Policy

Science Advisory Council for Exposure

Policy Number:	9

Regarding:	Standard Values for  Daily Acres Treated in Agriculture

Date:		Original: April 1, 1999;  Revised:  July 5, 2000

Index terms:	acres treated per day; handler exposure input values

Contact:	R. Sandvig

ISSUE:	

This policy is a revision of draft policy number 9, Agricultural Default
Daily Acres Treated, dated April 1, 1999.  It provides standard values
for the number of acres that can be treated in a single day by various
types of agricultural equipment.

BACKGROUND:	

This is a reference for exposure assessors to use when there are no
acceptable data regarding the number of acres that a pesticide handler
can treat per day with a specific pesticide.  These values are
specifically for occupational pesticide handlers.  Standard values for
residential handlers can be found in the Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) for Residential Exposure Assessments (December 1997).  The
generic standard values in the table below are based on the published
scientific literature, surveys, knowledge of agricultural practices, and
calculated acreage estimates as noted in the tables.

The values presented here are considered to be
“typical-to-high-end.”  These values should be modified by
pesticide- and crop-specific knowledge that affects the number of acres
that can be treated in a day (e.g., high number of gallons required per
acre, specific geographic or cultural practice crop restrictions). 
These refinements should be made whenever possible by working with
appropriate staff from the Biological and Economic Assessment Division
(BEAD), grower groups, professional applicators, and extension agents.

When assessing exposure scenarios that include high acre crops, such as
cotton, corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice and soybeans, the exposure assessor
should include a range of acres treated per day, usually typical and
high end values, to provide information that will assist the risk manger
in decision making.  Further, the use of high end acres treated per day
values may not be appropriate for intermediate-term, long-term or cancer
exposures, depending on the use pattern of the chemical being assessed. 
 When there are risks of concern for these exposure durations, chemical
specific use information should be obtained.  

There are efforts to develop methods for deriving the number of acres
that can be treated per day, most notably, one in a final draft stage
being developed under a NAFTA project by representatives from EPA/OPP,
California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and Health Canada.  When
this methodology becomes available it may be used as an adjunct to the
default values listed below.

In all cases when more detailed information regarding the
geographical/cultural characteristics of the crop is available, the
values in the table below should be modified.

POLICY: 	

Use the following table as a guide for choosing standard values for the
number of acres treated per day, when no other supporting data or
information are available.

Standard Values for Daily Area Treated Values for Agricultural
Applications

Exposure Scenario	

Equipment/Usage	

Value	

Units	

Notes/Comments



Mixer/Loader







Mixing/loading liquids	

Aerial	

350	

Acres per day	

Typical field crops.  Based on Pesticide Handler Exposure Database
(PHED) application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural use
patterns.





1200



Upper range for forestry and high acre crops including, but not limited
to cotton, corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the
following data: Timber Mill Research, Inc.  June 1998.   National
Agricultural Aviation Association’s 1998 Industrial Survey for
Agricultural Aviation. (values for acres treated per day range from
1,017 to 1,643 for all crops , 1,351 to 2,071 for cotton, 1,101 to 1,953
for rice, and 970 to 1,625 for wheat ); N. Akesson and W. Yates. 1974. 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Agricultural
Development Paper No. 94 titled “The Use of Aircraft in
Agriculture”;  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
(1,380 acres treated per day, average) and cultural use patterns. 





7500



Ultra Low Volume (ULV) and wide area applications such as mosquito
control.  Based on data from the following:  N. Akesson and W. Yates.
1974.  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Agricultural Development Paper No. 94 titled “The Use of Aircraft in
Agriculture”.

	

Chemigation	

350	

Acres per day	

No data.  Assumed to have a similar acreage as aerial mixing/loading for
typical field crops.  Also based on an average crop circle acreage of
approximately 100 to 120 acres per circle, with 3 circles being treated.

	

Groundboom	

40	

Acres per day	

Golf courses.  Based the following data:  Andersen, J.  November 12,
1992.  “Use Data for Turf Cluster Insecticides.”  Memorandum from J.
Anderson, BEAD to L. Dorsey, HED.  





80



Typical field crops.  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
and cultural use patterns.





200



Upper range for high acre crops including, but not limited to cotton,
corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the following data: 
Brassard, D.  June 17, 1993.   “Transmittal of Corn Cluster Exposure
Parameters.”   Memorandum from D.  Brassard, BEAD, to L.  Dorsey, HED
(values range from 112 to 286 acres treated per day); PHED application
data normalized to an 8 hour day (256 acres treated per day), average
and cultural use patterns. 

	

ULV Ground Fogger	

3000	

Acres per day	

ULV and wide area applications such as mosquito control.  Calculated
based on a speed of 15 miles per hour, a 6 hour day, and a 275 ft wide
swath in a residential neighborhood setting. 

