March 2003—March 2002

ERS Meets with APHIS on Corn Rootworm: On February 11, 2003, Stan Daberkow (ERS) made a presentation at the final review meeting of ARS’s Corn Rootworm (CRW) Areawide Management research project in Las Vegas, NV. The primary objective of this multi-year, multi-state project was to demonstrate the technical and socio-economic feasibility of an areawide approach to managing a major corn insect pest. The project used scouting, economic threshholds, and an innovative CRW control product (i.e., a cucurbit based feeding stimulant laced with very low levels of insecticide) over a large area (approximately 16 sq. miles) to control highly mobile CRW adult populations. The project demonstrated that in certain years and sites, the areawide concept was economically competitive with soil insecticides—currently the most widely used chemical control option for CRW. The areawide approach resulted in a large reduction in soil insecticide use. For example, one site reported a 20-fold decrease in active ingredient loadings. Due to farm worker safety, environmental, and non-target species concerns about organo-phosphate soil insecticides, the declining effectiveness of traditional cultural CRW controls in certain areas of the Cornbelt (i.e., crop rotation in IL and IN), and consumer concerns regarding transgenic crops (e.g., Bt seed), the areawide approach offers another option for managing this key corn pest. This project was particularly successful in demonstrating the utility of a multidisciplinary project (i.e., entomology, economics, and sociology) as well as a public/private partnership (i.e., growers, crop consultants, applicators, and Federal and State extension/research personnel).

ERS Economists Participate In Fertilizer Institute's Fertilizer Outlook Conference: On November 14-15, Wen Huang and Stan Daberkow (ERS) participated in The Fertilizer Institute's (TFI) 2003 Fertilizer Outlook Conference in Arlington, VA. Prior to the conference, TFI held an Economics Council Meeting to review TFI's data collection efforts and fertilizer trade, capacity, production cost, and use statistical releases.

March-January 2002

Congressional Research Service Inquiry About Methyl Bromide: On March 20, Craig Osteen (ERS) was contacted by Linda Jo Schierow of the Congressional Research Service for the latest impact estimates of the methyl bromide phaseout and whether such impact estimates were available by State. Osteen sent her a copy of "Economic Implications of the Methyl Bromide Phaseout"(AIB-756, Feb. 2000) which contains the latest estimates and discussed pertinent results in the report. Estimates are not available by State because of insufficient data to develop estimates at the State level. Osteen also referred her to the Office of Air and Radiation in EPA.

ERS Economists Attend EPA Methyl Bromide Meeting: On January 17, Margriet Caswell (ERS), Craig Osteen (ERS), and Jim Schaub (OCE) attended a Methyl Bromide Critical Use Exemption meeting, which was organized by the Office of Atmospheric Programs and the Office of Pesticide Programs in USEPA. USEPA staff discussed the application process for methyl bromide critical use exemptions and presented draft forms to collect necessary information. Stakeholders, including State government officials and grower groups representatives, provided useful comments. Methyl bromide is a fumigant used in agricultural production that is being phased-out worldwide under the Montreal Protocol (by January 1, 2005, in the U.S. and other developed countries). Countries can nominate critical uses to continue, but will have to show that no technically and economically feasible alternatives are available.

May-November 2001

Economic Impacts of Manure Management Regulations: On August 6, Wen-yuan Huang and Richard Magleby (ERS) presented their paper, "Economic Impacts of Restricting Manure Use on Hog Farms in the Southern Seaboard," at the annual meeting of Soil and Water Conservation Society in Myrtle Beach, SC. The paper investigated how EPA's proposed new CAFO regulations on manure use are likely to affect hog opearations and their profitability in the Southern Seaboard region. Results show the restrictions would affect large farms more than medium-sized farms.


ERS Economists Meet With EPA on Methods To Estimate Percent of Crop Treated with Pesticides: On July 18, six ERS researchers met with representatives of EPA to discuss how the Office of Pesticide Programs will estimate the percent of crop treated (PCT) with a pesticide. The estimate is a critical component of the assessemnt of potential risks from pesticide residues in food that is required under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). Statistical techniques and data reliability were discussed, and ERS suggested ways that the EPA-proposed methods could be improved.

ERS Participates in Meeting On GAO IPM Report: On June 25, four staff members from the U.S. General Accounting Office met with Margriet Caswell (ERS) and other representatives of REE agencies to review the GAO findings and recommendations that will be included in a report on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) submitted for USDA review in mid-July. The report assesses the USDA and EPA effectiveness in meeting the stated goals of the 1993 IPM Initiative. Some of the report discusses the impediments farmers may face in the adoption of IPM practices and technologies, but the majority focused on perceived management deficiencies. GAO criticism centered on the implementation of the initiative, not on the value of IPM. GAO offered recommendations to increase the effectiveness of IPM programs.

