Abstract
Potato Virus Y (PVY) is one of the most economically significant pathogens in seed potato systems, causing substantial yield losses and seed certification downgrades. This thesis presents two empirical essays that examine the economic and behavioral dimensions of PVY management from the perspective of commercial seed potato growers in the United States.The first chapter evaluates the economic efficiency of six PVY management strategies involving mineral oils and insecticides, using multi-year field trial data from Idaho. A partial budgeting approach is applied to assess trade-offs between PVY suppression and net revenue. Results show that while certain treatment combinations effectively reduce virus incidence, the associated chemical costs may not always justify the gains in yield or revenue, underscoring the need for cost-conscious management practices.
The second chapter explores growers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for certified seed with varying levels of PVY infection. Using a discrete choice experiment embedded in a nationwide survey of potato producers, the study quantifies how much premium growers are willing to pay for seed lots with lower virus levels. Findings reveal that WTP is influenced by the availability of low-virus seed and growers’ risk perceptions. In scenarios where clean seeds are scarce, growers place greater value on field-based virus readings, whereas post-harvest test results carry less influence.
Together, these chapters provide insights into both the cost-effectiveness of disease management strategies and the behavioral responses of growers to certification standards. The findings have important implications for optimizing PVY control, revising certification thresholds, and improving the economic sustainability of seed potato production systems.