Economic Impact of Withdrawing Specific Agricultural Pesticides in the Lower Rio Grande Valley

K.J. Bryant, R.D. Lacewell, J.R.C. Robinson, J.W. Norman, Jr., A.N. Sparks, Jr., and J.E. Bramer


 
ABSTRACT

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has encouraged all states to develop a plan to manage the use of pesticides to prevent application that would result in unreasonable risks to human health and the environment from water contamination. In February, 1988, EPA proposed a strategy where by they would regulate certain pesticides by prohibiting their use in areas vulnerable to leaching unless a state develops and implements a management plan acceptable to EPA. The Texas Water Commission (TWC) assessed the State for areas vulnerable to leaching and found the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) and the Coastal Bend to be vulnerable areas. The first ground water monitoring conducted by the TWC is scheduled to begin in San Patricio county by April of 1993.

This study examines three pesticides (atrazine, dicrotophos, and aldicarb) in the LRGV that were identified as potential contaminants of either ground water or surface water. Alternative methods of controlling pests in this region were identified, and the economic impacts of withdrawing one or all three of these pesticides from the study area were estimated. Citrus growers stand to lose the most from the banning of aldicarb, and most of this impact is the result of a projected 10% decline in crop yields. Returns to fixed costs and management would decline by 11 to 15 dollars per acre for the row crops, excluding cotton. Producer's net incomes would decline by at least these amounts and probably more depending on the debt structure of the individual farmer.



Reprinted from 1993 Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences pp. 404 - 407
©National Cotton Council, Memphis TN

[Main TOC] | [TOC] | [TOC by Section] | [Search] | [Help]
Previous Page [Previous] [Next] Next Page
 
Document last modified Sunday, Dec 6 1998