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peer-reviewed research article

Citrus growers vary in their adoption of biological control

authors

Kelly A. Grogan, University of Florida
Rachael E. Goodhue, UC Davis

publication information

Originally published online only.
California Agriculture 66(1):29-36. DOI: 10.3733/ca.E.v066n01p29. January-March 2012.

abstract

In a spring 2010 survey, we investigated the characteristics that influenced whether California growers controlled major citrus pests with beneficial insects. We also performed statistical analysis of growers' reliance on Aphytus melinus, a predatory wasp, to control California red scale. The survey results suggest that growers with greater citrus acreage and more education are more likely to use biological control. Marketing outlets, ethnicity and primary information sources also influenced the extent of reliance on beneficial insects. In Probit model analysis, respondents with greater citrus acreage were more likely to incorporate A. melinus into their pest management, as well as those with more education and higher-valued crops. Information sources and growing region also had statistically significant effects.

author affiliations

K.A. Grogan is Assistant Professor, Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida; R.E. Goodhue is Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis, and Member, Giannini Foundation of Agricultural Economics.

author notes

The authors thank Karen Klonsky and Richard De Moura for input on survey content and format, the respondents for completing the survey, and the UC Gianni ni Foundation of Agricultural Economics and the Jastro-Shields Award for funding. The authors also thank Lisa Bennett, Christine Carroll, Sarah Flores, Conner Mullally, Katie Pittenger, Libby McNiven, Ricky Volpe and Cassondra Yarlott for invaluable help with assembling the survey.

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