The topic of economic decision levels probably is the most often-discussed issue in economic entomology and insect -pest management today. The fun­ damental questions addressed are: How many insects cause how much damage, and is the damage significant? Most entomologists agree that a common decision rule or threshold should answer such questions and that such decision rules are the backbone of progressive pest control (3, 46, 64, 79). At issue is the form such rules should take and how they should be developed. To date, the most widely accepted form is that of the economic threshold as presented by Stern et al (80). These authors developed their decision rule from basic principles of economic damage and the economic injury level (ElL), and it is from their ElL concept that much of our present theory is derived. The major advantage of this concept is its simplicity and practicality in most situations. The ElL, defined as "the lowest population density that will cause economic damage," has been used most often to support management decisions with short-range objectives, i.e. a one-season or less planning horizon at the farm level. Additionally, the concept has been applied primarily where man­ agement tactics are responsive rather than preventative. Consequently, ElLs have been most developed for occasional and perennial pests [sensu Stern et al (80)] where scouting, evaluation, and subsequent therapy are possible. ElLs have application for all pests, however, when used as criteria of management success. In this regard, they are as applicable to severe pests as to occasional pests and as applicable to preventative tactics as to curative ones. This is because most lPM strategies call for the reduction of pest populations to a level below that which is "economic;" i.e. the familiar principle of tolerating pest presence, albeit at noneconomic levels.

Economic Injury Levels in Theory and Practice

Phase behaviour of fats and their mixtures.

http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2004/02/24/jbc.M401235200.full.pdf

Follicle-stimulating Hormone Activation of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 by the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/AKT/Ras Homolog Enriched in Brain (Rheb)/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Pathway Is Necessary for Induction of Select Protein Markers of Follicular Differentiation

The economics of animal health and production

Cadmium-stress in nodulated white lupin: strategies to avoid toxicity

This classic book will meet the needs of food and agricultural industries in both their research and business needs. Learn the fundamentals of applying statistics to the business and research needs in the food and agricultural industries. Statistical Methods for Food and Agriculture is a practical, hands-on resource that explores how statistics, a relatively recent development for science and business, facilitates the decision-making process. The range of techniques and applications explained and demonstrated in each of the four major sections of this volume provides a substantial course of study for those in business, government, and universities dealing with food, agriculture, and economics.Part I provides an introduction to the uses of statistics today, including basic concepts and definitions.Part II examines the statistical needs of the food researcher. The emphasis is on design of planned experiments, the analysis of data generated by planned experiments, and decision making in a research environment.Part III deals with statistical procedures that have a wide range of uses for the researcher and business analyst in both business and research situations.Part IV focuses on those statistical methods that have primarily a business application. This important volume is sufficiently detailed to enable the reader to learn and develop without outside assistance. References lead to more detailed presentations for those desiring additional specialized information, and helpful exercises at the end of each chapter permit the book?s use as a textbook as well.

Statistical Methods for Food and Agriculture

A microanalytic simulation model of the interrelationships among Mexican bean beetle pest populations, populations of wasps that are parasites of the pest, chemical control inputs, and soybean yield is presented. Points from output response surfaces obtained through simulations of alternative biological and chemical pest control strategies are utilized in conjunction with cost data to construct benefit-cost ratios for each intraseasonal control option studied. Comparison of ratios indicates that biological control of the pest is, by benefit-cost criteria and from both private and social perspectives, a competitive alternative to chemical control.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/info/1239730

Application of a Simulative Approach to Evaluating Alternative Methods for the Control of Agricultural Pests

This article presents a method for solving linear programming problems in which elements of the tableau are stochastic. Using least-cost poultry rations as an example, the authors demonstrate the procedure developed. Sufficiently accurate results are obtained with less time and complexity than required by alternative methods. The authors conclude that the largest obstacle to examining related problems is in the limitations imposed by lack of data, in this case with regard to biological minima.

Linear Programming Approximation of Least-Cost Feed Mixes with Probability Restrictions

Systems analysis for the food industry.

Current public health concerns and federal regulations have resulted in the imposition of new decision criteria on egg producers. Using the theory of optimal replacement and computer generated egg production budgets, this paper develops rules of thumb to assist egg producers in the task of deciding whether or not to depopulate when Salmonella enteritidis (SE) is present. This study shows that a firm that is prohibited from selling into the table egg market because of the presence of SE could face a reduction in net income of 47 percent. However, alternatives are explored in a production budget context to indicate ways that a typical firm can reduce the adverse economic impact of the presence of SE. Finally, this analysis indicates that the newly revised regulations, which permit firms to consider each egg house of a complex separately, provide flexibility to producers to minimize the adverse impact of these regulations.

Filmore E. Bender

Papers

Statistical Methods for Food and Agriculture

Application of a Simulative Approach to Evaluating Alternative Methods for the Control of Agricultural Pests

Linear Programming Approximation of Least-Cost Feed Mixes with Probability Restrictions

Systems analysis for the food industry.

Decision Making when Salmonella enteritidis is Present in Laying Flocks