AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT MODEL OF LIMITING PESTICIDE USAGE IN AGRICULTURE

The use of agricultural crop pesticides has increased more than five-fold since 1950.1/ U.s. consumption of chemical pesticides currently exceeds one billion pounds of active ingredients annually; more than half of this volume is used for agriculturally-related enterprises. The explanation behind such growth is one of economics. The agricultural producer's rationale for using chemical pesticides on crops is to increase net revenues through 1) improved yields associated with more effective pest management, and/or 2) decreased cost of pest control.