Changing Agricultural Practices Through IPM

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Changing Agricultural Practices Through IPM
Examples From the Fruit IPM Program
Dean Polk, Statewide Fruit IPM Agent Rutgers
Fruit Research and Extension Center 283 Rt 539,
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
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IPM The use of all available techniques to
manage pest populations below economically
damaging levels.
Organic Pest Management The ultimate refinement
of IPM/ICM
IPM growers do not have to be organic, but
organic growers have to practice IPM.
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Fruit crops subjected to dozens of arthropod,
disease, and nematode pests.
Direct and indirect pests negatively influence
yield and quality, some causing only cosmetic
damage.
Fruit crops are high value and marketed on
quality size, color, appearance, (taste?).
Modern pesticides 1940s 1970s produced
calendar based methods.
Fruit growers can spend up to 500 to 600/A for
pest control 250,000 to 300,000/year for large
acreage growers in NJ.
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Important IPM practices 1. Monitoring,
monitoring and monitoring 2. Record keeping 3.
Use of economic and action thresholds levels 4.
Use of biological control 5. Use of cultural
methods, host plant resistance, sanitation and
other methods 6. Integration of plant fertility,
weed management, irrigation, marketing and
other disciplines
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Evolving Practices and Components Examples from
the RCE Fruit IPM Program
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Stage 1 Early 1980s Apple IPM Program Grower
fees/support Scouting based - arthropod and
disease Increased use of native biological
control Reduced pesticide use through increased
use of bio control, alternate middle sprays,
reduced rates, eliminating applications 18-20
or about 35-40/A reduction
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IPM Participants
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IPM and Scouting
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Stage 2 Mid 1980s Integration of Soil Leaf
Tissue Fertility Monitoring Growers were
using balanced 10-10-10 or 15-15-15 on soils w/
high P levels pH often too acid or basic
increased fert. Data demonstrated decreases
fert. use, decreased phosphates Increased use of
liming for pH better growth, quality,
decreased fert.
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Stage 3 Late 1980s - 1995 Integration of
Disease Resistant Cultivars w/ other IPM
practices - Apples Over 50 of pesticides in
the east for disease control 75 of that for
scab, mildew, rust, fireblight decreased
fungicide use can also decrease
insecticide/miticide use Established DRC
plantings, commercial organic 60-70 pesticide
reductions Not widely adopted because of
marketing and consumer issues
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Liberty - A high quality disease resistant
cultivar
No fungicides needed for scab, cedar apple rust,
powdery mildew
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Stage 4 Early 90s on Computer based pest
phenology modeling - apple scab, fireblight, CM,
TABM, OFM Accurately time applications Incre
ase disease control Using NOAA data -
satellite, balloon, ground stations - automated
to grower fax or e-mail Combined with
algorithms to model pest/disease
development Reduced insecticide use for OFM
40 Increased pest control
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Using A Degree-Day Model To Predict Spray Timing
- OFM
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Stage 5 Early 90s on Mating disruption -
peaches, nectarines OFM, PTB, LPTB Mass
placement of insect sex pheromone Prevents/dela
ys mating reproduction Integrated w/ clean
ground cover reduces other insects, maximizes
impact 60 insecticide reductions Integrated
w/ clean ground cover reduces other insects,
maximizes impact Up to 1000 Ac under grants,
growers starting to purchase on own
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Key Pests - OFM
Monitoring Trap catch Flagging Fruit
Infestation
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Mating - Find the Female
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Mating - Trying to Find the Female, but cant
??
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Stage 6 1997 on Feedback, grower education -
IPMD database Demonstrate impact of IPM
practices Track pesticide use, fruit quality,
fertility levels, nematode populations
Provide reporting system to IPM
growers Teaching research tool Grower
farm use 2002
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IPMD Four-level grower model (grower, farm,
block, and trap station) - data storage on each
level. Eleven types of data records supported.

• Blueberry Anthracnose wood
• Spray Application
• In Season Observation
• In Season Trap Counts
• Post Harvest
• Nematode Test

• Soil Fertility Test
• Leaf Fertility Test
• Block Practice Record
• Farm Practice Record
• Grower Practice Record

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IPMD Data Manager
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IPMD Report Examples

• Soil Fertility
• Soil Nematodes
• Leaf Fertility
• Pesticide use reporting
• Statewide
• Region
• Grower
• Grower by Variety

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Stage 7 1999 on Use of GIS in IPM
Programming Maps for field scouting, farm
labor, insurance Sprayer calibration,
proper rates Area-wide warning system with
state/area pest maps Site/spatially
specific pest activity maps on farms ID pest
activity
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Mapping by Variety
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Stage 8 Stimulating additional grower
adoption Surveys show lack of knowledge but
attitudes to IPM Technology, govt cost
shares new materials advance, consumer
knowledge has not Will warm fuzzy feelings
translate to increased sales and adoption?
Posters, consumer interaction /education
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Public Education About IPM
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A menu to choose from Further adoption depends
on Production costs Technologies and
technology costs Materials Marketing influences
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