Factors Influencing Adoption Of Integrated Pest Management Practices In Northeast Greenhouse Ornamentals.

Abstract

We conducted ninety- four s urveys among small growers of greenhouse ornamental in three Northeastern states to examine factors that influence IPM adoption. We construct four a lternative dependent variables describing t he e xtent of IPM adoption, and employ Standard Logit, Ordered Logit and Tobit models to indentify factors affecting IPM adopt ion. We find that IPM adopters are more likely to operate large farms, use more full time workers, and have diversified operations to include vegetables. Greenhouses that s uffered serious disease problems are less likely to adopt IPM practices; t he positio n of head growers in the greenhouse operations is also influential in IPM adoption. Our findings reveal that unavailability o f biological control agents is a great hindrance for growers to adopt IPM. Our analysis also highlights substantial difference between t he self- reported IPM measure and t he three objective IPM measures.