lise nistrup jørgensen danish institute of agricultural sciences research centre flakkebjerg

Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences

1

Twenty years' experience with reduced agrochemical inputs:

Effect on farm economics, water quality, biodiversity and environment

Lise Nistrup JørgensenDanish Institute of Agricultural Sciences

Research Centre Flakkebjerg

4200 Slagelse, Denmark


2

Important events for Pesticides in DKImportant events for Pesticides in DK

• 1981-85: Increase in use of pesticides, • 1986: First Danish pesticide action plan (50% reduction

over 10 years)• Since 1993: Findings of pesticides in ground water• 1994: Introduction of prohibition list• 1996: Tax on pesticides increased from 3% to 13/27%• 1997: Status on 1. Pesticide action plan• 1997-1999: Bichel committee• 1999: Tax increase to 33% and 54%• 2000: 2nd pesticide action plan (target: TFI =2)• 2004: 3rd pesticide action plan (Target:TFI = 1.7)


3

The main content of the Action Plans

• Reduction of the treatment frequency (from 2,6 to 1,7)

• Establishment of ”buffer zones” along classified watercourses

• Strict and critical approval procedure for registration

• Tax on pesticides• Education and training• Voluntary plan with support from

advisors and research


4

Definition of Treatment Frequency Index

• Number of times an agricultural area in rotation can be treated with a full dose.

• Calculation is based on sold amounts of pesticides• Each active ingredient has a defined ”normal

dose” of active ingredients, which often is equal to the full lable dose

• If you use 2 x half dose, it only counts as one.


5

Treatment Frequency Index (TFI) of pesticides used in agriculture in the period 1981-2004.

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

TF

I

Target 1,3 by 1997Target 2,0 by 2003Target 1,7 by 2009


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Guiding Target points in different cropsGuiding Target points in different cropsTo be reached before 2009To be reached before 2009

Crop herbicide fungicide insecticide Total

Wheat 0.95 0.65 0.15 1.75

S.barley 0.7 0.35 0.25 1.3

W.barley 0.7 0.5 0 1.2

Rape 0.6 0.15 0.8 1.55

Beet 2.2 0.2 0.2 2.6

Potatoes 1.6 5.0 0.5 7.1


7

Kg active ingredients sold for agricultural use in the period 1981-2004.

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

kg a

ctiv

e in

gre

die

nts


8

Pesticide use, kg active ingredietns pr. ha

0

1

2

3

4

5

619

90

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Kg

pr.

ha

Holland UK Germany France

Finland Sweden Denmark

Nachrichten

Nachrichtenbl. 55, 2003


10

Percent direct crop loss in a Percent direct crop loss in a 0-pesticide scenario0-pesticide scenario

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

gras

rape

rye

sugar beet

spring barley

peas

win.barley

wheat

potatoes

grass seed

% crop loss


11

Relation between TFI and Relation between TFI and income at farmers level per haincome at farmers level per ha

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

0 0,5 1 1,5 2 2,5

arable farmerssugarbeet growers

TFI

Dkk/ha

+-scenario

++scenario= 400 euro


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Reduction potential as an average for the country

Optimal

Actual

1,4 TFI

0

50

100

150

200

250

1,01,11,21,31,41,51,61,71,81,92,02,1

Pesticide use (Treatment Frequency Index)

Red

ucti

on

co

sts

(D

KK

pr.

ha)

(Ørum 2004)


13

Margin over fungicide cost for different fungicide dosages applied at GS 51-55.

-0,4

-0,2

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

0 12.5 25 50 75 100

% of normal dose

ton

nes

per

ha

normal septoria

severe septoria


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TFI and average dose using fungicides TFI and average dose using fungicides in winter wheatin winter wheat

0

0,4

0,8

1,2

1,6

2

85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 '00 '01 '02 '03

TFIdose

TFI or Dose

Farmstat/Kleffmann/ EPA

Field inspection

Recommendation page

26 EUR

32 EUR


17

-

20,00

40,00

60,00

80,00

100,00

0,0 0,1 1,0 10,0

Dose

Effe

ct (

%)

sensitive speciessmall w eedsw arm w eather

less sensitive speciesbig w eedscold w eather

Principles for changes in one dose response Principles for changes in one dose response curvescurves


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Money given to increase dissemination Money given to increase dissemination activities carried out by the advisory serviceactivities carried out by the advisory service

• Focus on getting information from research to farmers

• Improving existing prognoses and warning systems on a national and regional basis

• Establishing demonstrations farms

• Calculate TFI at farm level (Target points)

• Establishing of farmer’s field groups with focus on low pesticide input

TFI and farmsize

0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

n=828 n=813 n=811 n=797 n=794 n=796 n=787 n=786 n=785 n=786

Ha <18 18-28 28-38 38-48 48-58 58-69 69-82 82-101101-138

>138

Tre

atm

en

t fre

que

ncy

ind

ex (

TF

I)

TFI Taget

Danish Advisory Service


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Re-evaluation of pesticides. Re-evaluation of pesticides.

