Date: 3/30/99

Time: 4:20

Type: Symposium

Number: 158

The economics of areawide management of corn rootworm: a status report

P. Quan, M.A. Martin and J.M. Lowenberg-DeBoer, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47905-1145
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The AWPM approach has to be at least as profitable as the current soil insecticide method to be adopted by profit maximizing farmers. In this paper, the economic profitability of the AWPM approach is analyzed using benefit-cost analysis. Compared to the soil insecticide method, the AWPM approach is predicted to have a higher cost during the early years of the project, given the initial higher spraying costs until the WCRW population is suppressed. Also, the mean yield for an AWPM site is expected to be higher than the mean yield of fields using soil insecticides, since uncertain weather conditions may reduce the efficacy of soil insecticides. In IN/IL the western corn rootworm has adapted to the corn-soybean rotation. Hence, scouting, aerial, and chemical application costs are all allocated to the combined acre, i.e., one-half corn and one-half soybeans. Preliminary findings show that if the spraying frequency in years 3 through 8 continued at the average actual spraying frequency of 1997 and 1998, the AWPM approach will cost more than the soil insecticide method even after eight years, assuming comparable yields. However, if the AWPM approach were successful in suppressing the insect population so that no aerial or chemical costs occur in years 3 through 8, the AWPM approach generates the same cost as the soil insecticide method in eight years, assuming annual scouting costs of $3.00 per acre. Other scenarios, including higher potential yields with the AWPM approach, for Indiana/Illinois and other AWPM sites will be presented.

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