New Study Shows Atrazine Instrumental in Conservation

University of Wisconsin-Madison Economist Paul Mitchell conducted a study on atrazine and found it helps farmers reduce aggregate soil erosion by up to 85-million tons each year. That’s the equivalent of more than three-million dump trucks. Mitchell’s study also concludes the herbicide and its sister triazine herbicides benefit the U.S. by saving 350-million dollars in soil erosion costs each year. According to the study – atrazine also encourages conservation tillage, no-till farming, decreases fuel use and improves water quality.

Mitchell says the full environmental economic impact of atrazine on the ag industry and global food markets is just now being realized. Studies show atrazine and its sister herbicides make a 4.4-billion dollar consumer surplus every year. That estimate along with the soil erosion benefits means atrazine is valued at 4.8-billion dollars for the U.S. economy. Mitchell will present his findings at the Wisconsin Crop Management Conference on January 10 in Madison, Wisconsin.