Texas IPM Foundation - History of IPM

1950's		Entomologists discover insects are developing resistance to pesticides due to repeated exposure. They start developing strategies to avoid development of resistance: ecologically based pest control that relies on natural mortality factors such as natural enemies, weather and crop management. Economic threshold concept developed.
1960's		Silent Spring by Rachel Carson alerts public to problems with pesticides.
1970's		1972: Significant federal support for IPM extension, research and field studies begin. 1972: NSF, EPA and USDA fund Huffaker project (1972-1976: insects on alfalfa, apple, citrus, cotton and soybean) 1973: USDA Extension starts program to get information to growers (7 million). Projects stress bottom line profits to encourage adoption. 1977: Texas Pest Management Association is incorporated as the only statewide, multi-commodity IPM organization in the US.
1980's		1979-1985: Consortium for IPM (Adkisson project: all pests on alfalfa, apple, cotton and soybean). 1984: CIPM reorganized and decentralized, administered in NE, NC, S and W regions: IPM research through CSRS (3 Million) 1987: National Coalition on IPM (NCIPM) formed (over 50 private user groups)
1990's		Renewed interest in IPM to reduce pesticide use (food safety, environmental concerns) 1993: Administration announces goal of 75 percent of cropland under IPM within seven years. 1998: USDA establishes Regional IPM Centers
2000's		2000: Texas IPM Foundation is formed. 2001: Texas IPM in Schools is formed. IPM principles become more widely adapted to urban and suburban areas.