Progress 06/09/09 to 06/08/14
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During 2010 the research was completed and reported to funding agencies. USDA Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL reported project results in their annual report. PI Retired. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Project results regarding the impacts of fire ants on public, commercial, residential and agricultural properties continue to be cited in the popular media. Results relating to the magnitude of the turf grass industry have been circulated in professional and trade publications.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Researchers completed and reported on the economic impacts of fire ants on high value sites in the Southern United States. Primary data were collected from high schools and parks in Florida, Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Oklahoma to determine the impact of fire ants on these facilities and grounds. These data combined with secondary data gathered from earlier in depth research ans publications were combined to estimate the economic impacts. Most high-use facilities have become accustomed to the presence of fire ants. Few reported any benefits. Results were reported through the USDA,ARS and the cooperating agricultural extension services of the five cooperating states. All previous reports were also disseminated in the same manner and are available on fire ant website. PARTICIPANTS: Curtis F. Lard, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, and Chelsea Ryan, student technician. Bart Drees,Alejandro Calixto, and Robert Puckett, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University. Robert VanderMeer, USDA/ARS, Gainesville, FL TARGET AUDIENCES: City and School District managers, golf course superintendents, and public policy makers. Each can use these results to improve their understanding of the need for, and impact of fire ant control efforts. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Cost of treatment and cost of damages were estimated. When both actual damages and anticipated damages, had treatment not occurred, are compared to treatment costs, treatment costs were far less than damages. Of those surveyed, 65% actively implement treatment programs. The study showed a total economic impact of $147 million for the five state area high schools and $292 million for city parks. Because of the similarity of high school grounds and city parks to golf courses, other schools, cemeteries and other parks, the data can be extrapolated to include many more facilities leading to a much greater impact of the fire ant and the costs/impact of treatment and damage. These results may be used to evaluate private costs of treatment and public policy decisions. Much of the research from this project has been developed into fact sheets and other publications of the USDA/ARS Fire Ant Division to better inform the general public and government agencies.
Publications
- Lard, C.F. and Chelsea Ryan, 2009. "An Economic Impact of Imported Fire Ants on High Value Sites in Southern United States. Technical report to USDA/ARS. 38 pp. Retrievable from http://fireantecon.tamu.edu/Publications.html
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The USDA-ARS Areawide Suppression of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) in Pasturelands Project and the USDA-ARS Areawide Suppression of Red Imported Fire Ants in High-Value Areas apply to the last calendar year. The pasturelands project consisted of multiple testing sites in five states, concluded in the past year. Biological or chemical control agents were introduced to suppress RIFA populations. Researchers took field information and combined it with economic cost information associated with RIFA control. Results were evaluated by cost reduction per acre. For the past five years, researchers collected and entered all data from the field in an areawide matrix. In cooperation with other states, our objectives were to record, summarize, and analyze these economic data. We concluded our research and submitted our findings to the USDA Project Office. Researchers are currently concluding the high-value project. This project consisted of collecting data across five states from high-valued sites. During 2008, data was collected and entered, and an analysis of the economic impact of fire ants in these areas followed. This research included a comprehensive survey of city parks and high school campuses in Texas, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Oklahoma. Rather than sampling from the entire state, several metropolitan areas were sampled from each state. Survey instruments were collected and entered to evaluate costs, damages, and benefits for all selected sites. Master list frames of all the public high schools and city parks in each state were compiled and narrowed down to correlate with the specific sampling scheme, concentrating on the most intensive use facilities and grounds. An extrapolation of the findings is being developed for the entire fire ant belt in the United States. The findings will then be related back to the original high-value areas in each of the states. Data collected has and will continue to help estimate the true impact of fire ants in high-value areas. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Curtis F. Lard, PI Chelsea Ryan, RA Levi Estes, RA TARGET AUDIENCES: Applicable end users such as: homeowners, schools, city park systems, golf courses, and etc. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The collective research on fire ants make estimates of their impact in Texas and the entire nation. These can be used to help shape policy, find more economical fire ant management practices, and estimate the cost and benefit of these pests through their effects on agricultural production, business in high value areas, and the damage they cause to structures, equipment, people, pets, and livestock. The economic analysis of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) will serve as a model to predict future costs or market changes. We have determined that, though it is not economical to treat pastures for fire ants, preliminary data suggests that the benefit of treatment in high-value areas outweighs the cost. As RIFA continue to move West and North across the nation (and state), their impact on areas yet to be invaded can be projected from these data. Getting the information into the hands of end-users and policy makers will ultimately lead to more informed decision-making regarding fire ants and their impacts on the Texas and the national economy. Much of our research has been developed into fact sheets and other publications by the USDA-ARS Fire Ant Division to better inform the general public and other interested parties.
