Economic Impact of the Sugarcane Aphid Outbreak in South Texas

Samuel D. Zapata, Rebekka Dudensing, Danielle Sekula, Gabriela Esparza-Díaz and Raul Villanueva

Published: 20 November 2017 in Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics
Keywords: Economic impact analysis, invasive insect pests, Melanaphis sacchari, prevented loss, profit loss, yield penalty
DOI: 10.1017/aae.2017.24

The objective of this study was to estimate the economic impact of the sugarcane aphid (SCA) outbreak in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Texas. Local producers were surveyed to gather detailed information about crop production and pest control practices. Collected data were used to estimate the reduction in profit associated with the SCA infestation, as well as the monetary value of the prevented loss attributed to control efforts. Sorghum industry losses were then used to assess the overall economic impact of the SCA outbreak in the RGV economy.