Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: An interdisciplinary team of scientists from Oklahoma State University, USDA-ARS in Manhattan, Kansas, and Kansas State University (including researchers and extension personnel in Grain Science, Entomology, Agricultural Engineering, and Agricultural Economics) had previously conducted a firm-level cost analysis of more than 13 separate insect-control strategies. The results indicated that some IPM strategies are less expensive than commonly-used chemical-based strategies and some are more expensive. Work under this reporting period assessed costs of failing to control insects in IPM and chemical-based strategies, so that total costs of insect control strategies can be compared. Results showed that insufficient control of insects is a significant cost, especially if insect problems are undetected. Also, sampling adds unnecessary cost in some situations where it does not change the treatment. These results are important because they help explain why some elevator managers are reluctant to adopt IPM techniques. IPM may become more economical if the cost of sampling can be reduced, or its effectiveness increased. Subsequent work used more realistic insect growth and immigration parameters, weather conditions, and effects of treatment methods. Results indicate that if insect immigration can be reduced by a factor of 10 (through sealing of openings in grain bins and cleanliness, for example), or if a particular year or location has lower temperatures and/or humidity, an IPM approach likely would be economical. Initial work also suggests that because of its correlation with time required for seasonal cooling, harvest-time temperature of grain going into storage is an important factor determining economic viability of an IPM approach. A publication in review as this project was ending shows that under standard environmental conditions and other standardized assumptions, sampling-based fumigation is not economical. However, it may be more economical than conventional calendar-based fumigation if insect immigration rates into at least some bins can be reduced to a low level and grain is stored fewer days, or if sampling cost can be reduced relative to fumigation cost. A second area of work conducted under this project focused on costs and benefits of implementing IPM in agribusiness processing firms, building on the work conducted for grain storage firms. A key part of the work is constructing a framework for selecting appropriate insect-control methods for each stage of the production process. This work is in progress. PARTICIPANTS: Participants: Interdisciplincary Team at Oklahoma State University; USDA-ARS in Manhattan, Kansas and Kansas State University personnel in Grain Science, Entomology, Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural Economics. TARGET AUDIENCES: Consumers desiring reduced pesticide use in the food chain. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Although consumers and food processors express desires for reduced pesticide use in the food chain, agribusiness managers will not adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices voluntarily unless their cost and effectiveness compare favorably with conventional chemical-based practices. Economic analysis comparing costs, benefits, and risks of IPM vs. conventional pest management practices was conducted to determine if IPM is cost-effective for stored grain and grain processing functions, as well as to identify ways for more economical implementation of IPM techniques.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Work under the previous period with an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional team of scientists had assessed costs of failing to control insects in IPM and chemical-based strategies using a simulation approach. Results showed that insufficient control of insects is a significant cost, especially if insect problems are undetected. Also, sampling adds unnecessary cost in some situations where it does not change the treatment. These results are important because they help explain why some elevator managers are reluctant to adopt IPM techniques, particularly in concrete grain bins that do not have aeration capability. Work in this period expanded upon that simulation to reflect more realistic insect growth and immigration parameters, weather conditions, and effects of treatment methods. Results indicate that if insect immigration can be reduced by a factor of 10 (through sealing of openings in grain bins and cleanliness, for example), or if a particular year or location
has lower temperatures and/or humidity, an IPM approach likely would be economical. Initial work also suggests that because of its correlation with time required for seasonal cooling, harvest-time temperature of grain going into storage are important factors determining economic viability of an IPM approach; A second area of work is focusing on costs and benefits of implementing IPM in agribusiness processing firms, expanding on previous work for grain storage firms. A key part of the work is constructing a framework for selecting appropriate insect-control methods for each stage of the production process.
Impacts
Although consumers and food processors express desires for reduced pesticide use in the food chain, agribusiness managers will not adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices voluntarily unless their cost and effectiveness compare favorably with conventional chemical-based practices. An economic analysis comparing costs, benefits, and risks of IPM vs. conventional pest management practices is needed to determine if IPM is cost-effective for stored grain and grain processing functions, as well as to identify potential cost-savings for implementing IPM.
Publications
- Adam, Brian D., Mounir Siaplay, Wade Brorsen, and Paul Flinn. "Should Grain Elevator Managers Adopt Integrated Pest Management?" Selected Paper presented at the American Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, July 29-August 1, 2007. Paper available at http://agecon.lib.umn.edu/cgi-bin/detailview.pl?paperid=26329.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Work under the previous period with an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional team of scientists had assessed costs of failing to control insects in IPM and chemical-based strategies using a simulation approach. Results showed that insufficient control of insects is a significant cost, especially if insect problems are undetected. Also, sampling adds unnecessary cost in some situations where it does not change the treatment. These results are important because they help explain why some elevator managers are reluctant to adopt IPM techniques. Work in this period expanded upon that simulation to reflect more realistic insect growth and immigration parameters, weather conditions, and effects of treatment methods. A second area of work is focusing on costs and benefits of implementing IPM in agribusiness processing firms, expanding on previous work for grain storage firms. A key part of the work is constructing a framework for selecting appropriate insect-control methods
for each stage of the production process.