Publications
- Lard, C., Morris, B., Estes, L., Schmidt, J., Ryan, C. (2006). The Economic Impact of Red Imported Fire Ants in Rural Texas. Retrieved January 24, 2006 from http://fireantecon.tamu.edu/Publications.html
- Lard, C., Schmidt, J. Morris, B., Estes, L., Ryan, C., Bergquist, D. (2006). National Economic Impacts of Red Imported Fire Ants. Retrieved January 24, 2006 from http://fireantecon.tamu.edu/Publications.html
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The USDA-ARS Areawide Suppression of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) in Pasturelands Project and the USDA-ARS Areawide Suppression of Red Imported Fire Ants in High-Value Areas apply to the last calendar year. The pasturelands project consisted of multiple testing sites in five states, concluded in the past year. Biological or chemical control agents were introduced to suppress RIFA populations. Researchers took field information and combined it with economic cost information associated with RIFA control. Results were evaluated by cost reduction per acre. For the past four years, researchers collected and entered all data from the field in an areawide matrix. In cooperation with other states, our objectives were to record, summarize, and analyze these economic data. We concluded our research and submitted our findings to the USDA Project Office. Researchers are currently working on the high-value project. This project is collecting data across five states from high-valued
sites. During 2008, data will continue to be collected and entered, and an analysis of the economic impact of fire ants in these areas will follow. This research includes a comprehensive survey of city parks and high school campuses in Texas, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Oklahoma. Rather than sampling from the entire state, several metropolitan areas are to be sampled from each state. Survey instruments are currently being collected and entered to evaluate costs, damages, and benefits for all selected sites. Master list frames of all the public high schools and city parks in each state were compiled and were narrowed down to correlate with the specific sampling scheme, concentrating on the most intensive use facilities and grounds. An extrapolation of the findings is being developed for the entire fire ant belt in the United States. The findings will then be related back to the original high-value areas in each of the states. Data collected has and will continue to help
estimate the true impact of fire ants in high-value areas.
PARTICIPANTS: Our research was performed by Dr. Curtis F. Lard, a researh assistant, and an undergraduate student worker. Under funding from the USDA-ARS, our office cooperated with researchers across our five state area, including entomologists from the state extension programs in each of the five states and from the USDA-ARS Fire Ant Division.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Our reports are directed toward the USDA-ARS, which in turn creates publications, such as fact sheets, for the general public, policy makers, and other interested audiences.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The initial focus of the research was the control of fire ants in pasturelands for the purpose of higher gains in productivity for farmers and ranchers. However, when it was determined that the treatment of fire ants was not feasible in most agricultural operations, focus shifted to high-value urban sites. Our methodology for collection also changed. For pasturelands, data were collected directly through our cooperating extension entomologists across our five-state area, whereas our high-value information is collected primarily through surveys sent to schools to gage perceived costs and benefits.