	

Airblast	

20	

Acres per day	

Lower range when high number of gallons are needed per acre.  (e.g., 500
to 1000 gallons per acre) 

(40 acres per day value based on an average application rate of 150
gallons/acre, so a higher application rate is assumed to have a lower
total acreage treated per day)





40



 Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.  (Typical application rate of 150 gallons/acre.  Lower
application rates are assumed to have higher total acreage treated per
day)

	

Rights-of-way Sprayer	

1000	

Gallons per day	

Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.

	

High-pressure Handwand 	

1000	

Gallons per day	

Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.



Mixing/loading wettable powders	

Aerial	

350	

Acres per day	

Typical field crops.  Based on  PHED application data normalized to an 8
hour day and cultural use patterns





1200



Upper range for forestry and high acre crops including, but not limited
to cotton, corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the
following data: Timber Mill Research, Inc.  June 1998.   National
Agricultural Aviation Association’s 1998 Industrial Survey for
Agricultural Aviation. (values for acres treated per day range from
1,017 to 1,643 for all crops , 1,351 to 2,071 for cotton, 1,101 to 1,953
for rice, and 970 to 1,625 for wheat); N. Akesson and W. Yates. 1974. 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Agricultural
Development Paper No. 94 titled “The Use of Aircraft in
Agriculture”;  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
(1,380 acres treated per day, average) and cultural use patterns. 

	

Chemigation	

350	

Acres per day	

No data.  Assumed to have a similar acreage as aerial mixing/loading for
typical field crops.  Also based on an average crop circle acreage of
approximately 100 to 120 acres per circle, with 3 circles being treated.

	

Groundboom	

40	

Acres per day	

Golf courses.  Based the following data:  Andersen, J.  November 12,
1992.  “Use Data for Turf Cluster Insecticides.”  Memorandum from J.
Anderson, BEAD to L. Dorsey, HED.  





80



Typical field crops.  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
and cultural use patterns





200



Upper range for high acre crops including, but not limited to cotton,
corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the following data: 
Brassard, D.  June 17, 1993.   “Transmittal of Corn Cluster Exposure
Parameters.”   Memorandum from D.  Brassard, BEAD, to L.  Dorsey, HED
(values range from 112 to 286 acres treated per day); PHED application
data normalized to an 8 hour day (256 acres treated per day), average
and cultural use patterns. 

	

Airblast	

20	

Acres per day	

Lower range when high number of gallons are needed per acre  (e.g., 500
to 1000 gallons per acre). 

 (40 acres per day value based on an average application rate of 150
gallons/acre, so a higher application rate is assumed to have a lower
total acreage treated)





40



Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.  (Typical application rate of 150 gallons/acre.  Lower
application rates are assumed to have higher total acreage treated per
day)

	

Rights-of-way Sprayer	

1000	

Gallons per day	

 Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.  (Typical application rate of 150 gallons/acre.  Lower
application rates are assumed to have higher total acreage treated per
day)

	

High-pressure Handwand 	

1000	

Gallons per day	

Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.



Loading granulars	

Aerial	

350	

Acres per day	

Typical field crops.  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
and cultural use patterns.











1200



Upper range for forestry and high acre crops including, but not limited
to cotton, corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the
following data: Timber Mill Research, Inc.  June 1998.   National
Agricultural Aviation Association’s 1998 Industrial Survey for
Agricultural Aviation. (values for acres treated per day range from
1,017 to 1,643 for all crops , 1,351 to 2,071 for cotton, 1,101 to 1,953
for rice, and 970 to 1,625 for wheat ); N. Akesson and W. Yates. 1974. 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Agricultural
Development Paper No. 94 titled “The Use of Aircraft in
Agriculture”;  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
(1,380 acres treated per day, average) and cultural use patterns. 

	

Tractor-drawn Broadcast Spreaders	

40	

Acres per day	

Golf courses.  Based the following data:  Andersen, J.  November 12,
1992.  “Use Data for Turf Cluster Insecticides.”  Memorandum from J.
Anderson, BEAD to L. Dorsey, HED.  





80



Typical field crops.  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
and cultural use patterns.





200



Upper range for high acre crops including, but not limited to cotton,
corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the following data: 
Brassard, D.  June 17, 1993.   “Transmittal of Corn Cluster Exposure
Parameters.”   Memorandum from D.  Brassard, BEAD, to L.  Dorsey, HED
(values range from 112 to 286 acres treated per day); PHED application
data normalized to an 8 hour day (256 acres treated per day), average
and cultural use patterns. 



Applicator



Applying sprays

	

Aerial	

350	

Acres per day	

Typical field crops.  Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8
hour day and cultural use patterns.





1200



Upper range for forestry and high acre crops including, but not limited
to cotton, corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the
following data: Timber Mill Research, Inc.  June 1998.   National
Agricultural Aviation Association’s 1998 Industrial Survey for
Agricultural Aviation. (values for acres treated per day range from
1,017 to 1,643 for all crops , 1,351 to 2,071 for cotton, 1,101 to 1,953
for rice, and 970 to 1,625 for wheat ); N. Akesson and W. Yates. 1974. 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Agricultural
Development Paper No. 94 titled “The Use of Aircraft in
Agriculture”;  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
(1,380 acres treated per day, average) and cultural use patterns. 





