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Title: ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTIONS SYSTEMS FOR FRESH-MARKET TOMATOES IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION

Author
item Wu, Shunxiang
item Lu, Yao
item MILLS, DOUGLAS - FORMER USDA/ARS
item Coffman, Charles
item Teasdale, John

Submitted to: Journal of Vegetable Crop Production
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/13/2001
Publication Date: 8/13/2002
Citation: WU, S.N., LU, Y.C., MILLS, D.J., COFFMAN, C.B., TEASDALE, J.R. ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTIONS SYSTEMS FOR FRESH-MARKET TOMATOES IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION. JOURNAL OF VEGETABLE CROP PRODUCTION. 2002. VOL. 8(1).

Interpretive Summary: This study evaluated the relative profitability of fresh-market tomato production systems that were experimented from 1997 to 1999 at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland. Results demonstrated that there were no consistent differences between production systems. Net returns from the hairy vetch system were higher than those from the other mulch systems in 1997 but net returns from the black polyethylene system were highest in 1998 and 1999. The black polyethylene system had the least overall economic risk and the hairy vetch system had the highest risk. Net returns among fungicide treatments were highest from the TOMCAST-based systems in 1997 and 1999 but net returns were highest in the weekly scheduled system in 1998. Economic risk was similar in the weekly and TOMCAST systems. These results indicate that the TOMCAST system may be implemented to reduce fungicide applications with no additional economic risk but that the environmental benefits of the hairy vetch system may require more economic risk to the growers.

Technical Abstract: This study evaluated the relative profitability of fresh-market tomato production systems that were experimented from 1997 to 1999 at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland. Results demonstrated that there were no consistent differences between production systems. Net returns from the hairy vetch system were higher than those from the other mulch systems in 1997 but net returns from the black polyethylene system were highest in 1998 and 1999. The black polyethylene system had the least overall economic risk and the hairy vetch system had the highest risk. Net returns among fungicide treatments were highest from the TOMCAST-based systems in 1997 and 1999 but net returns were highest in the weekly scheduled system in 1998. Economic risk was similar in the weekly and TOMCAST systems. These results indicate that the TOMCAST system may be implemented to reduce fungicide applications with no additional economic risk but that the environmental benefits of the hairy vetch system may require more economic risk to the growers.