ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT OF A SUSTAINABLE INTEGRATED PEST-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN CELERY

Studies were conducted on celery plantings in 1992 and 1993 (experimen tal plantings) and 1995 (commercial field) that compared the benefit o f current chemical standard pesticide practices with an integrated pes t management (IPM) program based on B. thuringiensis. In experimental plantings at a field station, the chemical standard treatment consiste d of 9 applications of methomyl and permethrin. The IPM program used 3 or 4 applications of B, thuringiensis, the need for which was determi ned by sampling insect populations for established thresholds. Each co ntrol program was evaluated for yield, crop value, and cost of the con trol strategies. A partial budget was constructed that determined net profits for all treatments. Both he chemical standard and IPM treatmen ts reduced pest populations and damage, resulting in better yield and net profits as compared with the control treatment. The reduced input costs of the IPM program resulted in better economic returns in both y ears. In 1992, net profits were higher by $1,485/ha. In 1993, when cel ery prices were lower, net profits with the IPM program were higher by $614/ha. The program was validated in 1995 on a commercial celery ope ration in Ventura County California. The IPM program generated a net p rofit more than $410/ha higher than that of the grower's chemical prog ram. Because reduced potential for insecticide resistance in the IPM p rogram was not accounted for in the economic analysis, and the validat ion trials were conducted on a progressive operation using approximate to 40% fewer pesticides than most celery producers, the results of th e economic analyses are conservative.