OCR Text |
Show Weed Control Until recently most weed control was limited primarily to areas along irrigation ditches, canals, and to some dry land areas producing small grains. The use of herbicides to control mustard weed in grain and broad leafed weeds in corn has been increasing. Herbicides are also used with success on isolated infestation of noxious weeds in fields and along irrigation ditches, drains, and canals. The use of pesticides, herbicides and commercial fertilizer in the Unit area has not approached the magnitude of use in the more intensely farmed agricultural areas of the Midwest, Southwest, and other areas. Table B- 15 shows the use of agricultural chemicals applied in several counties of the Unit area. Utah County which lies entirely within the Bonneville Unit boundaries has a total area of 1,278,720 acres. According to the 1969 Agricultural Census, however, only 565,391 acres are included as farm land, of which 83,629 acres are crop land. Only 12,816 acres were reportedly sprayed for weed control which represents about 15 percent of the cropped area being treated. A similar situation exists in the other counties as shown in the preceding table. Expected Use of Agricultural Chemicals Without The Bonneville Unit The trend in the use of pesticides and herbicides has been toward the more toxic but less residual types in recent years. The pesticides and herbicides shown in Table B- 15 are primarily non- residual and use has not been banned. Without the Bonneville Unit the use of agricultural chemicals is expected to continue similar to past conditions. Orchard land is expected to diminish as urban encroachment occurs with an attendant decrease in pesticides used thereon. 208 |