Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T08:39:38.232Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Economic analysis of an areawide program for biological control of the alfalfa weevil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

J.M. White ,
P.G. Allen ,
L.J. Moffitt  and
P.P. Kingsley
J.M. White
Affiliation:
former Research Assistant, Department of Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
P.G. Allen
Affiliation:
Professors, Department of Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
L.J. Moffitt
Affiliation:
Professors, Department of Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
P.P. Kingsley
Affiliation:
Entomologist, Otis Methods Development Center, USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Otis ANGB, MA 02542.
Get access

Abstract

An areawide program for biological control of the alfalfa weevil showed expected economic benefits of $2.2 billion, expressed in present value terms. Alfalfa producers and consumers of livestock products are the main beneficiaries. The control program was highly successful, with a benefit/cost ratio of about 91. Not all areawide biological pest control programs will be as successful; a benefit-cost analysis like the one described here should be performed before areawide control is initiated to identify programs expected to provide economic benefits.

Keywords

cost-benefit analysisalfalfapesticide use
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , December 1995 , pp. 173 - 179
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Armbrust, E.J., and Gyrisco, G.G.. 1975. Forage Crop Insect Pest Management. In Metcalf, R.L. and Luckmann, W.H. (eds). Introduction to Insect Pest Management. John Wiley & Sons, New York. pp. 445–469.Google Scholar
2.Browner, C.M., Rominger, R., and Kessler, D.A.. 1993. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Department Operations and Nutrition. Committee on Agriculture, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
3.Bryan, M.D., Dysart, R.J., and Burger, T.L.. 1993. Releases of introduced parasites of the alfalfa weevil in the United States, 1957–88. Misc. Pub. No. 1504. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
4.Carlson, G.A. 1988. Economics of biological control of pests. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 3:110–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Center for Communication Dynamics. 1985. Groundwater Contamination: The Measure of Public Concern. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
6.Day, W.H. 1981. Biological control of the alfalfa weevil in the northeastern United States. In Papavizas, G.C. (ed). Biological Control in Crop Production. Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research 5. Allanheld, Osmun and Co., Montclair, New Jersey, pp. 361–314.Google Scholar
7.Dysart, R.J., and Day, W.H.. 1976. Release and recovery of introduced parasites of the alfalfa weevil in eastern North America. Production Research Rept. No. 167. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Dept. of Agric., Washington, D.C.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Just, R.E., Hueth, D.L., and Schmitz, A.. 1982. Applied Welfare Economics and Public Policy. Prentice-Hall Publishing Co., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.Google Scholar
9.Kingsley, P.P., Bryan, M.D., Day, W.H., Burger, T.L., Dysart, R.J., and Schwalbe, C.P.. 1993. Alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) biological control: Spreading the benefits. Environmental Entomology 6:1234–1250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Reichelderfer, K.H. 1981. Economic feasibility of biological control of crop pests. In Papavizas, G.C. (ed). Biological Control in Crop Production. Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research 5. Allanheld, Osmun and Co., Montclair, New Jersey, pp. 403–417.Google Scholar
11.Simmonds, F.J. 1967. Economics of Biological Control. J. Royal Society of Arts 115 (10):880–898.Google Scholar
12.Taylor, C.R. 1987. AGSIM: Deterministic and stochastic simulation models and benchmark results (unpublished).Google Scholar
13.Taylor, C.R. 1993. AGSIM: An econometric-simulation model of regional crop and national livestock production in the United States. In Taylor, C.R., Reichelderfer, K.H., and Johnson, S.R. (eds). Agricultural Sector Models for the United States. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames. pp. 31–59.Google Scholar
14.Taylor, C.R. 1994. Deterministic versus stochastic evaluation of aggregate economic effects of price support programs. Agric. Systems 44:461–473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.White, J.M. 1989. The Effects of Biological Control of the Alfalfa Weevil: An Economic Welfare Analysis. Unpublished M.S. thesis. Dept. of Resource Economics, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst.Google Scholar
16.Zavaleta, L.R., and Ruesink, W.G.. 1980. Expected benefits from nonchemical methods of alfalfa weevil control. Amer. J. Agric. Economics 62:801–805.CrossRefGoogle Scholar