Pesticides are commonly classified as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and other which includes rodenticides, nematicides, fumigants and products used to control birds, fish and other aquatic pests. The relative amount used of each of these categories of pesticides is significantly different in Arizona than it is in much of the rest of the U.S. and worldwide. According to USDA statistics, on a worldwide scale, herbicides account for 36% of the total pesticide use while insecticides account for 25%, fungicides 10% and other 29%. Figures for the U.S. are similar with herbicides at 44%, insecticides at 10%, fungicides at 6% and other at 40%. Pesticide use in Arizona is significantly different from that of both the U.S. as a whole and worldwide. In Arizona insecticides account for 58% of use while herbicides are 17%, fungicides are 12% and other is 13%.

To contact Barry Tickes go to: btickes@ag.arizona.edu.

For questions or comments on any of the topics please contact Marco Pena at the Yuma Agricultural Center.
College of Agriculture, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.