Ag chemicals and pest control in Oregon Farmers still use pesticides, but also make use of practices that reduce chemical reliance Ag chemical use and pest prevention in Oregon September 2, 1998. . . Farmers battle on many fronts to bring food to the table of consumers. Droughts and excess moisture, the fluctuation of foreign markets and price swings are all beyond the farmer's control. U.S. producers, including those in Oregon, are utilizing certain practices that can successfully control pests in combination with some use of chemicals. Anyone who has grown a garden or tried to keep a nice looking lawn can relate in some small degree to what farmers battle every day.
Nobody wants to plant a lawn with seed that is full of weeds.
According to a 1997 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the usage of agriculture chemicals to protect crops is still an important tool. However, in general, herbicides are the most widely used tool in vegetable crops. Peas, as an early harvest crop, generally aren't susceptible to molds and fungi that may affect other crops requiring irrigation through the summer. Without such crop protection treatments, a large percentage of the fruit would spoil before it ever reached the consumer. Most farmers track pests with records and many map their fields for weed and pest problems.