The definition of Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, has been somewhat of a moving target through the years. Answers often spanned the spectrum ranging from simply considering alternatives to pesticides in economic terms, to using pesticides safely and according to the label directions, to incorporating as many alternatives to pesticides as possible, to the complete non-use of pesticides as in organic production settings. Compounding this variability is the wide range of agricultural crops and corresponding pests, pest control options, agronomic conditions, and the economic status of the millions of farmers across the country, who also have a variety of perceptions based on their personal experiences. In general, though, IPM promotes minimized pesticide use, enhanced environmental stewardship, and sustainable systems. And while IPM is often associated with agriculture, it can be applied in any setting having pests, including home gardens, warehouses, schools, hospitals, daycare centers, and residential areas.

The USDA, through its National IPM Network, has adopted the following definition:

"Integrated Pest Management is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks."

• Building awareness and being prepared. Obtain the best available information about the pests in your situation. Having knowledge of a pest's habitat, food needs, and life cycle is a must.

• Prevention. Use available methods to prevent pest populations from becoming a health or economic risk. Often this can be done by creating environmental conditions that are not favorable for the pest, such as using mechanical cultivation or a crop rotation that interrupts the pest's life cycle. Often new varieties of crops are available that lessen our dependence on pesticides due to their ability to resist certain pests.

• Scouting and analysis. Determine if a pest population is present and whether it is at a level requiring action. This should be done to get the most accurate picture possible - more than just a gut feeling.

• Selecting a pest management option. Does the infestation absolutely require a pesticide? Will a mechanical cultivation achieve the same result at a lower cost? Will a biological agent, such as a predator or parasite work? Can the pest's environment be modified to be less desirable to the pest?

• After choosing and implementing an option, it should be evaluated to determine what worked and what didn't in terms of pest reductions, costs of inputs, returns in yields, etc. This knowledge is then used to shape future actions of a pest management program.

Below are a number of links providing more specific IPM information. Many of these also include links to other resources:

IPM in General:

Best Management Practices (BMPs) & Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Resources & Recommendations (for businesses, communities, agriculture, etc)

EPA's National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center

IPM in Agriculture:

University of Nebraska's IPM and Crop Production web page

University of Nebraska's Pesticide Education Resources. Contains additional links on pesticide safety, applicator education and training, and IPM.

University of Nebraska's WeedSOFT program. The intent of this software is to allow producers to consider soil, groundwater, and pesticide characteristics, along with yield expectations and pest population estimates in selecting a weed management option.

University of Minnesota's IPM World Textbook

USDA's Regional Pest Management Centers Information System. Provides information about commodities, pests and pest management practices, people and issues in the U.S. and crop profiles.

USDA's National IPM Network

IPM at Golf Courses:

Environmental Principles for Golf Courses

IPM in Greenhouses:

Michigan State University's Greenhouse Alert newsletter

The National Center for Appropriate Technology's Integrated Pest Management for Greenhouse Crops

IPM in Homes and Landscapes:

University of California's Pest Notes for Pests of Home and Landscape

EPA's Roach Prevention Activity Web Site For Kids

IPM in Schools:

EPA

Purdue University

School Pest Facts. Sponsored by Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, a national not-for-profit trade association representing producers and suppliers of specialty pesticides and fertilizers.

Texas A&M University

University of Florida

University of Nebraska

IPM in Schools Nationwide Directory. Listing state contacts, web sites, and legislation/initiatives for IPM in schools.

The New American Farmer. A USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) publication having in-depth interviews with farmers and ranchers to describe sustainable farm operations and detailing the effects of those practices on farm profitability, quality of life, rural communities, and the environment.

Management Improvements Needed to Further Promote Integrated Pest Management. A report to the U.S. Senate by the General Accounting Office. This report tends to over-emphasize biological pest management methods but provides additional evidence for the need of IPM and a better accounting of how its implementation is progressing.

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