IPM

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was developed as a sustainable, ecologically based solution to pest control founded on comprehensive and current scientific knowledge about “the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment.” According to Mary E. Barbercheck of Penn State University, “The goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is to control populations of pests below levels that result in economic damage. Ideally, this is achieved through the integration of all suitable control techniques in a compatible manner.” IPM relies on deterrence and careful observation to identify and apply an effective array of treatment measures only when and where they are necessary and likely to be most effective

 

 

A number of IPM systems have now been developed for both agricultural and non agricultural use. And there are many IPM resources now available for specific systems and situations. I will continue to add to this list as I come across new resources. Readers are encouraged to ‘contact us’ with suggestions for additional resources.

1) The Database of IPM Resources (DIR) is an information retrieval and referral system and a compendium of customized directories of worldwide IPM information resources accessible through the Internet. With DIR, one can quickly find the way to thousands of IPM information sites.

2) USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) has a National IPM Site from which you can access the complete Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans databases, an IPM Expertise database, information on pesticide use, current pest management research, funding opportunities, the National IPM Projects database, and links to many related sites.

It also hosts four Regional Center Sites, where you can access the same information as found on this National Site, but specific to the individual region. Additional region-specific information, news and announcements can be found within each Regional Center’s Site: North Central ; Northeastern; Southern; Western.

3) The NSF Center For Integrated Pest Management Site is the WWW information source from and about the National Science Foundation founded Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Integrated Pest Management, located at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

4) Biointensive Integrated Pest Management is a National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) publication which provides the rationale for biointensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM), outlines the concepts and tools of biointensive IPM, and suggests steps and provides informational resources for implementing IPM. It is targeted to individuals interested in agriculture at all levels.

5) The University of California Statewide IPM Program aims to help solve your pest management problems with UC’s best information, personalize it with interactive tools, or find out about pest management research and extension projects.

6) The Integrated Plant Protection Center is located at Oregon State University. It’s goals are to improve agricultural sustainability and food security in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and beyond by developing and delivering state-of-the-science IPPM systems in collaboration with their stakeholders.

7) VegEdge is A Vegetable IPM Resource for the Midwest located at the University of Minnesota. The University also hosts Radcliffe’s IPM World Textbook.

8) Michigan State University Integrated Pest Management Resources provides information about how to use IPM to manage and identify insects, diseases, nematodes, and weeds, & provides alerts, publications, training, and reports.

9) The Bio-Integral Resource Center is a membership organization which specializes in finding IPM solutions to urban and agricultural pest problems.