Impacts
Although consumers and food processors express desires for reduced pesticide use in the food chain, agribusiness managers will not adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices voluntarily unless their cost and effectiveness compare favorably with conventional chemical-based practices. An economic analysis comparing costs, benefits, and risks of IPM vs. conventional pest management practices is needed to determine if IPM is cost-effective for stored grain and grain processing functions, as well as to identify potential cost-savings for implementing IPM.
Publications
- Adam, B. D., T. W. Phillips, and P.W. Flinn. "The Economics of IPM in Stored Grain: Why Dont More Grain Handlers Use IPM?" Proceedings of the 9th International Working Conference on Stored Product Protection. Edited by I. Lorini et al.. Campinas, Sao Paulo, BRAZIL: ABRAPOS, 2006:3-12.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
Work under the previous period with an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional team of scientists had assessed costs of failing to control insects in IPM and chemical-based strategies using a simulation approach. Results showed that insufficient control of insects is a significant cost, especially if insect problems are undetected. Also, sampling adds unnecessary cost in some situations where it does not change the treatment. These results are important because they help explain why some elevator managers are reluctant to adopt IPM techniques. Work in progress is refining that simulation to reflect more realistic insect growth and immigration parameters, weather conditions, and effects of treatment methods. A second area of work is focusing on costs and benefits of implementing IPM in agribusiness processing firms, expanding on previous work for grain storage firms. A key part of the work is constructing a framework for selecting appropriate insect-control methods for
each stage of the production process.
Impacts
Although consumers and food processors express desires for reduced pesticide use in the food chain, agribusiness managers will not adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices voluntarily unless their cost and effectiveness compare favorably with conventional chemical-based practices. An economic analysis comparing costs, benefits, and risks of IPM vs. conventional pest management practices is needed to determine if IPM is cost-effective for stored grain and grain processing functions.
Publications
- Danley, Ronda, Brian D. Adam, Jim Criswell, Ron Noyes, and Thomas W. Phillips. "Accuracy Evaluation of Phosphine Monitoring Devices." Journal of Pesticide Safety Education 2005, 7):1-9. Accessible at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JPSE/v7/JPSEV7_1-9.pdf .
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
An interdisciplinary team of scientists from Oklahoma State University, USDA-ARS in Manhattan, Kansas, and Kansas State University (including researchers and extension personnel in Grain Science, Entomology, Agricultural Engineering, and Agricultural Economics) had previously conducted a firm-level cost analysis of more than 13 separate insect-control strategies. The results indicated that some IPM strategies are less expensive than commonly-used chemical-based strategies and some are more expensive. Work under this reporting period assessed costs of failing to control insects in IPM and chemical-based strategies, so that total costs of insect control strategies can be compared. Results show that insufficient control of insects is a significant cost, especially if insect problems are undetected. Also, sampling adds unnecessary cost in some situations where it does not change the treatment. These results are important because they help explain why some elevator
managers are reluctant to adopt IPM techniques. IPM may become more attractive if the cost of sampling can be reduced, or its effectiveness increased. Work in progress is evaluating the effects of several variables, including weather, insect immigration rates, and fumigation effectiveness, on these costs and on optimal choice of treatments.
Impacts
Although consumers and food processors express desires for reduced pesticide use in the food chain, agribusiness managers will not adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices voluntarily unless their cost and effectiveness compare favorably with conventional chemical-based practices. An economic analysis comparing costs, benefits, and risks of IPM vs. conventional pest management practices is needed to determine if IPM is cost-effective for stored grain.
Publications
- Danley, Ronda, Brian D. Adam, Jim Criswell, Ron Noyes, and Thomas W. Phillips. "Accuracy Evaluation of Phosphine Monitoring Devices." Journal of Pesticide Safety Education, 2004 (forthcoming)
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT Work in progress is comparing costs and benefits of pest management strategies for stored grain that emphasize reduced use of pesticides with traditional strategies based on pesticides, especially fumigation. A significant component of this research involves an assessment of the risk that sampling will fail to detect a level of insect infestation that should be treated and the risk that a particular strategy will be ineffective in controlling insects.
Impacts
The reduced arsenal of insect pest-control tools combined with demands for wholesome and pest-free food poses a challenge for managers of food-processing firms and stored-grain facilities. An economic analysis comparing costs, benefits, and risks of IPM vs. conventional pest management practices is needed to determine if IPM is cost-effective for stored grain.
Publications
- Lukens, Tamara L. Cost and Effectiveness of Integrated Pest Management Strategies Compared to Chemical Methods in Stored Wheat. M.S. Thesis, 2002.
- Danley, Ronda. An Economic Evaluation of Phosphine Fumigant Monitoring Devices in Commercial Grain Elevators. M.S. Thesis, 2002.
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