Integrated Pest Management
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3 Using Action Thresholds 6 Evaluating the Efficiency and Trap crops can be effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) The use of action thresholds makes it possible Consequences of Our Actions tools for reducing insect not only to apply control tools such as Every decision-making process implies the populations in the field. is a decision-making process that uses pesticides at the right time with maximum evaluation of results. The use of control plots, For example a perimeter effectiveness, but also to make significant post treatment scouting as well as crop quality planting of collard plants all necessary techniques to suppress pests savings by treating only when justified. and yield monitoring allow us to measure the around cole crop fields effectively, economically and in an efficiency and profitability of our actions, and may decrease 4 Managing the Ecosystem to gradually improve our approach. diamondback moth environmentally sound manner 1. Many pests live along field margins, in neighbour- infestations in the field ing crops, in crop residues and in the soil. They throughout the growing season. can also be transmitted by farm equipment and Some Real-Life Examples... A Six-Step Process personnel. Use of tolerant or resistant cultivars, modification of the density and date of sowing, The aphid alert program uses By using pheromone mating adoption of ridge tillage, management of wind- disruption programs in 1 Identifying Friend and Foe pan traps to catch aphids breaks and ditches, disinfection of equipment in potato fields throughout apple orchards, growers Most living organisms are useful. We can’t and appropriate rotation of crops are all ways can eliminate the need for afford to eliminate everything that moves. the growing season. to make the ecosystem more favourable to Growers may use this insecticide sprays for In an IPM approach, the first step is to identify crops and beneficial organisms and unfavourable insects like the codling and better understand which species are information to assist in to insect pests, pathogens and weeds. their selection of moth. Pheromone traps can inhabiting our agricultural ecosystems also be used to forecast the (fields, orchards, greenhouses, etc.). pesticides, timing of spray 5 Integrating Control Methods schedules, or application of presence of certain pests in an Integrating the various preventative or curative area (for example: armyworm is often not seen 2 Monitoring and Evaluating the Situation protectant oils. The presence of control methods available, whether biological, the first green peach aphids will trigger the timing in a field until well after the damage has been For effective decision-making, various mechanical, cultural, genetic or chemical,ensures done but a pheromone trapping program can alert parameters such as environmental conditions, of topkill dates to reduce viral disease transmission a more lasting and often more efficient reduction in potatoes grown for seed. growers to watch for the pest and control the pest and beneficial organism populations, and of pest populations and reduces the risks assoc- outbreak before the damage is devastating). the health and stage of development of crops iated with the exclusive use of chemical pesticides. In the case of cruciferous must be considered. In many fruit and vegetable Pesticides are just a component of IPM and should Mechanical weeding devices productions, a regular monitoring of the fields crops, 6 to 7 year rotations be used only when the situation calls for it. with legumes, grain, grasses, like finger weeders have has resulted in a better and reduced use of allowed cereal producers pesticides without loss of quality or yield. and non-crucifer vege- tables will reduce clubroot to reduce the amount infestations. Rotations of herbicide used on are also highly effective their farms. reducing Colorado potato 1 As defined by the Expert Committee on Integrated Pest Management, beetle populations in a working group composed of representatives from various provinces, the potato fields. Canadian government, and the pest management industry. Towards a Better Future For more information on Integrated Pest Management and available resources for the IPM is an agroenvironmental approach, based on development and implementation of IPM programs, experimentation and observation, that allows us contact one of the following: to manage and harvest profitable crops by using the environment as an ally. Rachael M. Cheverie IPM Specialist, Various governments, international food and PEI Department of Agriculture and Forestry agricultural organizations and many consumer PO Box 1600, Charlottetown, groups promote the use of this approach in Prince Edward Island, C1A 7N3 Integrated agricultural and ornamental production. Tel: (902) 368-6573 Integrated Pest • As of the year 2000, the United States intends Fax: (902) 368-5729 Pest Management Management: to cultivate 75% of its productive land under E-mail: [email protected] Integrated Pest Management programs. Or A Choice for the Future! An Agriculture Information Officer Everyone Wins! • For some years now, fresh and canned fruits at your local district office. A Winning Approach! and vegetables have been labelled “IPM” in the Toll Free: 1-866-PEIFARM (734-3276) United States and Europe. A Reality We Have To Face • The Prince Edward Island Food Strategy: Agriculture uses and alters the environment. Since The future direction of the agriculture and food the beginning of this century, intensive production industry is based on the production and methods have had an impact not only on soil, air and processing of high-value, high-quality products water, but also on flora, fauna and crops, as well as from sustainable systems, and marketing those on humans. products around the world under a Prince Acknowledgements: Edward Island brand. Agriculture and food This brochure was revised and reproduced with the The development of pests resistant to pesticides, products will be marketed under this brand on permission of the Quebec ministère de l’Agriculture, the establishment of new harmful organisms, chemical a voluntary basis to value-add markets that des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec and the residues in the ecosystem, soil degradation and recognize and reward healthy food from a Strategie Phytosanitaire. consumer concerns are all incitements to adopt healthy environment. more environment-friendly pest control practices. History and experience also tell us that to obtain Not only is Integrated Pest Management good yields year after year, man must take advantage effective, but it will become, in the near future, of the natural resources available in his environment. an indispensable marketing tool. Results obtained from conservation tillage practices as well as by protecting natural enemies and pollinators are good examples of this. Post Consumer Fibre.