Project Number: 0500-00044-017-09
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 12, 2007
End Date: Dec 31, 2008

Objective:
The objective of this cooperative research project is to 1)Assess the economic feasibility of an integrated approach to maintain low fire ant populations with reduced need for bait toxicants by using available self-sustaining fire ant biological control agents in conjunction with bait toxicants.

Approach:
The following economic aspects will be estimated: 1. The costs of the materials and applications to affect the demonstration projects or tests; 2. The damages to pasture forage, livestock, and farm equipment and electrical before the implementation of the planned management and control practices; 3. Differences in damages by geographic area; 4. The benefits received to clients from control mesures versus no control practices; 5. The areawide net effects of the proposed management plans; 6. The overall economic impacts in the U.S. of the fire ant on pastures, livestock, and farmsteads.