Impacts
The collective research on fire ants make estimates of their impact in Texas and the entire nation. These can be used to help shape policy, find more economical fire ant management practices, and estimate the cost and benefit of these pests through their effects on agricultural production, business in high value areas, and the damage they cause to structures, equipment, people, pets, and livestock. The economic analysis of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) will serve as a model to predict future costs or market changes. We have determined that, though it is not economical to treat pastures for fire ants, preliminary data suggests that the benefit of treatment in high-value areas outweighs the cost. As RIFA continue to move West and North across the nation (and state), their impact on areas yet to be invaded can be projected from these data. Getting the information into the hands of end-users and policy makers will ultimately lead to more informed decision-making regarding
fire ants and their impacts on the Texas and the national economy. Much of our research has been developed into fact sheets and other publications by the USDA-ARS Fire Ant Division to better inform the general public and other interested parties.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Several studies relate to this report. First, the Areawide Suppression of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) in Pasturelands Project, which consisted of multiple testing sites in five states, concluded in the past year. Biological or chemical control agents were introduced to suppress RIFA populations. Researchers took field information and combined it with economic cost information associated with RIFA control. Results were evaluated by reduction per acre. For the past four years, researchers collected and entered all data from the field in an areawide matrix. In cooperation with other states, our objective was to analyze the economic data. We concluded our research and submitted our findings to the USDA Project Office. Second, the manuscript for the National Economic Impacts of Red Imported Fire Ants was finalized and submitted to the same office. This manuscript is available on the World Wide Web. Researchers collected data from the National Agricultural Statistics
Service, the United States Census, Sales and Marketing Magazine, state and producer associations, previous research, and various secondary sources. Demographic data were gathered for each of the thirteen currently infested states, and projections were made for Hawaii, which could be potentially invaded by RIFA. The results of this model can be used to assess damages and estimate the potential costs and benefits of control and management on a state and national level. Third, our office has begun work on a study of the economic impact of the golf industry that will be submitted to various entities of the Texas golf industry. If the funding of the grant is awarded, this study will detail the effects of sales, employment, income, and value-added products and services on the Texas economy. Fourth, the Texas Fire Ant Initiative is a project conducted to estimate RIFA costs and benefits for rural Texas, especially agricultural producers. The data were analyzed, and a final report was
submitted. The analysis of costs and benefits for rural Texas have helped determine where costs are occurring and will hopefully affect policy and efforts to find a more economical approach to RIFA control. Researchers are currently working on a new project that is part of the USDA-ARS Areawide Fire Ant Suppression Program. This project collects data across five states from high-valued sites. During 2007, data will continue to be collected and entered, and an analysis of the economic impact of fire ants in these areas will follow. This research includes a comprehensive survey of city and state parks and school grounds in the state of Texas. Data collected will help estimate the true impact of fire ants in high value areas.
Impacts
The collective research on fire ants make estimates of their impact in Texas and the entire nation, helping to shape policy, find more economical fire ant management practices, and estimate the cost and benefit of these pests through their effects on agricultural production, business in high value areas, and the damage they cause to structures, equipment, people, pets, and livestock. Individual consumers can use the information to make educated, informed decisions. The study on the golf industry estimates how much this industry and related sectors impact the state of Texas as the golf industry continues to evolve and expand. The economic analysis of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) and the golf industry serve as a model to predict future costs or market changes. As RIFA continue to move West and North across the nation (and state), their impact on areas yet to be invaded can be projected from these data. Getting the information into the hands of end-users and policy
makers will ultimately lead to more informed decision-making regarding fire ants, the golf industry, and their impacts on the Texas economy.
