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

Partial budget analysis was used to evaluate soil treatment alternatives to methyl bromide (MeBr) based on their cost-effectiveness in the production of strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa). 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 fi eld test data. The fumigation alternatives evaluated were Telone-C35 (1,3dichloropropene 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. Methyl bromide (MeBr) is a highly effective broadspectrum fumigant used to control insects, nematodes, weeds, and pathogens (Gullino et al., 2003; Martin, 2003; Ristaino and Thomas, 1997; Schneider et al., 2003). The United States uses about 38 million lb of MeBr (a.i.) each year for preplant soil fumigation, accounting for 70% to 75% of the total use [Osteen, 2000; Ristaino and Thomas, 1997; U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 2005a]. Under the Montreal Protocol of 1991, MeBr was defi ned as a chemical that contributes to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer and a phase-out schedule was implemented with a targeted phase-out in 2005 [USDA, 2005a; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2004]. As a result of the obligations imposed under the Montreal Protocol, importation and production of MeBr ceased in the U.S. beginning 1 Jan. 2005, except for emergency and critical use exemptions (EPA, 2004). The phase-out of MeBr as a preplant soil fumigant may result in considerable fi nancial losses for the U.S. farmers (Carpenter et al., 2000; Carter et al., 2005; Osteen, 2000; USDA, 2005b). There is no known single alternative fumigant, chemical, or other technology that can readily substitute for MeBr in effi cacy, low cost, ease of use, availability, worker safety, and environmental safety below the ozone layer (USDA, 2005b). Possible alternatives include host plant resistance, biological control, different cultural practices, and alternative chemicals, either alone or in combination (Gullino et al., 2003; Manning and Fennimore, 2001; Martin, 2003; Rieger et al., 2001; Ristaino and Thomas, 1997; Schneider et al., 2003). The availability of the alternative control measures will generally be limited to a specifi c crop or use because specifi c crops have widely varying requirements associated with variations in the target pests, soil types, climates, 1Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8109.