HOUSEHOLDS' EXPERIENCES WITH THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), abbreviated as RIFA, is believed to have been brought by accident to Mobile, Alabama in the 1930s via ship ballast from South America. The RIFA was first reported in Charleston and Orangeburg counties in South Carolina in 1952 and has since spread to all 46 counties in the state. The RIFA has had adverse impacts on the environments it has infested. In natural environments, the young of ground-nesting insects, reptiles, birds and mammals are subject to RIFA predation. In agriculture, the RIFA damages crops and livestock. The RIFA poses a health threat to humans, as it is aggressive and has a venomous sting. To learn more about the current impacts of the RIFA, a random sample of South Carolina households was conducted between November 1998 and January 1999. This report summarizes the survey results.Environmental Economics and Policy,

Animal Agriculture in South Carolina

Livestock Production/Industries,

Animal Agriculture in South Carolina: A Fact Book

Livestock Production/Industries,

THE GLOBALIZATION OF FOOD AND HOW AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT IT: RESULTS OF TWO SURVEYS

The two surveys used for this presentation were conducted in South Carolina and across the United States. It was found that "globalization" includes global food supply. Americans prefer American-grown and -processed foods over imported foods. They are willing to pay more for locally grown and organically grown foods. Americans believe that their food is tastier and more nutritious than ever, but disagree that it is safer than ever. Respondents were uncertain about the health and environmental impacts of GM foods, but prefer that GM foods be labeled. Farmers, university professors, and the USDA are trusted sources of knowledge about food safety, while celebrities, business executives, and foreign governments generally are not. Since 9/11, Americans harbor serious concerns that the food supply could become a target of terrorists. These and other findings are presented in this paper and are discussed in terms of their implications for previous and current research

THE GLOBALIZATION OF FOOD AND HOW AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT IT: RESULTS OF TWO SURVEYS

The two surveys used for this presentation were conducted in South Carolina and across the United States. It was found that "globalization" includes global food supply. Americans prefer American-grown and -processed foods over imported foods. They are willing to pay more for locally grown and organically grown foods. Americans believe that their food is tastier and more nutritious than ever, but disagree that it is safer than ever. Respondents were uncertain about the health and environmental impacts of GM foods, but prefer that GM foods be labeled. Farmers, university professors, and the USDA are trusted sources of knowledge about food safety, while celebrities, business executives, and foreign governments generally are not. Since 9/11, Americans harbor serious concerns that the food supply could become a target of terrorists. These and other findings are presented in this paper and are discussed in terms of their implications for previous and current research.Food safety, food security, bioterrorism, global food supply, food preferences, Consumer/Household Economics, International Relations/Trade,

HOUSEHOLDS' EXPERIENCES WITH THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), abbreviated as RIFA, is believed to have been brought by accident to Mobile, Alabama in the 1930s via ship ballast from South America. The RIFA was first reported in Charleston and Orangeburg counties in South Carolina in 1952 and has since spread to all 46 counties in the state. The RIFA has had adverse impacts on the environments it has infested. In natural environments, the young of ground-nesting insects, reptiles, birds and mammals are subject to RIFA predation. In agriculture, the RIFA damages crops and livestock. The RIFA poses a health threat to humans, as it is aggressive and has a venomous sting. To learn more about the current impacts of the RIFA, a random sample of South Carolina households was conducted between November 1998 and January 1999. This report summarizes the survey results