Publications
- Lard, C., Schmidt, J. Morris, B., Estes, L., Ryan, C., Bergquist, D. 2006. National Economic Impacts of Red Imported Fire Ants. Retrieved January 24, 2006 from http://fireantecon.tamu.edu/Publications.html
- Lard, C., Morris, B., Estes, L., Schmidt, J., Ryan, C. 2006. The Economic Impact of Red Imported Fire Ants in Rural Texas. Retrieved January 24, 2006 from http://fireantecon.tamu.edu/Publications.html
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Several fire ant and turf industry studies relate to this report. First, the Areawide Suppression of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) in Pasturelands Project, in its fourth and final year of data collection, consists of multiple testing sites in five states. Biological or chemical control agents are introduced to suppress RIFA populations. Researchers take field information and combine it with economic cost information associated with RIFA control. Results are evaluated by reduction per acre. Over the last three years, researchers have been collecting and entering all data from the field in an areawide matrix. Preliminary results suggest that fire ants can be successfully controlled, but the current cost for individuals remains too high to be practical. Second, the manuscript for the National Economic Impacts of Red Imported Fire Ants Model has been prepared and is being reviewed by experts. This manuscript will be available on the World Wide Web and will be sent to the
USDA Project Office. Researchers collected data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the United States Census, Sales and Marketing Magazine, state and producer associations, previous research, and various secondary sources. Demographic data have been gathered for each of the thirteen currently infested states, and projections were made for Hawaii, which could be potentially invaded by RIFA. The results of this model can be used to assess damages and estimate the potential costs and benefits of control and management on a state and national level. Third, the findings of the Input/Output Study of the Texas Turfgrass Industry were placed on our website, fireantecon.tamu.edu, and a brochure summarizing the full manuscript, The Impact of the Turfgrass Industry on the Texas Economy: Input-Output Analysis, was published as a departmental publication and featured in Turfgrass Magazine, Inc. Collected and analyzed data estimated the effects of sales, employment, income, and
value-added products and services on the Texas economy. Fourth, the Texas Fire Ant Initiative is a project conducted to estimate RIFA costs and benefits for rural Texas, especially agricultural producers. The data have been analyzed, and a final report is in draft copy. In addition, two poster presentations were made in early 2006 over our RIFA research, one at the American Farm Bureau Conference. The analysis of costs and benefits for rural Texas have helped determine where costs are occurring and will hopefully affect policy and efforts to find a more economical approach to RIFA control. A new project to estimate fire ant impacts in high value areas has begun as part of the USDA-ARS Areawide Fire Ant Suppression Program. This project collects data across five states from high value areas. Over the next year, data will continue to be collected and entered, and an analysis of the economic impact of fire ants in these areas will follow. The research team has developed a pre-application
survey instrument, an actual survey, and an enumerator handbook. Data collected will help estimate the true impact of fire ants in high value areas.
Impacts
The collective research on fire ants make estimates of their impact in Texas and the entire nation, helping to shape policy, find more economical fire ant management practices, and estimate the cost and benefit of these pests through their effects on agricultural production, business in high value areas, and the damage they cause to structures, equipment, people, pets, and livestock. Individual consumers can use the information to make educated, informed decisions. The studies on the turfgrass industry estimate how much this industry impacts the state of Texas as the turf industry continues to evolve and expand. The economic analysis of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) and the turf industry serve as a model to predict future costs or market changes. As RIFA continue to move West and North across the nation (and state), their impact on areas yet to be invaded can be projected from these data. Getting the information into the hands of end-users and policy makers will
ultimately lead to more informed decision-making regarding fire ants, turfgrass, and their respective industries.
