with methyl bromide. Transportation costs were included for delivering these products to
each of the regional markets based on mileages determined by the Automap software and
an estimate of $1.3072 per mile as the transportation cost of a fully loaded refrigerated
truck carrying 40,000 pounds of product (VanSickle, et al., 1994).
 The alternatives that were selected and modeled as the next best alternatives were
those identified at meetings of scientists, industry representatives and environmental
advocates. In most cases, these meetings were organized by the U.S.D.A. to present the
existing state of knowledge about known alternatives and to allow participants to discuss
their views about existing and emerging technologies. The participants were asked to
indicate the alternatives they felt users would adopt and to provide their best estimates of
the impacts of next best alternatives on cost and yield. The yield impacts expected when
using the next best alternative in each cropping system are also listed in Table 2.

METHYL BROMIDE ALTERNATIVES

 The discussions held by the USDA identified those alternatives which users are
most likely to switch to and the impacts they are expected to have on costs and yield for
the crops involved. Several studies have been completed for some crops in evaluating
those alternatives that may be implemented by current users of methyl bromide. Other
crops have had few, if any, studies completed to provide the knowledge necessary to
understand the potential impacts on their yield and costs. Estimates of impacts on
production of these crops were determined from discussions with scientists attending the
USDA sponsored meetings (USDA, 1998a; USDA, 1998b). The conclusions reached at
those meetings for impacts on costs and yield provide a framework for the economic
evaluations of alternatives. A summary of these estimates is described below and in Table
2.
 Strawberries. Producers in West Central Florida are assumed to switch to an in-
row or broadcast application of a Telone C17/Devrinol herbicide combination as a
replacement to methyl bromide. The impact of this alternative is an expected decline of
$71 per acre in preharvest costs and a 15% decline in yield. Telone requires that
additional protective equipment be worn by applicators which increases preharvest cost,
but Telone C17/Devrinol will be less costly to apply than methyl bromide. Scientists
attending the USDA meetings indicated that the effectiveness of this alternative is lower
than reported in some research trials because of the potential for longer residual in the
soil, the associated problems of crop phytotoxicity, and possible increases in pest
pressures, all of which are not accounted for in those studies. The low impact scenario for
Florida strawberries assumes a 10% reduction in yields. The high impact scenario
assumes a 20% reduction in yields.
 California is assumed to switch to an application of Chloropicrin with additional
hand weeding. The expected impact of this alternative is a $653 per acre increase in
preharvest costs and a 20% decline in yields. The low impact scenario for California
strawberries assumes a 10% reduction in yields. The high impact scenario assumes a
30% reduction in yields.
 Tomatoes. Florida tomato growers are assumed to switch to an in-row application
 of a Telone C17 and Tillam herbicide combination. The use of Telone will require
 additional personal protective equipment that must be worn by applicators and field