Weather shocks and pesticide purchases

Abstract

This paper investigates whether farmers adapt their pesticide use to cope with weather shocks. Using a unique, exhaustive dataset detailing all active substance purchases per zip code in France between 2014 and 2019, we econometrically explain abnormal pesticide purchase deviations by weather shocks. We identify heterogeneous weather impacts across pesticide types, seasons and locations. Because our analyses suggest limited year-to-year pesticide storage and farmers’ adaptation along other margins, we interpret our estimates as true weather impacts on pesticide use. Our preferred estimates suggest that, ceteris paribus, farmers increase pesticide use by seven to fifteen per cent in 2050 under a RCP4.5 climate change scenario.