What is IPM?

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a concept of using the right tools at the right time to attack common insect and weed pests. Its principles include investigating an array of alternatives, rather than a focus on only one or two methods of pest control.

The IPM concept depends largely upon information about a pest or potential pest. It includes an analysis of the pest population, a survey of the of the economic severity of the pest, the surrounding environment and the various tools that are available to combat the pest population in any given situation.

The first broad based use of IPM principles began in the early 1970s as agricultural producers sought new ways to address pest problems. With an increased cost in pesticides and application, coupled with growing public concern pertaining to pesticide health risks, farm growers were anxious to support development of practices that would lessen their dependence upon farm chemicals for pest control.

In agriculture, growers scout their fields to detect possible pest problems before populations attain an economic threshold...the point at which damage becomes significant enough to cause economic harm to the farming operation. Where insect pests are the problem, the field scout also gathers information about beneficial insects in the field. This information helps professional entomologists determine whether the biological balance has shifted in favor of the pest. If it has not, existing beneficial populations may be sufficient to control the current pest outbreak.

In the event that other measures must be taken to protect the crop from damaging numbers of insects, the entomologist may suggest the application of specific pesticides. Care must be taken, however, to protect as much as possible the existing beneficial insect population. Other tools may be suggested for use, like cultural methods, or the planting of insect resistant plant varieties.

IPM continues to evolve as new tools become available, but the basic concepts remain economically and environmentally sound. IPM has significantly reduced the cost of production for thousands American farmers, and has helped to drastically reduce the risks posed by chemical pesticides.