Cotton and citrus growers, the two largest users of pesticides in the United States, can reduce the amount of pesticides used on their crops and increase their returns per acre. This was the conclusion of a study undertaken through the Giannini Foundation of Agricultura1 Economics, University of California, Berkeley. The research, based on interviews with 42 cotton and 39 citrus growers in the San Joaquin Valley, suggests that growers can realize these gains by following the advice of independent pest management consultants. Research is continuing in order to measure the profitability of consultant programs to the growers and to learn how growers decide to use a consultant's services.

This research was supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (WA 74-R345, NSF GB-34718), the National Science Foundation (GB-34718), the Ford Foundation (720–0325, 739-0003), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (W-120) through the University of California. Time and information volunteered by farmers contributed substantially to the project. The findings, opinions, and recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the above organizations or groups.