New York Pest Program Returns $2.19 Per Dollar
Growers and taxpayers in New York see an estimated $2.19 return for each dollar invested in targeted pest control.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Organic Food
Cornell University researchers estimate New York's integrated pest management program returned $2.19 in benefits for every taxpayer dollar invested over its first 40 years. The analysis, published November 2 in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, is relevant to New York farmers and growers who use the program's pest monitoring and treatment-timing tools.
Why it matters
Integrated pest management focuses on monitoring pests and timing treatments so growers can reduce unnecessary pesticide use while protecting crops. Putting a dollar figure on the program gives state budget planners and growers a clearer picture of what the service returns, at a time when pest management decisions carry real cost and environmental stakes.
The estimate draws on 19 studies of crop production practices supported by the program and scales savings using crop acreage and the years those practices were available. Its figures are modeled economic estimates rather than a direct measurement of every program outcome, and the analysis excludes environmental and resistance benefits that were not monetized.
The players
Cornell University
A major research university whose Cornell Cooperative Extension system supports New York agriculture, including integrated pest management and crop advisory work.
Allan Pinto
Cornell's first economist for its pest management program, who joined in 2023 and worked on the economic analysis.
Journal of Integrated Pest Management
A peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on integrated pest management practices in agriculture and related fields.
The details
The program's savings come mainly from practices that help growers monitor pests and time their treatments, so fewer applications are needed when pressure is low. Researchers applied those per-acre savings across crop acreage over the years the practices were in use, then expressed the total in 2024 dollars. The New York Weather Exchange and Network (NEWA) system supports this work by combining weather observations with pest life-cycle information to help farmers forecast risks and decide when to treat.
Timeline
- Federal work on reducing broad pesticide use began in the 1970s.
- New York established program funding in its state budget in 1985.
- Allan Pinto joined Cornell's program as its first economist in 2023.
- Estimated benefits are valued in 2024 dollars.
- The study was published November 2, 2026.
Health Landscape
Integrated pest management grew out of federal efforts beginning in the 1970s to reduce broad pesticide use, shifting control toward monitoring and targeted treatment. This economic estimate adds a state-level measure of what that shift returns, though it does not directly quantify health outcomes.
If you buy New York-grown produce, targeted pest management is one of the ways growers aim to reduce unnecessary pesticide applications. It is worth discussing with your doctor or a registered dietitian if you have specific concerns about pesticide exposure from food.
The takeaway
Targeted pest monitoring can cut unnecessary pesticide use while still protecting crops, and this estimate suggests the economic case is strong even under conservative assumptions. Washing produce thoroughly before eating remains a simple, broadly useful habit for reducing residue exposure.
Further reading
For broader context on how these farming practices fit into the food supply, explore Organic Food coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
