ISHS Acta Horticulturae 429: XIII International Symposium on Horticultural Economics
REDUCED PESTICIDE AVAILABILITY IN APPLE, BLUEBERRY AND TART CHERRY: SHORT-TERM IMPACTS ON GROWERS IN MICHIGAN, U.S.A. |
| Authors: | S. Swinton, E. Scorsone |
| Keywords: | Pesticide, Fungicide, Insecticide, Minor-use crops, Pesticide resistance, Policy, Partial budget, Apple, Blueberry, Tart cherry |
| Abstract:
Several pesticides that are widely used in horticultural crops are at risk of being lost to growers due to (1) regulatory action, (2) manufacturer withdrawal from the market, or (3) natural pest resistance. This study identifies the pesticides used on apple, blueberry, and tart cherry in Michigan, U.S.A., that are most likely to be lost and estimates economic impacts on growers in the short (1–3 years) and medium (3–5 years) term. Best alternative pest control methods and associated fruit yields are identified using expert opinion. Partial budgets are employed to estimate the likely financial impacts of losing these pesticides. Results suggest that poorer fruit quality and/or harvestable yield would reduce gross revenues of apple and blueberry growers by 7–9% and 15–35%, respectively, with tart cherry revenues unaffected. Pest management costs would increase by 14–21% in apple and 28% in blueberry in the medium term. Pest controls costs would actually fall due to new pesticide products in tart cherry (0–27% cost reduction) and in blueberry in the short-term (14% cost reduction). Overall, gross margins over pest control costs are expected to fall by 16–21% in apple and 19–37% in blueberry, but may rise 0–8% in tart cherry due to new, lower-cost pest management practices. Economic impacts from pesticide loss appear very sensitive to introduction of new, low-cost pest management practices. But apple and blueberry growers are highly susceptible to a cost-quality squeeze if the pesticides reviewed are, in fact, lost. Future research should address industry supply effects and the likely pace of development of natural pest resistance to pesticides. | |
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