The economic benefits of bird control in U.S. cherry production
Date
2013
Authors
Elser, Julie, author
Bernasek, Alexandra, advisor
Shwiff, Stephanie, committee member
Anderson, Aaron, committee member
Dalsted, Norman, committee member
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Abstract
Bird damage is a common and costly problem for fruit producers, who try to limit damage by using control techniques. This analysis used a survey presented to producers in five states to estimate the damage sustained to sweet and tart cherry crops with and without the use of bird control. A modified partial equilibrium model was applied to the data to estimate the change in marginal cost of production resulting from a ban on bird control, incorporating both decreased output and elimination of control costs. Welfare analysis was conducted for both crops with short and long run supply elasticities derived from time-series data using geometric distributed lags. Total surplus for both crops combined decreases by about $166 to $216 million in the short run and $23 to $31 million in the long run with no bird management, indicating that bird control has a large impact on cherry production and associated market outcomes.
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Subject
bird damage
welfare analysis
economics
cherries