Date: 3/30/99

Time: 4:40

Type: Symposium

Number: 159

Agrarian independence and the selling of area wide pest management

*S.C. Padgitt, A. Kaufman and P. Petrzelka, Dept. of Sociology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
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Of the several dimensions of rural agrarianism, none is probably held more fiercely than is independence. Yet, in situations and contexts when a clear need exists or a relative advantage is present farmers are willing to enter into arrangements that limit their independent actions and decision making behavior. For example, historically, landowners set up drainage districts and other quasi-governmental structures allowing their land to be taxed in order to reap private benefits from collective action. Although farmer decision making has been investigated extensively, most of the innovations and practices studied have been decisions by the farmer/farm family. Fewer innovations have required a collective action or commitment. Such a practice is areawide insect pest control, a strategy based on the proposition of systematically managing pests within a contiguous geographical area. The basic strategy underlying area wide pest control is that once a pest infestation is controlled, the area can be efficiently protected as is the perimeter, and safeguarding the core area. The efficacy of this strategy for Western Corn Rootworm is being tested by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Beyond the pest control task is the sociological challenge to make the strategy self-sustaining over time. This paper reports on a four year project, now in its second year, being conducted at three Midwest sites (Kansas, Iowa and Illinois/Indiana). The objective of the sociological component of the research is to develop an organizational strategy or strategies in order for the sites to be self-sustaining at the close of the entomological study.

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