The U.S. Eradication Program
(information courtesy of USDA - APHIS)

Goal: To eradicate the boll weevil from all cotton-growing areas of the continental US and Northern Mexico by the year 2003 in cooperation with States, the cotton industry, and Mexico.

Enabling Legislation: 7 U.S.C. 147; (Organic Act of 1944); U.S.C. 148-148e; 7 U.S.C. 450. Program began 1963.

Economic Significance: If the boll weevil is allowed to infest all cotton-producing areas, eradication costs could exceed $150 per acre and growers would lose 7-10 percent of their cotton crop each season. Occasionally the damage is much greater. These losses are incurred despite growers' frequent application of pesticides. About $200 million is lost annually due to boll weevil damage and control costs nationwide.

Economic benefits to producers are limited the first year of the program because of the initial increased cost of insect control. Benefits begin to be realized the second year of the program because fewer weevils are present to damage fruit during the growing season. Direct economic benefits of boll weevil eradication stem largely from the yield gain or reduction of crop losses to insect damage and the reduction in insect control costs. These effects represent permanent gains realized by weevil eradication.

The boll weevil has infested and damaged 10 million of the 13 million acres of cotton grown. In recent years, the pest has been eliminated from nearly half of that acreage. In the eradication effort, growers are saving an average of $36 per acre in reduced pesticide applications and earning an additional $42 per acre from increased yield. Thus, the combined annual direct economic benefits once the boll weevil is eradicated is estimated to be $780 million. It is much greater in some areas. The National Cotton Council estimates the total benefit:cost ratio at about 12:1. Areas with more intensively managed cotton production, however, such as those in Georgia and Louisiana, have realized return rates closer to $40-$50 for every $1 in program cost. Eradication will result in a yields increase of at least 69 pounds per acre, pesticide savings of at least $30 per acre, and land value increases of $14 per acre.

Principal Approach and Methods Used to Achieve Goals: The eradication program uses the judicious application of pesticides based on the extensive and timely use of pheromone traps to eradicate the pest. This mostly grower-funded and managed program depends upon 100 percent participation and is mandated by State law following a positive grower referendum. The program, funded at least 70 percent by non-federal cooperators, has been extremely successful in improving cotton yields and reducing production costs on over 4 million acres in the eradicated areas. The program is a cooperative pest eradication effort involving survey, regulatory, and control activities. State agencies provide regulatory support. Pheromone sex lure traps are placed around every cotton field in the eradication zone. Traps are checked each week and pesticides are applied in response to trap captures. Cultural practices such as crop rotation, early stalk destruction, and uniform delayed planting are encouraged as ways to further reduce the pest population. Ground equipment is used around sensitive areas and all treatments are carefully monitored. Alternate control technologies are being developed and tested.

History In 1963, APHIS began a cooperative effort to control boll weevil populations and to prevent the pest from spreading into the High Plains of west Texas. The program was funded on a 50/50 cost-share basis, with 50 percent of the program costs paid with Federal funds and the remaining 50 percent paid by the cooperators. By 1983, an eradication program began in the Carolinas. Although the pest has developed resistance to several pesticides, APHIS has made significant progress in the southeastern and southwestern States. On January 1, 1983, the cooperator's contribution increased from 50 to 70 percent of the program costs.

In Fiscal Year 1994, eight million acres remained infested with losses from reduced yields and crop losses exceeding $200 per acre in some areas. The National Cotton Council, in cooperation with the States, requested that APHIS implement an accelerated eradication program. Under this program, the boll weevil would be eradicated from the U.S. by the year 2003, which is 13 years sooner than the original plan. The extent of APHIS participation in the proposed program is directly linked to the availability of funds.

State and Local Cooperation: The Federal share is not more than 30 percent (plus certain capitalized equipment) over the program’s life. Cotton growers, non-Federal sources, and occasional State appropriations provide at least 70 percent of the program cost. The Mexican government and growers help support the program in northwestern Mexico.

Involvement of Other Agencies: State departments of agriculture, State land grant universities, State and Federal agencies, and industry. Agricultural Research Service has provided research support, the Extension Service has provided important information to growers, the Farm Service Agency has provided critical support, and the Economic Research Service has done economic analysis.

Eradication Progress: Central Eradication Program: In FY 1998, the Southern Rolling Plains zone, with about 180,000 acres, completed its fourth full season of program activity. We expect to confirm eradication in this zone during FY 1999. The Central Rolling Plains zone (700,000 acres) experienced difficult weather conditions which created special challenges for the eradication program. While extreme heat and drought resulted in many acres being abandoned from production in mid-season, trapping, treatment and monitoring activities continued on these fields to prevent weevil populations from rebounding later in the year. Program operations were also necessary in the fall when excessive rain and mild temperatures caused significant regrowth which provided additional food for fall weevils. Although production levels were low due to weather conditions, FY 1998 eradication efforts should help the Central Rolling Plains zone begin the 1999 growing season with low weevil populations. Growers in South Texas (400,000 acres) also suffered through the hot, dry summer of 1998. Overall, weevil numbers have been significantly reduced in these three programs areas, and there is likely to be extensive program expansion into additional areas of Texas in FY 1999. Grower leaders are pursuing state funds to help reduce the cost of eradication.

In FY 1997, Mexico began a 5-year eradication program in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas. This program is funded by the Mexican government, the state of Tamaulipas, and local growers. In FY 1998, APHIS continued to provide technical expertise and conducted limited trapping along the border to help ensure that Mexican infestations do not endanger domestic eradication efforts in South Texas.

Growers in the Red River Valley (70,000 acres) of west Louisiana and southwest Arkansas completed their first full season of eradication operations in FY 1998. The positive results, even this early in the Red River program, sparked grower interest in northeast Louisiana (500,000 acres) where they passed a referendum in September 1998. The entire state of Louisiana will be involved in eradication in 1999. Louisiana lawmakers recently appropriated $50 million in state funds to cover 50 percent of the growers’ eradication costs. In addition, the southeastern portion of Arkansas (325,000 acres) will begin their eradication program in 1999 as well.

In FY 1998, the new Oklahoma program (200,000 acres) involved a series of fall diapause treatments. Program personnel will get additional training and will be ready for their first full season of operations in 1999. State bonds are being used to help finance the program in Oklahoma.

Southeast Eradication Program: The program in the Southeast maintained effective post- eradication surveillance on over three million acres in 7 states. Eradication activities focused on east Mississippi (450,000 acres), the South Delta (260,000 acres), and southwest Tennessee (200,000 acres), with the latter two zones getting started in the fall of 1998. Late-season rains have stretched the program’s finances, but substantial progress is being made in reducing weevil populations.

The North Delta, the final zone in Mississippi, is expected to vote in January 1999 for a fall 1999 startup. Northwest Tennessee will also vote in January 1999, hoping to begin program operations in the fall of 1999 if the North Delta falters. Otherwise, they will begin in the fall of 2000. Southwest Boll Weevil Eradication Program: In FY 1998, post-eradication activities continued to protect Arizona, southern California, and northern Mexico. No weevils were captured in these areas. As a result, no pesticide was required on over 1.4 million acres of intensively managed, irrigated cotton. In New Mexico, weevil introductions in recent years (probably from west Texas) have become established in the Mesilla and Luna valleys. Growers there responded with positive referenda in FY 1998 and began initial eradication efforts. This area must be eradicated to eliminate any risk of further migration to the weevil-free West.

Nationwide, FSA loans to grower groups for eradication totaled $40 million in FY 1998.

Next...the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Program