Agricultural, cost

Between 1979 and 1991, the amounts of herbicide apphed in the United States have remained constant, but the expenditures on herbicides have increased 54%. Agricultural costs accounted for ah. of this increase and more, since herbicide user expenditures in the government/commercial and home sectors combined dropped 3 to 4% during that period. Increased weed control costs related to crop protection have also contributed to the 37% increase, since 1988, in total annual user expenditures for pesticides in general, ie, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. In the United States, agricultural uses (ca 1993) account for more than 67% of total pesticide user expenses and 75% of the quantity used annually. Herbicides are now the lea ding type of pesticides in terms of both user expenditures and volumes used (1). 

Each year the use of pesticides in U.S. agriculture costs the nation about 4.1 billion (15). This cost Includes the cost of the chemical plus that of application. Approximately 16 billion worth of crops is saved through the application of pesticides. Thus, for every dollar invested in pesticides about 4 is returned in protected crops. 

That means that, without doubt, our own costs will continue to rise—our research and manufacturing costs, travel and selling expenses, and so on. But of equal importance, agricultural costs are going to move up steadily too. In all probability the impact of inflation will be greater on the farm than on industry. Farm labor cost are already proving to be burdensome labor costs are now a matter of consequence to all farmers. They are going to become even more so within the next few years. 

Horticultural appHcations include use of greenhouse thermal screens, rowcrop and turf covers, conveyer belts to process agricultural products, and other similar items. High performance fibers are not normally used in these appHcations, but high strength fibers are preferable for conveyer belts. Environmentally inert low cost fibers such as polypropylene are used for many of the outdoor horticultural appHcations. 

In agriculture, the average benefit/cost ratio from insecticide use ranges from 3 to 5 return for every 1 invested by the farmer(s). There are many examples where the return is much greater. In California, treatment of sugarbeets with granular phorate systemic insecticide to control the aphid and... 

Aliphatic Isocyanates. Aflphatic diisocyanates have traditionally commanded a premium price because the aflphatic amine precursors ate mote expensive than aromatic diamines. They ate most commonly used in appHcafions which support the added cost or where the long-term performance of aromatic isocyanates is unacceptable. Monofuncfional aflphatic isocyanates, such as methyl and -butyl isocyanate, ate used as intermediates in the production of carbamate-based and urea-based insecticides and fungicides (see Fungicides, agricultural Insectcontroltechnology). 

The mature Haber-Bosch technology is unlikely to change substantiaHy in the foreseeable future. The centers for commercial ammonia production may, however, relocate to sites where large quantities of natural gas are flared from cmde oil production, eg, Saudi Arabia or Venezuela. Relocation would not offset the problems for agriculture of high transportation and storage costs for ammonia production and distribution. Whereas the development of improved lower temperature and pressure catalysts is feasible, none is on the horizon as of this writing. 

W. D. Downey and P. O Rouke, Retail Fertiliser Plant Costs Efficiemy and Proftability, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind, Apr. 1976. 

Electric power generation using biomass as a fuel is economic in situations where the cost of the fuel is competitive with that of fossil fuels. The cost of a commercially available biomass steam—electric power plant is about 1500/kW for a wood-fired facility. If wood can be obtained at a cost of 2.00/GJ ( 2.10 X 10 /Btu), the total cost of power for base-load operation would be about 0.05/kWh. If wood or agricultural wastes are available at... 

Solving water pollution problems today involves a multidisciplinary approach in which the required water quaUty is related to agricultural, municipal, recreational, and industrial requirements. In many cases, a cost—benefit ratio must be estabUshed between the benefit derived from a specified water quaUty and the cost of achieving that quaUty. 

Wood is one of our most important renewable biomass resources. Unlike most biomass sources, wood is available year round and is more stable on storage than other agricultural residues. In the United States, wood residues from iadustrial by-products totaled 60.8 x 10 metric tons ia 1993 (73). Increasiagly, residues are iacorporated iato manufactured wood products and are used as a fuel, replacing petroleum, especially at wood-iadustry plants (73) some is converted to charcoal but most is used ia the pulp and paper iadustry. Residues are also available for manufacturiag chemicals, generally at a cost equivalent to their fuel value (see Fuels frombiomass Fuels fromwaste). 

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