CPRI: Herbicide Benefits

2005 Herbicide Benefits Study
The Crop Protection Research Institute updated its 2001 herbicide benefits study in 2006 with release of The Value of Herbicides in U.S. Crop Production: 2005 Update on June 13, 2006. The 2005 update utilizes the same methodology of the 2001 study to calculate the value of agricultural herbicides by examining the costs associated with their use, the additional costs of alternative weed control methods, and production losses suffered when herbicides are not used.

In 2005, herbicides increased the value of U.S. agricultural productivity by $26 billion. This value is realized through reductions in fuel consumption and manual labor that would be needed to replace the weed control currently achieved with herbicides. Herbicides also benefit the environment by mitigating 356 billion pounds of soil erosion by facilitating no-till crop production.

Press Release: The Value of Herbicides in U.S. Crop Production: 2005 Update (.pdf, 25 kb)

Executive Summary: The Value of Herbicides in U.S. Crop Production: 2005 Update (.pdf, 25 kb)

Full Report & Data: The Value of Herbicides in U.S. Crop Production: 2005 Update (.pdf, 168 kb)

Herbicide Sales & Costs Associated with Herbicides & Herbicide Tolerant Crops (.jpg, 175 kb)

Comparative Adoption of No-Till, Herbicide Tolerant & Organic Crop Production (.jpg, 177 kb)

War of the Weeds is a companion presentation to The Value of Herbicides in U.S. Crop Production. It provides an introduction to crop production and weed science. To schedule a presentation for your organization, please contact Nathan Reigner.

2001 Herbicide Benefits Study
While working for the National Center for Food and Agriculture Policy, CPRI staff completed The Value of Herbicides in U.S. Crop Production in April of 2003 with a grant from CropLife America. This study defined the value and benefits of herbicides to U.S. crop production in 2001 through forty case studies examining yield, grower expense, and soil erosion impacts of herbicide use.

The agricultural use of herbicides in 2001 resulted in an annual production increase of 289 billion lbs. of food and fiber, grower input expense reduction and increased crop production value of $21 billion, and mitigation of 304 billion lbs. of soil erosion.

Executive Summary: The Value of Herbicides in U.S. Crop Production April, 2003

Full Report: The Value of Herbicides in U.S. Crop Production April, 2003

State Results Fact Sheets March, 2005

Fact Sheet: Herbicide Non-Use Top Ten Impacts by State April, 2003