7500



Ultra Low Volume (ULV) and wide area applications such as mosquito
control.  Based on the following data:  N. Akesson and W. Yates. 1974. 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Agricultural
Development Paper No. 94 titled “The Use of Aircraft in
Agriculture”.

	

Groundboom	

40	

Acres per day	

Golf courses.  Based the following data:  Andersen, J.  November 12,
1992.  “Use Data for Turf Cluster Insecticides.”  Memorandum from J.
Anderson, BEAD to L. Dorsey, HED.  





80



Typical field crops.  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
and cultural use patterns.





200



Upper range for high acre crops including, but not limited to cotton,
corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the following data: 
Brassard, D.  June 17, 1993.   “Transmittal of Corn Cluster Exposure
Parameters.”   Memorandum from D.  Brassard, BEAD, to L.  Dorsey, HED
(values range from 112 to 286 acres treated per day); PHED application
data normalized to an 8 hour day (256 acres treated per day), average
and cultural use patterns. 

	

ULV Ground Fogger	

3000	

Acres per day	

ULV and wide area applications such as mosquito control.  Calculated
based on a speed of 15 miles per hour, a 6 hour day, and a 275 ft wide
swath in a residential neighborhood setting. 

	

Airblast	

20	

Acres per day	

Lower range when high number of gallons are needed per acre  (e.g., 500
to 1000 gallons per acre). 

 (40 acres per day value based on an average application rate of 150
gallons/acre, so a higher application rate is assumed to have a lower
total acreage treated)





40



Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.  (Typical application rate of 150 gallons/acre.  Lower
application rates are assumed to have higher total acreage treated per
day)

	

Rights-of-way Sprayer	

1000	

Gallons per day	

 Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.  (Typical application rate of 150 gallons/acre.  Lower
application rates are assumed to have higher total acreage treated per
day)

	

High-pressure Handwand 	

1000	

Gallons per day	

Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.



Applying granulars	

Aerial	

350	

Acres per day	

Typical field crops.  Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8
hour day and cultural use patterns.





1200



Upper range for forestry and high acre crops including, but not limited
to cotton, corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the
following data: Timber Mill Research, Inc.  June 1998.   National
Agricultural Aviation Association’s 1998 Industrial Survey for
Agricultural Aviation. (values for acres treated per day range from
1,017 to 1,643 for all crops , 1,351 to 2,071 for cotton, 1,101 to 1,953
for rice, and 970 to 1,625 for wheat ); N. Akesson and W. Yates. 1974. 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Agricultural
Development Paper No. 94 titled “The Use of Aircraft in
Agriculture”;  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
(1,380 acres treated per day, average) and cultural use patterns. 

	

Tractor-drawn Broadcast Spreaders	

40	

Acres per day	

Golf courses.  Based the following data:  Andersen, J.  November 12,
1992.  “Use Data for Turf Cluster Insecticides.”  Memorandum from J.
Anderson, BEAD to L. Dorsey, HED.  





80



Typical field crops.  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day
and cultural use patterns.





200



Upper range for high acre crops including, but not limited to cotton,
corn, wheat, alfalfa, rice, and soybeans.  Based on the following data: 
Brassard, D.  June 17, 1993.   “Transmittal of Corn Cluster Exposure
Parameters.”   Memorandum from D.  Brassard, BEAD, to L.  Dorsey, HED
(values range from 112 to 286 acres treated per day); PHED application
data normalized to an 8 hour day (256 acres treated per day), average
and cultural use patterns. 



Flagging



Flagging	

Sprays	

350	

Acres per day	

 Based on  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and
cultural use patterns.

	

Granulars	

350	

Acres per day	

 Based on  PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and
cultural use patterns.



Mixer/Loader/Applicator 



M/L/A liquids	

Low Pressure Handwand (commercial)	

40	

Gallons per day	

Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.  Spot treatments may have a lower amount of gallons
applied in one day.  

	

Backpack Sprayer (commercial)	

40	

Gallons per day	

Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.  Spot treatments may have a lower amount of gallons
applied in one day.  

	

High Pressure Handwand (greenhouse)	

1000	

Gallons per day	

Based on PHED application data normalized to an 8 hour day and cultural
use patterns.

	

Handgun (lawn) Sprayer (commercial)	

5	

Acres per day	

Includes turf and golf course greens and tees.  Based the following
data:  Andersen, J.  November 12, 1992.  “Use Data for Turf Cluster
Insecticides.”  Memorandum from J. Anderson, BEAD to L. Dorsey, HED.



Loading/Applying granulars	

Belly Grinder (commercial)	

1	

Acres per day	

If more than one acre to cover, different application equipment will
likely be employed.  Based on cultural use patterns. 

 Spot treatments may have a lower amount of acres treated in one day.

	

Push-type Spreader (commercial)	

5	

Acres per day	

Based on cultural use patterns and trade group information.



