NRCS

Core 4, Conservation for Agriculture's Future

Weed and Pest Management (IPM) Benefits

Increased Profits

Inputs such as mechanical cultivation, pesticides, fertilizers and tillage costs money. By using best management practices to apply these inputs when they are actually needed, growers can reduce costs. Weed and pest management can help schedule required controls at the right time to maximize the benefits of the practice. Weed and pest management can improve the bottom line for growers.

Reduces Risks

Weed and pest management results in fewer pesticide applications, at reduced rates, using the safest and most efficient formulations. This minimizes the dangers associated with pesticide applications, including accidents, drift and toxic effects on non-target species and wildlife. Scouting helps avoid unexpected pest outbreaks, which can cause heavy losses if not caught and treated.

Delays Resistance

Using the same chemical control over and over again lowers the effectiveness of that control on insect, disease and weed pests. By choosing from all possible control methods, including biologicals, beneficial organisms, and rotating among pest control methods, resistance can be prevented or delayed. Preserving the effectiveness of existing pesticides reduces costs for everyone that uses them.

Protects the Environment

By using the mechanical cultivation, pesticides, fertilizers and tillage only when necessary, growers protect the environment, by reducing sediment, and polluted runoff from entering our lakes, streams and rivers. Utilizing scouting and selecting the appropriate control for the weed or pest identified, supports the biological integrity of all life on earth.

Top 10 Management Tips

1. Record Keeping: Records of soil management, planting dates, weather data, treatments and other appropriate information are left for future weed and pest management decisions.

2. Chemical Controls: Growers select the most effective and appropriate pesticide and properly calibrate sprayer. Weather conditions are checked prior to spraying to confirm proper coverage and minimum drift.

3. Thresholds: Before treating, the pest population should reach a level that could cause economic damage. Until that threshold is reached, the cost of yield and quality will be far less than the cost for control.

4. Biological Controls: Growers should promote and attract many natural enemies that can inhibit pest populations. Import and use additional biologicals where cost effective.

5. Forecasting: Site selection or local weather data is consulted to predict if and when pest outbreaks will occur. Treatments can then be properly timed, preventing crop damage and saving spray applications.

Monitoring: Growers or scouts inspect representative areas of the fields regularly to determine if pests are approaching a damaging level.

7. Pest Trapping: Traps that attract insects are placed near target crops. This can be done in conjunction with a larger network within state or multistate areas to track infestations of some insects. This information can be utilized later when populations reach a critical point.

8. Planting: Plant crops that have a good vigor and that can tolerate or resist common problems. The timing of planting should coincide within the optimum planting dates recommended. Row spacing, intercropping, trap crops and other alternative strategies can be looked at to discourage or detract pests.

9. Cultural Practices: The pest's environment is disrupted by rotating crops, and timely harvesting of crops. Planting cover crops can suppress weed pressure and provide nitrogen and better soil tilth.

10. Soil Management: Providing sufficient amounts of crop residue on the soil surface improves organic matter of the soil. Soil testing and applying proper amounts of fertilizer and micronutrients provides for optimum growing environment.