February 5, 2004

Mr. Robert Bailey
Program Manager
Office of Pesticide Management - VDACS
PO Box 1163
Richmond, VA 23219

Dear Bob:

It is a pleasure to report to you the total pesticide use figures for Virginia's Forestry community during 2003. The figures are compiled by the Forestry Herbicide User Group, which held its annual meeting on December 2, 2003.

At your request, we have continued to separate the data between the Chesapeake Bay watershed counties and Non-Bay watershed counties as shown on the attached map. The final table shows total statewide use. A quick overview:

1. During 2003, Virginia Forestry treated 61,796 acres using 85,063 pounds of active ingredient. The attached graphic shows the trend in forestry herbicide usage since 1986.
2. A total of 11 active ingredients were used in the 2003 program; the overall average application rate was 1.38 pounds a.i. per acre. The average lbs. active ingredient per acre increase in 2003 was due primariliy to an increase in the heavier site preparation applications as a percentage of the total acreage, from 13 percent in 2002 to 22 percent in 2003.
3. Pine release, sod and herbaceous weed control and mid-rotation applications, which together comprise 78% of program acreage, had a combined application rate of only 0.78 pounds a.i. per acre.
4. Glyphosate, imazapyr and hexazinone accounted for 92% of the total chemical use.
5. Again this year in the acre summaries, we have broken out mid-rotation application. Mid-rotation refers to pine stands in the 12 to 25 year old range.

As in the past, we ask that no other data be combined with those in this report. Members of the Forestry Herbicide User Group are available for making presentations of this data should that need arise. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Finally, I have included a table showing pesticides used at the VDOF tree nurseries in 2003. This data is not included in the above statement.

Sincerely,

Phil T. Grimm [retired - Contact Dean Cumbia, Herbicide Spray Coordinator, 434-977-6555]
VDOF Herbicide Spray Coordinator

/blw
3.5.4

c: DOF Strategic Management Team
Herbicide User Group
Neil Lloyd, DuPont
Darrell Russell, Dow Agrosciences
Michael Fleming, BASF
Doug Pond, UAP Timberland
Paul Thomas, Summit Helicopters
Jack Robinson, Pinecare Environmental Forestry
John Taylor, USFS