What is Integrated Pest

Management(IPM) ?

Learning Objectives

Create an understanding of IPM

Importance of IPM to Producers

Importance of IPM to the environment

Importance of IPM to human health and safety

What are IPM strategies

Advantages and limitations to IPM

Why Study IPM?

Why a new approach to pest management is needed:– 1920’s cotton pest management– “Pesticide Treadmill” of 1960’s – 1970’s

Pesticide resistance

Secondary pest outbreaks

Environmental concerns

– IPM concept “reborn” in 1970’s

IPM is:

A pest management philosophy that utilizes all suitable pest management techniques and methods to keep pest populations below economically injurious levels. Each pest management technique must be environmentally sound and compatible with producer objectives.

“A pest management philosophy….. “

– Recognizes there is no “cure-all” in pest control.Dependence on any one pest management method will have undesirable effects.

– Determine and correct the cause of the pest problem.Understanding Pest biology and ecology is essential.

Manipulate the environment to the crop’s advantage and to the detriment of the pest.

– Recognizes that eradication of a pest is seldom necessary or even desirable, and generally not possible.

Some damage is unavoidable and acceptable

IPM is a continuum, not an end.

Poor

Fair

Good

Better

Best

“Utilizes all suitable pest management tactics…………..”

Pesticides CulturalMechanicalSanitaryNaturalBiologicalHost Plant Resistance

NOTE: Some tactics fallInto several categories.

Should Pesticides be used in an IPM Program?

Pesticides can to be used in an IPM program, however only as a last resort and of course in a manner that is legal.Pesticides are to be used when there is no risk of environmental damage or when benefits outweigh the risks. Use pesticides only when other control practices aren’t available, economical or practical.Must monitor pest populations in the field.– Identify the pest– Compare pest population and the economic threshold– Life stage susceptible to pesticide?– Crop stage and preventable loss.

What is “Cultural Control”

Agronomic practices that are designed to:– Optimize growing conditions for the crop.

Anything that increases a crop’s competitive edge will result in increased tolerance to pests often resulting in reduced pesticide use.

– Create unfavorable conditions for the pest

What is Mechanical Control?

Uses machinery and/or other tools to control pests– Tillage– Physical barriers

What is Sanitary Control?

Methods to avoid introducing a pest into a field

– Cleaning field equipment

– Planting certified seed

– Quarantines

What is Natural Control?

– Enhancement of naturally occurring pest management methods

Beneficial insects

Beneficial diseases

What is Biological Control?

Manipulation of biological organism to control pests– Release of predators/parasites/disease of an

insect or weed– Can be time consuming, expensive and

difficult

What is Host Plant Resistance?

Manipulating the crop to withstand or tolerate pests– Natural breeding method– Genetically modified plants– Not a permanent method of control– Examples: Glandular-haired Alfalfa, Bt Corn,

“To Keep Pests Below the Economic Injury Level”

Economic Injury Level:– Cost of control = $ amount of damage caused by

the pestIncludes amount of pest damage

Cost of each control practice

– Are determined through extensive research

– Economic Injury Level is the information that is necessary to develop an Economic Threshold, which is used by crop advisors

Economic Threshold

Pest Population at which a grower must take action to prevent a pest populations from reaching the economic injury level

– Economic threshold is slightly below the economic injury level

– Pest populations must be increasing

Time

PestDensity

Economic Injury Level

Economic Threshold

Pest Population

Economic Threshold Example: European Corn Borer on Corn

Field Sampling Data needed:– % plants infested– Ave. number of larvae/plant

Crop Management Data Needed– Expected yield (bu/A)– Expected selling price of the crop

Cost of pest control

1st Generation European Corn Borer

Economic Threshold Worksheet

(1) ___% of 100 plants infested x ___average # of borers/plantA = ___average borers/plant.

(2) ___average borers/plant x 5% yield loss per borer = ___% yield loss.

(3) ___% yield loss x ___expected yield (bu/A) =___ bu/A loss(4) ___bu/A loss x ___$ expected selling price/bu =___ $ loss/A(5) $__ loss/A x___ % controlB = $ ___ preventable loss/A(6) $___ preventable loss/A - $ ___cost of control/A = $ gain (+) or loss

(-) per acre if treatment is appliedA Determined by checking whorls from 20 plants.B Assume 80% control for most products

1st Generation European Corn Borer

Economic Threshold Worksheet

(1) 0.67 (% of 100 plants infested) X 2 (average # of borers/plant)A+ = 1.34 (average borers/plant).

(2) 1.34 (average borers/plant) X 5 (% yield loss per borer) = 0.067 (% yield loss).

