Possible Ban on Certain Pesticide Chemicals Could Negatively Affect TN Agriculture

increases, production adjustments or the impacts of technological change in the form of new chemicals and pest control techniques into account, an analysis of the effects of a ban on organophosphates and carbamates two chemicals widely used in crop production shows that net farm income in Tennessee could be reduced by about $83 million the first year following the ban and $132 million in the fifth year, compared to 1997 Tennessee farm revenue. The crops most vulnerable to the ban on organophosphates and carbamates are tobacco, cotton, apples, peaches, and greens. The banning of these two chemicals could result as part of the proposed implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). Thirty pesticide active ingredients belonging to these two classes are widely used as pesticides, and in Tennessee these pesticides are presently used on many of the leading cash crops such as cotton, tobacco, soybeans, and corn. They are also a vital part of the pest management strategies for many producers of fruits and vegetables in the state.