FERNS Pesticide Application WebMap

Year-by-year statewide forest practices pesticide application data

Pesticide applications happen all around us, all over Oregon. Beyond Toxics offers support and resources for those affected by pesticide drift, but there remained an unmet need for greater transparency in historical pesticide usage across the state. That is why we have launched the FERNS Pesticide Webmap, a one-of-a-kind tool that compiles publicly available data into a single interactive resource.

The FERNS map was made in collaboration with University of Oregon InfoGraphics Lab, utilizing data from the Oregon Department of Forestry's Forestry Electronic Registry Notification System (FERNS).

How to Use the Map

The map features pesticide applications from 2014-2024. By clicking on an individual application (represented in orange), you can see:

  • The chemical(s) used

  • Planned date range of the application

  • Methods used to apply the pesticide (aerial, ground, other)

  • And much more by clicking the PDF links

 

The map can be filtered to show:

  • A particular type of chemical or pesticide brand

  • Method of application (aerial, ground, other)

  • Any combination of the above

  • BLM, National Forests, and other federally managed public land where pesticide data is not currently available in the website

Limitations and Characteristics of the Map

The map does have some important characteristics and limitations worth considering. We have likely not identified all limitations and we will continue to update this list as more people interact with the data.

  • The map features data from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) as is. Beyond Toxics did not collect this data and we have not processed it in any way other than linking the polygon showing the application area with the FERNS record that contains chemical and application information.

  • Operators can list active ingredients (i.e.; 2-4D) or a brand name of a pesticide formulation (i.e.; Gordon which contains 2-4D).

  • Pesticide applicators are known to “wishlist” a large variety of chemicals that they may or may not spray. Operators typically list a large number of chemicals to spray so they can later decide on a smaller number to apply. We do not have a way of knowing which pesticides they ended up applying.

  • The information on the pop ups may not be current. Applicators sometimes change components of their pesticide application. Those changes are updated in the PDF link, but ODF has suggested that those changes are not updated in the database we used to fill in the information for the popup windows. This means that the linked PDF should be the most accurate source of information.

  • The map does not include pesticide use data from federal agencies including US Forest Service (USFS), US Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and other federally managed public lands.

  • The map does not include pesticide use data for Christmas tree/tree farms.

Questions? Contact us!

We want to hear your feedback! If you have questions about the map or data, suggestions on how to improve the map or on other ways to use it, or ideas on pesticide policy or additional research on the topic, we'd love to hear from you!

Name(Required)
Email(Required)