Restricting the Use of 2, 4, 5-T: Costs to Domestic Users

About 3.4 million acres of farmland and 4.5 million acres of nonfarmland were treated with an estimated 8.9 million pounds of the phenoxy herbicide 2, 4, 5-T in 1969. If 2, 4, 5-T were restricted, the economic costs to domestic users would have been $52 million in 1969, providing all other herbicides could still be used. However, costs would have increased to $172 million if other phenoxy herbicides were also prohibited. Additional costs to replace 2, 4, 5-T, if other phenoxys could have been used as alternatives, were estimated at $32 million for farmers and $20 million for other domestic users (public utility companies. Government agencies, homeowners, recreation, and timber industries). Without other phenoxys, additional costs would have increased to $44 million for farmers and to $128 million for nonfarm users. For farmers, the major land areas affected would be pasture and rangeland; for nonfarm users, rights-of-way maintenance would be most affected