Tracy,
You may want to converse with some of the new cotton farmers in the
Carolinas and Georgia. The eradication program there has been a success in
their opinion and they are greatly increasing acres. The program is paid
for by farmers mostly and for the most part they have been pleased with
the results.
Enviromentalist should like the program as well, for in the long run
their will be less spraying and more reliance on beneficial insects for
pest control. Believe me, Cotton growers want to keep their pesticide
applications to a minimum. The less they have to spray, the more money
goes into thier pockets. Capitalism rears it's ugly head again..My brother
farms in South Carolina and the combination of high cotton prices and the
eradication program has spurred increase interest in this uniquely
Southern Crop. If this insect can with stand the pressure of all these new
acres this year, the eradication program may be deemed at least a partial
success. Reducing pesticide use and increasing the value of our crops.
Should be a win/win situation.
The primary insecticide used for eradication is a Diapause treatment
of malithion.. The same insecticide they routinely overspray CA & FL with
for fruit fly infestations. Fairly safe on these highly populated areas.
Regards,
Tom
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