Market Effects of Cotton Integrated Pest Management

Widely reported research results indicate that cotton integrated pest management (IPM) generally reduces chemical use and increases net returns. Despite these favorable research results, many farmers have not adopted IPM and others have adopted only some of the available technologies. Given rising marginal costs and diminishing marginal benefits from IPM technology transfer, an optimal control framework is developed to identify optimal rates of technology transfer through educational programs. Results from an analysis of this dynamic adoption process for cotton IPM are presented. Considering the complex and evolving nature of cotton IPM, continuing educational efforts to transfer IPM technologies are warranted.