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Economic Impact of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) in North Dakota

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

F. Larry Leistritz ,
Flint Thompson  and
Jay A. Leitch
F. Larry Leistritz
Affiliation:
Dep. Agric. Econom., North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, 58105. Thompson is Agric. Ext. Agent, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Flint Thompson
Affiliation:
Dep. Agric. Econom., North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, 58105. Thompson is Agric. Ext. Agent, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Jay A. Leitch
Affiliation:
Dep. Agric. Econom., North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, 58105. Thompson is Agric. Ext. Agent, Eau Claire, WI 54703
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Abstract

Leafy spurge is a serious problem because of the speed with which it spreads and the difficulty of controlling it with available means. A rangeland economics model was developed to estimate the economic impacts of leafy spurge infestation on both ranchers and regional economies. A leafy spurge-induced carrying capacity reduction of about 580 000 animal unit months (AUMs), or enough for 77 000 cows, reduced ranchers' annual net income nearly $9 million. Ranchers did not spend another $14 million on input costs, which reduced regional business activity. The regional impacts are about $75 million in reduced business activity for all sectors. These impacts on rancher incomes and regional economies suggest the potential economic returns of leafy spurge control could be substantial.

Keywords

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L. #3 EPHES)Regional impactsrangelandincomeEPHES
Type
Special Topics
Information
Weed Science , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , June 1992 , pp. 275 - 280
Copyright
Copyright © 1992 by the Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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