Cost of Controlling (Or Failing to Control) Insects in Stored Grain: a Comparison of Chemical-based and Integrated Pest Management Strategies

Abstract

Stored-grain insects cause extensive economic losses every year. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been proposed as a way to control insects in stored grain while reducing insect resistance, pesticide residuals in grain, and environmental impacts. The costs of using IPM strategies have been previously calculated, but the costs of failing to control insects have not. Since failure to control insects may cause grain damage and therefore discounts, the total cost of insect control strategies includes both treatment cost and cost of failing to control insects. The purpose of this study is to compare the total cost of IPM strategies with the total cost of chemical-based insect control strategies. Predictions from an insect growth model are used to estimate discounts due to live insects and grain damage. IPM sampling increased costs in some scenarios because it did not change insect treatment. Sampling will be more profitable in cases where it reduces need for other treatments.