 2003 and testing of asparagus and onions will end in December 2003.  [Note:  Asparagus was tested as fresh from January through June and as canned from July through December.]  

Processed Commodities

In January 2003, PDP began testing three processed commodities—butter, canned green beans, and canned peaches.  PDP continued to test processed commodities that were part of the 2002 program:  pear juice concentrate was tested through June 2003 and frozen sweet corn and frozen sweet peas will be tested through September 2003.   Processed green beans, peaches, sweet corn, and sweet peas were part of PDP testing programs in earlier years. 

Grains 

Barley, which was part of the 2002 program, is being tested through September 2003.  Soybean testing will begin in September 2003.

Testing for Triazole Fungicides and Metabolites 

Beyond the standard testing program, PDP initiated a special testing scheme in 2003 to analyze fresh apples, peaches (canned and fresh), and wheat flour for residues of triazole fungicides and their metabolites.  PDP will decide later this year about possible testing for triazoles in 2004.

Drinking Water

In 2003, PDP is testing samples of finished drinking water collected at sites in California, Colorado, Kansas, New York, and Texas.   

In 2004, PDP will test both treated and untreated water samples collected at sites in Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

PDP Contact

For more information about PDP, contact the USDA Monitoring Programs Office (MPO).  The MPO phone number is 703-330-2300 and email address is amsmpo.data@usda.gov.   The PDP web site is http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/pdp.

Centers for Pest Management are sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture

This page developed and managed by Jim VanKirk, NE PMC Coordinator