Cost of Production Impacts of Restricted Pesticide Use on Fruits and Vegetables

Abstract

This study estimated the impacts of reduced chemical use on fruit and vegetable crops. Specifically, the yield and per unit cost impacts of eliminating the use of insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides were evaluated, as well as the impacts of an approximate 50% reduction in the number of applications. Nine crops were studied, but the impacts on three crops (onions, sweet corn, and oranges) are discussed in this article. The impacts were generally substantial but highly variable among regions and crops. The fresh market crops tended to experience larger yield reductions than the processed market crops. Sweeping pesticide use reduction involving more than one pesticide category world have more adverse (synergistic) impacts on yield than strategies targeted toward a particular pesticide group.