Specialist Says To Consider Integrated Pest Management (IPM) On Your Farm Link Directly To: AGROTAIN SPRINGFIELD, MO. To be notified about pest alerts in Missouri ntegrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sys - visit http://ppp.missouri.edu/pestmonitor - tematic approach to solving pest problems. ing/subscribe.htm and get up-to-date informa - According to Jay Chism, agronomy specialist tion about seasonal pests in your area. Iwith University of Missouri Extension, all cate - POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC LOSS BRANDT gories of pests (insects, diseases, and weeds, When using Integrated Pest Management Link Directly To: etc) can be controlled using IPM. practices, control measures are based on an “Putting a successful IPM program into action economic threshold. To justify treatment, pest on your farm involves the following five steps,” populations or pest damage has to exceed this said Chism. “First, identify key pests and the threshold. damage they cause, then monitor pest popula - For many of Missouri’s common agronomic in - tions on a regular basis and determine the poten - sect pests, thresholds have been developed as a tial for economic loss or significant reduction of result of many years of research. For more in - SYNGENTA aesthetic value. Then choose the proper manage - formation about pest control on agronomic Link Directly To: ment tactic or combination of tactics and evaluate crops request the 2009 Missouri Pest Manage - the effectiveness of the management plan.” ment Guide M171 from your local MU Exten - PEST ID sion office. There is a $20 fee for the guide. Proper identification of a pest is important for PEST MANAGEMENT TACTICS several reasons. Producers that practice IPM use multiple tac - “First of all, the pest may not be at an eco - tics to control crop pests. Integrated pest man - nomic level that requires control. Not all insects agement tactics include biological, cultural, Link Directly To: VERMEER are pests, some are beneficial. Proper selection physical, genetic and chemical aspects. of a pesticide depends on correct pest identifi - “Contact an MU agronomy specialist in your cation,” said Chism. region to find out the latest information on spe - Several MU Extension guide sheets are avail - cific pests and control measures on crops you is able to help identify various crop pests. Visit the growing,” said Chism. MU Plant Protection Program website at EVALUATION http://ppp.missouri.edu/ to find images of crop The success of an integrated pest management pests in Missouri. program depends on evaluation of its results. MONITOR PEST POPULATIONS What worked well, which aspects need im - “Rather than calendar-based treatments, IPM provement, and which should be eliminated? stresses scouting practices to detect pests and What are the benefits of the program in finan - determine if action is necessary. If damage can cial return and environmental or social value? be detected before a serious pest population be - “Growers and consultants are increasingly comes established, crop loss may be avoided,” aware that their ability to continue producing said Chism. depends on favorable public perception of their In Missouri, black cutworm is an IPM success practices. Part of the solution is to adopt IPM. It story. MU Extension pest managers can fore - is important to consider that as knowledge and cast the arrival of this migratory pest before technology evolve, so will IPM programs,” said damages occur. Using insect trap count data Chism. from insect trappers and degree-day modeling For more information, contact any of these MU to calculate the predicted date of the damaging Extension agronomy specialists in southwest larval stage of this pest, corn producers and Missouri: Tim Schnakenberg in Stone County, crop professionals are notified to scout fields. (417) 357-6812; Jay Chism in Barton County, The program avoids needless insecticide ap - 417) 682-3579; John Hobbs in McDonald plications, producing both economical and en - County, (417) 223-4775 or Brie Menjoulet in vironmental benefits. Hickory County, (417) 745-6767. ∆