ISHS Acta Horticulturae 557: VII International Symposium on Orchard and Plantation Systems
ECONOMICS OF BIRD CONTROL |
| Authors: | L. Boyce, H. Brown, A. Lang, A. Meister |
| Keywords: | Bird control methods, cost:benefit analysis, noise, social cost, winegrapes |
| Abstract:
This research aims to quantify the benefits and costs of bird control in New Zealand vineyards. The study also assesses the relative effectiveness of different bird control methods. The data on which the work is based was collected through a postal survey of vineyards within the Marlborough region of New Zealand. The response rate of the survey was approximately 62%. The major findings were that vineyards spent $1.2m on bird control during 1998, and avoided $7.5m in crop damage. From a national perspective, the cost:benefit ratio of this bird control is 1:7.5. Overall, this is a highly favourable result. However, it is evident that some vineyards are spending more on bird control than they are saving in crop damage while others would benefit from increased spending. It is evident that there is a trade-off between the cost of the different control methods and their effectiveness. This is reflected in their usage. There are important social issues as some methods of bird control cause ‘noise pollution’. The seriousness of this problem depends on vineyard location and the specific circumstances of each case. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