• The re-evaluation had as a consequence that more than 40% of all pesticides were withdrawn between 1986-97.

• Atrazin, cyanazin, trifluralin, hexazinon, dichlorbenil, MCPA, mechlorprop, diclorprop, 2,4,D, propachlor, isoprotoron

• vinclozolin, iprodion, captan, fenarimol, thiabendazole, thiaphanat-methyl, thiram, guazatine, ziram, dazomet, propineb, fenpropimorph

• paraquat,• dichlorvos, deltamethrin, diazinon, lindane,

chlorfenvinphos, esfenvalerat


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Index of load for acute oral mammalian Index of load for acute oral mammalian and bird toxicity from 1981-85 to 1996.and bird toxicity from 1981-85 to 1996.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

81-85

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96

acute oral mammalianAcute bird

Toxic load

Henning Clausen. EPA


22

Index of load for acute oral mammalian, Index of load for acute oral mammalian, bird and fish toxicity from 1981-85 to 1996.bird and fish toxicity from 1981-85 to 1996.

0

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

81-85

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96

acute oral mammalianAcute birdAcute fish

Toxic load

Henning Clausen. EPA

• Survey of field flora in: 1967-19701987-19892001-2004

• Several common weed species have become more common in major crops during the last 15 years.

Flora changes in the light of low dose strategies

Chr. Andreasen 2005


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Changes in weed population in winter wheat -1970 to 1989

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1967-701987-89

Frequency

Chr. Andreasen 2005


25

Changes in weed population in winter wheat 1970 to 2004

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1967-70

1987-89

2001-04

Frequency

Chr. Andreasen 2005


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3 years trials on 5 farms – plots of 6 ha.(wheat, barley sugar beet)

Dose of herbicides and insecticides

No.of plants left/m2

% increase in weed species

Increase in insects

Increase in number of birds

Average of morning and evening counts

Full 30 0

Half 48 16% 18% more skylarks

43% more seed eaters

quarter 55 28% More aphids

More beneficials

20-25% more skylarks

50-100% more seed eaters

Esbjerg et al 2003


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Species, which were positively influenced by low dose strategies


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% findings of pesticides in smaller wells

above 0.1 μg/l

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

96 97 98 99 '00 '01 '02 '03

prohibited productsApproved products

Source: GEUS800-2000 analysed samples


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Conclusion on water pollution.• Smaller wells and ground water :

– Approved products: 2-6% with >0.1μg/l– Prohibited products: 12% with >0.1 μg/l

• Most finding are done in 1-20 m depth• From 1998-2003 the annual % of wells with

concentrations exceeding MAC declined from 10 to 5%.

• Major findings– BAM (from dichlobenil), atrazine and triazin-

metabolites dominate.


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Conclusion I

• Difficult to measure impact of actions plans on nature and biodiversity.

• Indications that 20 years policy give more “nature”.

• Very toxic products have been prohibited. • Prohibition of mobile and persistent pesticides

have minimized the risk of polluting our ground water.

• Difficult to create a “real” environmental index for pesticides. TFI still the “best”


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Conclusion IIConclusion II

• Action plans have had impact on farmers perception on the use of pesticides. More environmental awareness.

• Cheap for the farmers to ensure their crop with pesticides beyond an economical optimal

• Difficult to reach TFI= 1.7; • Reductions beyond TFI=1.7 requires considerable

changes of common crop practise.• Need constant support from research and advisors in

order to give the farmer the necessary support.• Danish Farmers want mutual rules for farmers in EU.

lise nistrup jørgensen danish institute of agricultural sciences research centre flakkebjerg

Documents

agricultural use

agricultural area

danish pesticide action

pesticide action plan

use of pesticides

pesticide action plan1997

action plansreduction

findings of pesticides