Integrated Pest Management

According to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Food and Agriculture, Jay Healy “a great majority of Massachusetts growers are strong proponents and users of IMP.” Since its adoption by our state’s farmers the use of pesticides has decreased by 50% from historic levels. IPM is the process of monitoring crops, the pests, and the weather and spraying only when conditions dictate.

IPM is a combination of four different techniques to prevent pest damage. The first two methods have been used since time immemorial. These techniques are:
- modifying pest habitat
- protecting natural enemies
- monitoring
- pesticides

When farmers rotate their plant crops from field to field so they are not planting the same crops in the same fields each season they are using a method of habitat modification. Keeping pests away from their basic needs of feed, shelter and water is another. This is done by closing doors and keeping window screens in good repair and cleaning up spills and crumbs which all limits their access to food and water.

Protecting natural enemies by using natural predators such as ladybird beetles in greenhouses for protecting the widely used ornamental exotic species of plants known as euonymus. These beetles have a voracious appetite for Euonymus scale, a pest that destroys these plants. Other examples are wasps that reduce silverleaf whiteflies on our favorite Christmas plants: poinsettias, and bacteria-based pesticides.

Monitoring pest populations allows practitioners to avoid unnecessary treatments. Various sticky traps are used on trees by many farmers. Soil sampling is done on a regular basis (weekly or monthly) and plant leaves are checked for disease. When disease reaches a certain level then pesticides come into play.

Chemicals or pesticides are only used when needed and other methods will not work. Under the IPM system the least hazardous pesticide and the lowest effective amount should be used.

Partners with Nature label serves to encourage growers to use IPM and educate consumers about it. While this is a Massachusetts label there are hopes in the future for a national label.

Before you completely rule out food grown using this method, take a minute to consider how much pesticide and chemicals you use on your kitchen counters, in your bathroom, and on your lawn.