Publications
- Lard, C.F. and Bergquist, D.H. 2005. The impact of the turfgrass industry on the Texas economy: input-output analysis. Texas A and M University, Department of Agricultural Economics, Departmental Information Report, 2005-1.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
There are different projects associated with this particular report. First the Areawide Suppression of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) in Pasturelands project. This particular project consists of five different states (Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina) having multiple testing sites. In these sites, either a biological or chemical control agent is introduced in order to suppress the number of fire ants and the number of fire ant mounds on a per acre basis. The researchers job is to take the recorded field information and combine it with economic cost information associated with the control of RIFA in these areas. Over the past two years the researchers have been collecting and entering all data that were received from our field cooperators in each particular state into an areawide matrix. This particular project has a life span of approximately 5-6 years. It is not until the end of the project that a comprehensive report will be made of the
findings and results. Our preliminary findings lead us to believe that the fire ants can be successfully controlled, but the current cost for individual farmers is high. The other major project is the National Economic Impacts of Red Imported Fire Ants Model. Over the past two years we have been gathering principal data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the U.S. Census, Sales and Marketing magazine, state and producer associations, and previous research along with data collected from a number of other sources. Demographic data have been gathered for each of the thirteen states that are currently infested with fire ants. At this time we have prepared a brochure and pamphlet that are awaiting approval for possible publication and are working on a final manuscript of the data. Another major project an input/output study of the Texas turfgrass industry. Data have been collected from many sources including previous research results. The data have been analyzed to a point
for presentation of preliminary results. Findings have been compiled in a manuscript and are being prepared for placement on the World Wide Web. In addition, a brochure has been completed and work is in progress for its publication. The final project is the Texas Fire Ant Initiative. We have contracted with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station to run agricultural surveys that will be conducted and returned to us for analysis in 2005. Many people, associations, states, and industries will benefit greatly from the results of these projects once completed. A number of states and even other countries have used preliminary findings from this research to convince their state legislature to continue funding programs to manage and control the invasive pests in the surrounding areas. Associations have used this research to speculate the effects of the findings on the economy and the industry as a whole. Current projects will have significant effects on people and life as earlier research
has shown.
Impacts
Economic Information and Analysis of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) and the Turfgrass industry, locally and across the nation, will help to uncover preexisting costs that will serve as a model to relate future costs associated with Fire Ants and the Turf industry. These costs estimates can then be conveyed to various end users and the appropriate authorities for legislation and individuals for everyday decision-making. By discovering better ways to estimate costs for several economic sectors, the information presented by using these data will better educate individuals on the long term economic effects of RIFA and the economic impacts that are associated with the turf industry.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
There are different projects associated with this particular report. First the Area Wide Suppression of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) in Pasturelands project. This particular project consists of five different states (Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina) having multiple testing sites. In these sites, either a biological or chemical control agent is introduced in order to suppress the number of fire ants and the number of fire ant mounds on a per acre basis. The researchers job is to take the recorded field information and combine it with economic cost information associated with the control of RIFA in these areas. Over the past year the researchers have been collecting and entering all these data that were received from our field cooperators in each particular state into an area wide matrix. This particular project has a life span of approximately 5-6 years. It is not until the end of the project that a comprehensive report will be made of the
findings and results. The other major project that is reported here is the National Economic Impacts of Red Imported Fire Ants Model. Over the past year we have been gathering principal data have been gathered from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the U.S. Census, Sales and Marketing magazine, state and producer associations, and previous research along with data collected from a number of other sources. Demographic data have been gathered for each of the thirteen states that are currently infested with fire ants. So far, only preliminary results that are not ready to be distributed to the masses or published have been reached. Many variables for each state seem to be ever changing and dynamic in their own right. The National impact model is currently in its later stages of completion and should to be finished in the coming year. Another major project being completed is an input output study of the Texas turfgrass industry. Data have been collected from many sources
including previous research results. The data have been analyzed to a point for presentation of preliminary results. Findings are currently in the process of being reviewed by authorities in the turfgrass industry. This project is in the final writing stage. Many people, associations, states, and industries will benefit greatly from the results of these projects once completed. A number of states and even other countries have used preliminary findings from this research to convince their state legislature to continue funding programs to manage and control the invasive pests in the surrounding areas. Associations have used this research to speculate the effects of the findings on the economy and the industry as a whole. Current projects will have significant effects on people and life as earlier research has shown.
Impacts
Economic Information and Analysis of Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) and the Turfgrass industry, locally and across the nation, will help to uncover preexisting costs that will serve as a model to relate future costs associated with Fire Ants and the Turf industry. These costs estimates can then be conveyed to various end users and the appropriate authorities for legislation and individuals for everyday decision making. By discovering better ways to estimate costs for several economic sectors, the information presented by using these data will better educate individuals on the long term economic effects of RIFA and the economic impacts that are associated with the turf industry.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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