Escape From The Pesticide Treadmill

        Subject:   Escape From The Pesticide Treadmill
            Date:    Wed, 10 Jul 2002 15:34:57 -0400
           From:      Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization:     Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)

To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulation

Dear Mr. Helliker, In 1987, Michael Hansen, Ph.D. wrote Escape From The Pesticide Treadmill and he clearly wrote on page one:

"One of the earliest warnings of the dangers of an over reliance on pesticides occurred in the mid-1950's in the Canete Valley of Peru (van den Bosch; 1978). Cotton production for export dominated the Valley. Synthetic organic insecticides (first DDT, BHC, toxaphene, then aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, and finally parathion) were introduced in 1948. By 1955, various scientific studies showed that many pests had developed resistance to these insecticides, requiring heavier dosages and more frequent applications. In addition, six new species, all secondary pests, had appeared, raising the number of serious pests from 7 to 13. At the same time, government statistics showed that cotton yields were dropping sharply: by 1956, the average yield per hectare was the lowest in over a decade (Boza-Barducci, 1972).

In response to the crisis, the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture issued an integrated pest control plan in July, 1956, which dictated a number of changes in pest control practices, including banning the use of synthetic organic pesticides and reintroducing beneficial insects. The plan also mandated the adoption of certain cultural practices, such as planting early maturing varieties, planting by established deadlines, and destroying crop residues.

With the introduction of this program, pest problems declined dramatically and pest control costs were reduced (Boza-Barducci, 1972). The secondary pests quickly dropped to their former innocuous levels, primary pest outbreaks decreased in intensity, and cotton yields reached an all-time high.

This is far from the only such case. Although withdrawals from pesticide use tend not to be well-documented (commercial farmers, unlike scientists, do not depend for their future on publishing in scientific journals) a few have been reported.

One of the most intriguing cases involves control of banana pests, described in Chapter 6 (Stephens, 1984). During the 1940-50s, the United Fruit Company cleared a large area of virgin lowland rain forest in southwest Costa Rica and planted monocultural banana plantations. According to a report by United Fruit's Experimental Director for the region, before the mid-1950s only two insect species - a thrips and a weevil - were considered economically important.

Mass application of an organochlorine insecticide, dieldrin, to control these pests began in 1954. Within the next 5 years six species of lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) also became severe pests while insecticide use increased rapidly. A number of entomologists studied the pest outbreaks and natural and chemical control of these pests. Natural enemies were found in the banana farms, but their numbers were constantly suppressed by pesticides. The enemies were particularly abundant in the unsprayed zone between the forest and the plantation.

Finally, by 1973, the entomologists convinced the company to stop all insecticide sprays. Within two years, most of the previous pest species had nearly disappeared as their natural enemies reestablished themselves in the balanced banana ecosystem. Thrips remained a pest, but their damage was prevented by covering the fruits with plastic bags. Since 1973 no insecticides have been sprayed on these plantations; natural enemies have taken their place."

Well Mr. Helliker, I have removed all of the pests inside and outside in over 350 schools and I have never used any of your volatile pesticide POISONS. In spite of all of this evidence and more, why do you still insist that only your "registered" POISONS can be used to "control" pest problems? I am working (as are many others) to stop the use/misuse of all "registered" insecticide sprays not only because they are so very dangerous but far more importantly, because they are useless for successful pest control.

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