What is Integrated Pest Management IPM Learning Objectives

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. Good Fair Better Poor Best

“Utilizes all suitable pest management tactics…………. . ” Pesticides Cultural Mechanical Sanitary Natural Biological Host Plant Resistance NOTE: Some tactics fall Into 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 pest Includes 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

Economic Injury Level Economic Threshold Pest Density Pest Population Time

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

1 st Generation European Corn Borer Economic Threshold Worksheet (1) ___% of 100 plants infested x ___average # of borers/plant. A = ___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___ % control. B = $ ___ preventable loss/A (6) $___ preventable loss/A - $ ___cost of control/A = $ gain (+) or loss (-) per acre if treatment is applied A Determined by checking whorls from 20 plants. B Assume 80% control for most products

1 st Generation European Corn Borer Economic Threshold Worksheet (1) 0. 67 (% of 100 plants infested) X 2 (average # of borers/plant)A+ = 1. 34 (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (average borers/plant). 1. 34 (average borers/plant) X 5 (% yield loss per borer) = 0. 067 (% yield loss). 0. 67 (% yield loss) x 120 (expected yield in bu/A) = 8. 04 (bu/A loss) 8. 04 bu/A loss x $2. 25 expected selling price/bu = $18. 09 $ loss/A $18. 09 (loss/A) x 80 (% control. B) = $ 14. 47 (preventable loss/A) $14. 47 (preventable loss/A) - $ 15. 00 (cost of control/A) = - $0. 53 (gain (+) or loss (-) per acre if treatment is applied) Determined by checking whorls from 20 plants. B Assume 80% control for most products A

Potato Leafhopper Threshold for Alfalfa Height < 3 inches Economic Threshold (leafhoppers/sweep) 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 types Insects 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

1 a. 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?

1 b. 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

1 c. 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

1 d. 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

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 3 inches Treat if PLH number are = or > than listed 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 Management Weed Management Entomology Plant Nutrition Soil Conservation Ecology Plant Pathology Plant Physiology Business Management