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The external costs of pasture weed spread: an economic assessment of serrated tussock control
Author(s) -
Jones R. E.,
Vere D.T.,
Campbell M.H.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.29
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1574-0862
pISSN - 0169-5150
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-0862.2000.tb00008.x
Subject(s) - tussock , pasture , agriculture , weed , weed control , soil fertility , agroforestry , agricultural economics , natural resource economics , environmental science , economics , business , geography , agronomy , soil water , biology , forestry , soil science , archaeology
The external cost associated with the spread of pasture weeds such as serrated tussock ( Nassella trichotoma ) is an important economic problem. This problem is complicated in many parts of south‐eastern Australia where low rainfall and low soil fertility prevent the economic viability of control of this weed through pasture improvement. A consequence of serrated tussock spread in this region has been calls for increased public intervention in its control. However, because there have been no attempts to measure the external costs of serrated tussock spread, one of the major economic grounds on which this activity might be justified has not been quantified. The purpose of this paper is to provide this information. A stochastic simulation model is developed to determine the size of the external cost associated with the spread of serrated tussock and to evaluate the economic benefits of a range of control scenarios. It is concluded that on low rainfall‐low soil fertility country the socially optimal control option for serrated tussock is to retire land from agriculture and re‐vegetate it with trees.