A ban on methyl bromide use appears inevitable at this time. Knowing the impact this

policy will have on Florida growers, and knowing that much of Florida's loss will move to

Mexico where methyl bromide use will continue and probably increase, policy makers should

develop programs that will speed the search for alternatives. An intense research agenda should

be developed to find feasible alternatives. In the interim, policy makers should consider

programs that can help growers survive until better alternatives can be found.

 The U.S. regulatory environment has not been kind to Florida growers over the last

several years. Growers have struggled to survive in an environment of increasing regulation in

the production and marketing of fruit and vegetables. With current technology, however, a

methyl bromide ban will be more devastating to Florida agriculture than any previous regulatory

or natural event. It appears rational to believe that an intense research program should be

developed to find better substitutes than are currently known. Policies that change the rules of

the game and devastate thriving economic enterprises should also contain instruments to help

those impacted.

Limitations of the Study and Suggestions for Further Research

 The primary limitation of the study is the assumption regarding the alternatives to the use

of methyl bromide as a preplant fumigant. As noted elsewhere in this report, limited research

has been conducted to date on alternative fumigants or alternative production systems which do

not utilize fumigants. At the present time, alternative production systems are experimental. The

development of alternative fumigants or alternative non-fumigant production systems which are

economically viable would alter the empirical results of this study. The methodology developed