Oregon issues first state chemical use report
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
EUGENE, Ore. – Potato fields got the biggest dose of the more than 40 million pounds of pesticides and herbicides used in Oregon's farms, forests and fields last year, according to the state's first tabulation of chemical use.The state Department of Agriculture report showed that a soil fumigant used on potato fields, known as metam-sodium, was by far the most-applied product by weight.

It accounted for 42 percent of the chemicals applied last year.The report was authorized by the 1999 Legislature to provide more detailed information about the use of toxic chemicals in agriculture, so as to gauge how they affect soil and water quality, but it was delayed by years of political struggle.

The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides of Eugene pushed for the annual reports. "Eight years after starting work on this I'm very excited to see the first data," said NCAP's Aimee Code. "I think it will help all of us to better protect our health and clean up our waters."

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