Environmental Ethics PHIL 323 / INDS 323 The University of Arizona

Integrated Pest Management Research for the page was conducted by Meghan Stone. The key sources for this page are The National Integrated Pest Management Network http::/www.reeusda.gov/nipmn/ and the Pennsylvania IPM Directory http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ipmnet/IPM.prim.psu1.html and the U.S. National Institutes of Environmental Health, Environmental Health Perspectives Environmental Health Perspectives, 1995 What Is Integrated Pest Management? IPM is a system that focuses on prevention of pest problems, where pest problems are managed in a low-risk manner. Compared to organic farming which does not use synthetic chemicals, synthetic chemicals may be used in an IPM program. Methods used in an IPM system include: biological control (e.g., encourage growth of different crops & animals in the same area; use beneficial insects to control pest insects) crop rotation (e.g., grow legumes to promote soil fertility by increasing nitrogen in the soil) host-plant resistant (e.g., using plants resistant to certain insects) sanitation (e.g., remove and destroy waste vegetation that could harbor pests) site selection (e.g., choose a site with soil suitable for the crop you wish to grow; or grow crops suitable for the soil at your site) Goals of IPM The key goals of IPM are to maximize profitability and reduce pesticide use while taking into consideration social welfare and environmental sustainability. History of IPM Started gaining momentum in the 1960's because traditional pest management was faced with the problems of insects developing insecticide resistance, and non-target organisms being affected, and concern about the environmental effects of pesticide use. In 1971 the USDA (United Stated Department of Agriculture) sponsored projects to monitor pest populations and to advise the use of pesticides only when the pests reached a level where they would cause economic damage. A 1994 mandate by President Clinton called for IPM to be implemented on 75% of all managed acres by 2000. Success of IPM By 1993, some form of IPM is being used on 60% of planted acreage of fruits and vegetables, and 75-80% of field crop (corn and potato) acreage. In Ontario, Canada, a major program in Ontario has led farmers to decrease pesticide use 25% from 1983 to 1993. In the U.S. pesticide use fell 15% between 1982 and 1992, with most of this reduction being due to a decrease in the use of herbicides. The Environmental Health Perspectives pages cite the following success story: "Wilson, a potato and apple grower, pays $14 an acre to have scouts monitor his crops for pests. A pesticide specialist provided by OMAFRA sets threshold criteria and advises him on the timing of pesticide applications. Using this service has eliminated two pesticide sprayings per growing season, which, he said, saves money and protects the soil and water from excess toxic chemicals." Source: http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1995/103-4/forum.html (OMAFRA stands for Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affair) Links within Phil 323 pages Organic Farming Pesticides

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The University of Arizona Last update Mar 24, 1999 schmidtz@u.arizona.edu willott@u.arizona.edu "http://research.biology.arizona.edu/mosquito/willott/323/project/pesticides/orgfarm.html" All contents copyright © 1999-2001. All rights reserved.