What is it?

Integrated pest management involves developing a strategy utilizing planning and a combination of biological controls, mechanical controls, cultural contols, and chemical controls. By assessing the individual needs of ranches and farms, IPM can effectively control insect and plant pests while decreasing the amount of chemicals applied to the property. This strategy will require an understanding of pest life cycles and biology for effective implementation.

Conservation Benefits

• Helps protect surface and ground water by reducing the amount of chemical runoff
• Prevents or decreases damage to upland, riparian, and aquatic plants

What does it include?

Texas AgriLife Extension Service recommends these steps for IPM ( from the Texas Watershed Steward Handbook ):

1. Monitoring and pest forcasting to determine which contols might be appropriate
2. Determining economic thresholds
3. Evaluating biological controls (e.g. natural insect predators)
4. Evaluating mechanical controls (e.g. plowing and cultivating)
5. Evaluating cultural controls (e.g. planting insect-resistant varieties, crop rotation, destroying pest refuge sites)
6. Evaluating chemical control (e.g. least toxic pesticide application)
7. Develop an IPM strategy using a combination of biological controls, mechanical controls, cultural controls, and chemical controls.