Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T22:48:58.731Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Economic Impact of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum) on Florida Cattle Production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Tajudeen Salaudeen ,
Michael Thomas ,
David Harding  and
Stephen D. Hight
Tajudeen Salaudeen
Affiliation:
Agribusiness Program, College of Agriculture, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307
Michael Thomas*
Affiliation:
Agribusiness Program, College of Agriculture, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307
David Harding
Affiliation:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL 32307
Stephen D. Hight
Affiliation:
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Tallahassee, FL 32308
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A written survey administered to 3,500 Florida cattle producers in 2006 documented tropical soda apple as the most common pasture weed across the state of Florida. Over 80% of the survey respondents reported tropical soda apple on their ranches, and over 65% declared the plant to be a major problem for their cattle operation. On ranches that reported tropical soda apple infestations, the level of pastures infested with this weed ranged from a low of 4% in north Florida to a high of 12% in central Florida. The cattle producers' most common strategies to tropical soda apple were herbicide application and mowing. These strategies were used by 32% of respondents in north Florida, 75% in central Florida, and 76% in south Florida. On a statewide basis, 20% of cattle producers used herbicides alone, 7% used mowing alone, and 20% used both methods. Some cattle producers reduced the cattle stocking rate as a consequence of tropical soda apple infestations. This negative impact was reported by only 2% of cattle producers in north Florida, 6% in central Florida, and 7% in south Florida. With the use of the economic input/output model IMPLAN, tropical soda apple control costs resulted in economic losses throughout Florida of $15 million annually in 2006 to cattle producers and their supporting business sectors.

Una encuesta escrita que fue distribuida a 3,500 ganaderos de Florida en 2006 documentó Solanum viarum como la maleza más común en pastizales en el estado de Florida. Más del 80% de quienes respondieron la encuesta reportaron S. viarum en sus ranchos y más del 65% declararon esta planta como uno de los mayores problemas en su operación ganadera. En los ranchos que reportaron infestaciones de S. viarum, el nivel de pastizales infestados con esta maleza varió desde 4% en el norte de Florida hasta 12% en el centro de Florida. Las estrategias más comunes usadas por los ganaderos para el control de S. viarum fueron la aplicación de herbicidas y la chapia. Estas estrategias fueron usadas por el 32% de quienes respondieron en el norte de Florida, 75% en el centro de Florida, y 76% en el sur de Florida. A nivel del estado, 20% de los ganaderos usaron solamente herbicidas, 7% usaron solamente chapia, y 20% usaron ambos métodos. Algunos ganaderos redujeron la carga animal en los pastizales como consecuencia de las infestaciones de S. viarum. Este impacto negativo fue reportado por solamente 2% de los ganaderos del norte de Florida, 6% en el centro de Florida, y 7% en el sur de Florida. Con el uso del modelo económico de entradas y salidas IMPLAN, el costo del control de S. viarum resultó en pérdidas económicas de $15 millones anualmente para los ganaderos y los sectores comerciales relacionados, en todo Florida, en 2006.

