Government regulations and more stringent registration requirements have also slowed the rate of development and increased the costs of new products. Concerns about potential product liability have discouraged companies from introducing new products. Increasing problems with pest resistance have likewise resulted in shorter market lives for many pesticides than in the past. All of these factors result in higher costs and potentially lower profits for chemical companies. In turn, this leads to higher prices for pesticide users.
Many pesticides are very expensive.
When including the costs of fuel and labor, every pesticide application made by the grower is a substantial expense. Imagine the savings a grower could realize if even one unnecessary pesticide application can be eliminated without increased damage to the crop. Maintaining the economic viability of agriculture is also one of the goals of Integrated Pest Management. Reprinted from Northeast Sweet Corn Production and Integrated Pest Management Manual. Roger G. Adams and Jennifer C. Clark, eds.