Introduction

"Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks."

--(USDA ERS)

Benefits

Provides long term results. Environmentally friendly. Reduces unnecessary chemical use and its liability. Reduces risk of pesticide resistance. Proactive, not reactive detects a potential pest problem before it’s a major problem. Provides a written record of pest activities and control actions. Site-specific. Background Fundamental knowledge-base for successful IPM programs: Pest-forcasting systems based on pheromone trapping. Mechanisms of host-plant resistance. Crop and insect phenology. Relationships between insect populations and crop yield losses. Action threshold Pests only need to be regulated at economic injury level. Immediately above the economic injury level the control tactics need to be implemented to prevent economic damage. Economic Injury Level The pest population level at which damage caused by the pest exceeds the monetary expenses to control the pest. Evolutionary process IPM is interactive and evolves as knowledge and experiences are accumulated. Techniques may encapsulate years of component research followed by concerted technology-transfer programs IPM components are: I. Host plant resistance. II. Manipulation of the farming system to minimize pest infestation or damage. III. Enhanced natural control processes. IV. Selective use of biorational and/or synthetic pesticides. The basic concept of IPM is: Containment of a pest below economically damaging level. Using a combination of control measures. Two fundamental premises are: Individual pest control methods are often not successful alone. The pests only to be managed when causing economic damage. IPM relies on: Use of natural enemies. Selective and judicious use of insecticides, monitoring pest and natural enemy populations.