ERS Economist Presents Paper At NAREA meetings: On June 10-12, Jorge Fernandez-Cornejo (ERS) attended the 2001 Northeast Agricultural and Resource Economic Association (NAREA) in Bar Harbor, Maine, to present "Economic Effects of Organic Farming: The Case of Selected Fruit and Vegetables." This paper presented econometric estimates of the effects of adopting organic farming techniques for selected fruits and vegetables, including strawberries and tomatoes. Effects include changes in yields, revenues, and farm profits. Data are obtained from 1998-99 USDA ARMS surveys, which for the first time provide data on organic and conventional operations growing these products.

Methyl Bromide Critical Use Exemption Process Discussed: On May 31, Al Jennings (OPMP) convened representatives of ERS, ARS, OCE, OGC, and APHIS to discuss how USDA will offer constructive comments as EPA prepares a proposed rule on critical use exemptions for methyl bromide. The draft rule that is planned for fall 2001 will establish the process by which applications for a methyl bromide use exemption are submitted to EPA and the criteria that will be used to choose which applications will become part of the U.S. submission to the Montreal Protocol Parties for designation as critical use exemptions to the final phaseout of methyl bromide in 2005. It was decided that a core team be formed to offer EPA guidance on the determination of technical and economic feasibility of alternatives to methyl bromide and on the criteria to judge whether significant market disruption would result from the lack of
methyl bromide. Margriet Caswell and Craig Osteen represented ERS at the meeting.

Invasive Species Workshop: On May 9-10, Stan Daberkow and Craig Osteen (ERS) attended the Invasive Species International Movement of Plant Propagative Material Workshop at the University of Maryland. The workshop was sponsored by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the American Seed Trade Association, the American Nursery and Landscape Association, and USDA. The meeting provided a dialogue on the international movement of plant material that may potentially be invasive. Presentations addressed invasive weed problems and the institutional framework for identifying and preventing such problems. Discussions included horticultural and seed industry viewpoints about the risks and benefits of introducing new plant species for sale. While not a major focus of the workshop, the topic of genetically modified organisms as potentially invasive species or sub-species was discussed. Options for addressing invasive species problems varied from regulatory approaches involving scientific risk assessment to voluntary compliance.

January-April 2001

Monsanto Toxicology Inquiry: On April 13, Ralph Heimlich (ERS)was contacted by Donna Farmer, a toxicologist in Monsanto's glyphosate program, regarding analysis of pesticide use by adopters of genetically engineered Roundup Ready soybeans. Farmer wanted references for the half-life and toxicity characteristics of glyphosate and alternative herbicides used on soybeans for material Monsanto is developing to respond to the British Royal Society of Agronomy's findings on genetically modified crops. An Agricultural Outlook article by Heimlich and other ERS economists pointed out that although the number of pounds of active ingredients used rose when genetically engineered soybeans were adopted, the characteristics of the herbicides used were more benign, having a shorter half-life in the field and lower toxicity.

ERS Economists Attend MAEAP Presentation: On April 4, Noel Gollehon and Marc Ribaudo (ERS)were invited to attend a presentation to USDA and EPA officials of the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), a voluntary, incentive- driven agricultural pollution prevention program. The program is designed to assist farmers in evaluating their environmental risk using an education-based approach to achieve environmental goals, including pollution prevention and natural resource enhancement. The current focus of the program is the completion and implementation of comprehensive nutrient management plans on livestock farms.

ERS Director Attends Winrock International Biotechnology Plan Review: On March 30, ERS Director Kitty Smith was among a group of 15 leaders of economic research and research-funding groups organized to review Winrock International's plans for analysis of biotechnolgy-related issues, and to exchange information about their own plans. The 1-day meeting was held at Winrock's Rosslyn, VA, office.

ERS Economists Discuss Poultry Industry Republic of Georgia Poultry Processor: On February 14, Lee Christensen and David Harvey (ERS) met with David Borchorishvili of the Republic of Georgia. Mr. Borchorishvili, on a short-term trip to the United States sponsored by the Foundation for International Arts and Education, is director of a private poultry processing firm in the Republic of Georgia. His primary interest was gathering information about the distribution of poultry in the United States, especially frozen poultry.

for more information, contact: Lee Christensen
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page updated: April 11, 2003