Heartz, S, D.A. MacLean, R.C. Johns, D. Carleton, L. Amos-Binks, Q. Anderson, Y. Yu, A.D. Lewis, D. Lavigne, J.B. Burant, and C.B. Edge.
We have digitized the historical pesticide applications to the province of New Brunswick for the years 1952-93. During the years covered in the dataset 97% of the 6.2 million hectares of forested lands received at least one application of an insecticide. The years included in the dataset cover the applications of 12 pesticides, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), Phosphimidon, Fenitrothion, and Aminocarb. The manuscript details a general history of the historical spray program and describes the data set which includes pesticide active ingredient, application rate, spatial location of spray blocks, and other ancillary information. The dataset provides researchers with an opportunity to study the environmental effects and efficacy of one of the largest insect control programs in North America. The historical spray program differs dramatically from the current day Early Intervention Program which uses two insecticides broadly considered to be non-toxic to non-target species with targeted applications to small spatial areas.