(3) 0.67 (% yield loss) x 120 (expected yield in bu/A) = 8.04 (bu/A loss)(4) 8.04 bu/A loss x $2.25 expected selling price/bu = $18.09 $ loss/A(5) $18.09 (loss/A) x 80 (% controlB) = $ 14.47 (preventable loss/A)(6) $14.47 (preventable loss/A) - $ 15.00 (cost of control/A) = - $0.53 (gain (+)

or loss (-) per acre if treatment is applied)

A Determined by checking whorls from 20 plants.B Assume 80% control for most products

Potato Leafhopper Threshold for Alfalfa

Alfalfa Height Economic Threshold(leafhoppers/sweep)

< 3 inches 0.2/sweep

6 inches 0.5/sweep

8-11 inches 1.0/sweep

> 12 inches 2.0/sweep

Economic Threshold Concept doesn’t work for all pests and

pest typesInsects

Weeds

Diseases

“Each Pest Control Technique Must be

Environmentally Sound”

Risk vs. Benefits

And

“Compatible with With Producers Objectives”

What IPM Is and Isn’t

Stresses a multi disciplinary approach to pest management– Entomology– Plant Pathology– Nematology– Weed Science– Crop Sciences (Horticulture/Agronomy)– Soil Science– Ecology

IPM is not static

New Pests– Soybean aphids, bean leaf beetle,

New Races/strains of pests– Western corn rootworm

Weed Species shifts– Roundup ready technology– Tillage system

Pesticide Resistance– Colorado Potato Beetle– Common lambsquarters

Four Basic Principles of IPM

1) Thorough understanding of the crop, pest, and the environment and their interrelationships

2) Requires advanced planning

3) Balances cost/benefits of all control practices

4) Requires routine monitoring of crop and pest conditions

1a. Understanding Crop Growth and Development

How do you grow a healthy

crop?

When is the crop most

susceptible to pest damage?

When is the crop under stress?

1b. Understanding the Pest

Proper ID Understanding of Pest Life cycle– When is it present– When is it most susceptible to control-– ”Weak Link”

Meadow Spittlebug nymph

Potato Leafhopper nymph

Giant foxtail

Large crabgrass

1c. Understanding the Pest and Their Life Cycle

When is the pest present

When is it most susceptible to

control-”Weak Link”

When is too late to control

1d. Understanding the Environment

How does it affect crop growth–Stress–Time within susceptible stage

How it affects pest development

–High mortality–High survival

Basic Principles of IPM

1) Thorough understanding of the crop, pest, and the environment and their interrelationships

2) Requires Advanced Planning

3) Balances cost/benefits of all control practices

4) Requires routine monitoring of crop and pest conditions

Basic Principles of IPM

1) Thorough understanding of the crop, pest, and the environment and their interrelationships

2) Requires Advanced Planning

3) Balances cost/benefits of all control practices

4) Requires routine monitoring of crop and pest conditions

Basic Principles of IPM

1) Thorough understanding of the crop, pest, and the environment and their interrelationships

2) Requires Advanced Planning

3) Balances cost/benefits of all control practices

4) Requires routine monitoring of crop and pest conditions

Potato leafhopper scouting

Equipment: – 15 in diameter insect sweep net.

Timing:– Start on regrowth of second crop alfalfa

Frequency: – Scout once each week.

Scouting pattern: – walk a W-shaped pattern in the field

Potato leafhopper scouting

Take 20 consecutive sweeps in each of 5 areas along the W-shaped pattern (100 total sweeps)

Count the total number of Potato leafhopper nymphs and adults divide by 100 (total number of sweeps)

Potato Leafhopper Economic Threshold

Alfalfa height Treat if PLH number are = or > than listed

3 inches 0.2/sweep

6 inches 0.5/sweep

8-11 inches 1.0/sweep

> 12 inches 2.0/sweep

Benefits of an IPM Program

Protects environment through elimination of unnecessary pesticide applications

Improves Profitability

Reduces risk of crop loss by a pest

Peace of Mind

Disadvantages of an IPM Program

Requires a higher degree of management

More labor intensive

Success can be weather dependent

Career opportunities in IPM

Crop Advisors– Independent– Industry

Ag. Industries– Sales (chemical, seed)– Research – Technical services

Teaching– Cooperative Extension– High school– Technical college

Education

2 or 4 year degree

Major Field of Study– Agronomy– Soil Science

Areas of interest– Weed science– Entomology– Plant Pathology

Possible coursework

Crop ManagementWeed ManagementEntomologyPlant NutritionSoil ConservationEcologyPlant PathologyPlant PhysiologyBusiness Management