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ENHANCING INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR U.S. POTATO PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

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Socioeconomic Working Group

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Co-Principal Investigators:

Jessica Goldberger – Washington State University

Katie Dentzman – Iowa State University

Paul Mitchell – University of Wisconsin-Madison

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SOCIOECONOMIC WORKING GROUP

Jessica Goldberger

Rural Sociologist

Washington State University

Katie Dentzman

Rural Sociologist

Iowa State University

Paul Mitchell

Economist

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Edem Avemegah

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Washington State University

Derek Franklin

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Iowa State University

Deana Knuteson

Researcher / Outreach Specialist

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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OBJECTIVE #3

Objective: Evaluate the socioeconomic influences and impacts associated with the transition from neonicotinoids to new pest management strategies.

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Socioeconomic research seeks to assess:

  1. Individual-level, sociocultural, economic, structural, and regulatory factors that affect U.S. potato growers’ pest management decisions.
  2. Barriers and bridges to transitioning from seed-applied neonicotinoids to strategies further along the IPM spectrum.
  3. Impacts of such transitions on growers, the potato industry, and society in general.

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STUDY REGIONS

Pacific Northwest

Upper Midwest

Northeast

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ACTIVITY 1

In-depth Qualitative Data Collection

  • Use of key informant interviews, site visits, focus groups, and participant observation
  • Study population: commercial potato growers, crop consultants, pest control advisors, and other potato industry stakeholders
  • Relative importance of individual-level factors (e.g., environmental orientation), sociocultural factors (e.g., information networks), economics, regulations/standards, and other factors in helping or hindering transition to new pest management practices
  • Regional data collection:
                • Pacific Northwest – Edem / Jessica
                • Upper Midwest (and Northeast) – Derek / Katie

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ACTIVITY 2

Survey Research

  • Surveys of commercial potato growers, pest management consultants, and consumers
    • Pacific Northwest growers + consultants – Jessica / Edem
    • Upper Midwest (and Northeast) growers – Katie / Derek
    • National consumers – Katie / Derek
  • Questions about pest pressure, pest management practices (neonicotinoids vs. alternatives), opinions about neonicotinoids, decision support tools, preferred information sources/channels, demographics, etc.
  • WSU Social and Economic Sciences Research Center & ISU Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology
  • Use of Tailored Design Method (TDM)
  • Use of variety of statistical methods to analyze data

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ACTIVITY 3

Partial Budget (and Other Economic) Analyses

[Paul Mitchell will provide update on economic activities.]

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QUESTIONS FROM THE WSU TEAM …

Qualitative Data Collection:

  1. Upcoming PNW potato grower meetings?
  2. Interviews vs. focus groups?
  3. Limit qualitative data collection to WA?

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Survey Research:

  1. Enhanced potato commission lists vs. WSU-DAS user list?
  2. Focus on WSU-DAS not neonicotinoids?
  3. Best survey timing?
  4. What if low response rate?