Economic Evaluation of Methyl Bromide Alternatives for the Production of Strawberries in the Southeastern United States

Abstract

<jats:p>Partial budget analysis was used to evaluate soil treatment alternatives to methyl bromide (MeBr) based on their cost-effectiveness in the production of strawberries (<jats:italic>Fragaria</jats:italic> ×<jats:italic>ananassa</jats:italic>). The analysis was conducted for two geographical areas: the piedmont and coastal plain area (including North Carolina and Georgia) and the mountain area of western North Carolina, based on 7 years of field test data. The fumigation alternatives evaluated were Telone-C35 (1,3-dichloropropene 61.1% + chloropicrin 34.7%), Telone II (1,3-dichloropropene 94%), chloropicrin (Chlor-o-pic 99% and TriClor EC), InLine (1,3-dichloropropene 60.8% + chloropicrin 33.3%), and metam sodium (Vapam or Sectagon 42, 42% sodium methyldithiocarbamate). The MeBr formulation was 67% MeBr and 33% chloropicrin (Terr-O-Gas) with the exception of the earlier trials where a 98:2 ratio was used. In the piedmont and coastal plain area, the soil treated with chloropicrin showed the best results with an additional return of $1670/acre relative to MeBr, followed by Telone-C35 with an additional return of $277/acre. The projected return associated with shank-applied metam sodium was approximately equal to the estimated return a grower would receive when applying MeBr. Fumigating with drip-applied metam sodium, InLine, and Telone II as well as the nonfumigated soil treatment resulted in projected losses of $2182, $2233, $4179, and $6450 per acre, respectively, relative to MeBr. In the mountain area, all of the alternatives resulted in a projected increase in net returns relative to MeBr. The largest projected increase was $1320/acre for the InLine treatment, while the added returns for the TriClor and Telone-C35 applications were estimated to be $509 and $339 per acre, respectively. The drip-applied metam sodium application resulted in an additional return of $40/acre, and the added revenue for the nonfumigated soil treatment was $24/acre more than MeBr treatment. Although technical issues currently associated with some of the alternatives may persist, results indicate that there are economically feasible fumigation alternatives to MeBr in the production of strawberries in the southeastern U.S.</jats:p>

Strawberry Growth and Productivity in Fumigated Compared to Compost-amended Production Systems

“…It is not site-specific but a general tool. Telone C35 has also performed reliably at multiple sites in the Southeastern region and over multiple years Sydorovych et al, 2006; this study). We have implemented compost-based systems with success at other sites (Grabowski, 2001;Louws et al, 2000) but did not see the same benefits in this study.…”

“…Strawberry production is an important source of income for growers in the southeastern region of the United States. Gross returns can range from $21,000 to just over $30,000 per acre with an estimated $13,556 in total harvest and production costs per acre (Sydorovych et al, 2006). Most strawberry enterprises in this region comprise small to mid-sized family farms with an average size of 3-5 acres (Safley et al, 2004).…”

“…This objective was addressed at two levels: (i) during transplant production, where Trichoderma biocontrol strains were used as potting mix amendments, and (ii) during field production, where treated transplants were grown in field soil treated with the fumigant Telone C35 (61% 1,3-dichloropropene/35% chloropicrin), compost, compost amended with Trichoderma, and nontreated soil. Telone C35 was used as a chemical fumigant because it was previously found to be a cost-effective alternative to methyl bromide (Sydorovych et al, 2006). Companion studies on the effects of these treatments on root rot severity and pathogen dynamics have been reported elsewhere (Leandro et al, 2005).…”

Dangerous Holes in Global Environmental Governance: The Roles of Neoliberal Discourse, Science, and California Agriculture in the Montreal Protocol

“…But the scientific data from MBTOC indicate that this should not be an issue for the US. The cost differences for eliminating MeBr have since been estimated in some studies to be quite negligible (Norman 2005; Sydorovych et al 2006). The answers are found in an examination of what groups are behind the US position, primarily in California.…”

Role of foliar hemibiotrophic and fruit resistance in anthracnose‐resistant strawberry genotypes for annual hill plasticulture systems

“…The annual hill plasticulture system is more commonly used to produce strawberries in the Southeast (Poling & Durner, ) and can be highly profitable. For example, in North Carolina (NC) and surrounding states growers can generate net returns of $36 800 to $41 000 ha −1 (Sydorovych et al ., ) from this system. Two major cultivars ‘Chandler’ and ‘Camarosa’ are most widely used due to their desirable horticultural traits but both are highly susceptible to AFR.…”