Keywords

Tropical soda appleSolanum viarum DunalInvasive plantpasturequestionnairesurveyweed controlweed economics
Type
Education/Extension
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , June 2013 , pp. 389 - 394
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Akanda, R. U., Mullahey, J. J., and Shilling, D. G. 1996. Environmental factors affecting germination of tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum). Weed Sci. 44:570–574.Google Scholar
Clouser, R. L., Moss, C., Muraro, R., Racevskis, L., and Morris, R. 2010. 2010. Florida Land Value Survey: Farmland Prices Still Down. Gainesville, FL University of Florida Extension Publication FE893. 8 p.Google Scholar
Coile, N. C. 1993. Tropical Soda Apple, Solanum viarum Dunal: The Plant From Hell. Gainesville, FL Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Botany Circular No. 27. 4 p.Google Scholar
Diaz, R., Aguirre, C., Wheeler, G. S., Lapointe, S. L., Rosskopf, E., and Overholt, W. A. 2011. Differential performance of tropical soda apple and its biological control agent Gratiana boliviana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in open and shaded habitats. Environ. Entomol. 40:1437–1447.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dillman, D. 2000. Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. 2nd ed. New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 464 p.Google Scholar
[EDDMAPS] Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System. 2011. University of Georgia—Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. http://www.eddmaps.org/distribution/. Accessed: September 29, 2012.Google Scholar
[FDACS] Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 2001. Annual Report 2000–2001. Tallahassee, FL Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 11 p.Google Scholar
Ferrell, J., Mullahey, J., Langeland, K. A., and Kline, W. N. 2006. Control of tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum) with aminopyralid. Weed Technol. 20:453–457.Google Scholar
Jenssen, C. J., Kunkle, W., and Douglas, M. A. 1996. Florida Cow–Calf Management: A Practical Guide to Small-Herd Management. IFAS Guide No. SP 197. Gainesville, FL University of Florida. 120 p.Google Scholar
Langeland, K. A. and Burks, K. C. 1998. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida Natural Areas. Gainesville, FL University of Florida. 165 p.Google Scholar
Manrique, V., Diaz, R., Hight, S. D., and Overholt, W. A. 2011. Evaluation of mortality factors using life table analysis of Gratiana boliviana, a biological control agent of tropical soda apple in Florida. Biol. Control. 59:354–360.Google Scholar
McGovern, R. J., Polston, J. E., Danyluk, G. M., Heibert, E., Abouzid, A. M., and Stansly, P. A. 1994a. Identification of a natural weed host of tomato mottle geminivirus in Florida. Plant Dis. 78:1102–1106.Google Scholar
McGovern, R. J., Polston, J. E., and Mullahey, J. J. 1994b. Solanum viarum: Weed reservoir of plant viruses in Florida. Int. J. Pest Manage. 40:270–273.Google Scholar
McGovern, R. J., Polston, J. E., and Mullahey, J. J. 1996. Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum Dunal): Host of tomato, pepper, and tobacco viruses in Florida. Pages 31–34 in Proceedings of the Tropical Soda Apple Symposium. Gainesville, FL University of Florida, IFAS. 118 p.Google Scholar
Michael, J. A. and Norman, O. N. 2002. Florida Crop/Pest Management Profile: Beef Cattle. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, IFAS, Circular 1259. Pages 15 p.Google Scholar
Minnesota IMPLAN Group. 2002. Professional User's Guide, Analysis Guide, Data Guide. Stillwater, MN Minnesota IMPLAN Group, Inc. 418 p.Google Scholar
Mulkey, D. and Hodges, A. 2000. Using IMPLAN to Assess Local Economic Impacts. University of Florida IFAS Extension Document Info System Document FE. 168. www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe168. Accessed: September 29, 2012.Google Scholar
Mullahey, J. J., Hogue, P., Hill, K., Sumner, S., and Nifong, S. 1994. Tropical soda apple census. Fla. Cattleman Mag. 58:3.Google Scholar
Mullahey, J. J., Nee, M., Wunderlin, R. P., and Delaney, K. R. 1993. Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum): A new weed threat in subtropical regions. Weed Technol. 7:783–786.Google Scholar
Mullahey, J. J., Shilling, D. G., Mislevy, P., and Akanda, R. A. 1998. Invasion of tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum) into the U.S.: lessons learned. Weed Technol. 12:733–736.Google Scholar
National Agricultural Statistics Services. 2002. Census of Agriculture Annual Report. Washington, DC U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pp. 268–285.Google Scholar
Patterson, D. T., McGowan, M., Mullahey, J. J., and Westbrooks, R. G. 1997. Effects of temperature and photoperiod on tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum Dunal) and its potential range in the US. Weed Sci. 45:404–408.Google Scholar
Westbrooks, R. G. and Eplee, R. E. 1996. Regulatory exclusion of harmful non-indigenous plants from the United States by USDA, APHIS, PPQ. Castanea. 61:305–312.Google Scholar