Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a systematic decision-making process that supports a balanced approach to managing crop and livestock production systems for the effective, economical and environmentally-sound suppression of pests. The Elements of IPM Include: planning and managing agricultural production systems to prevent insects, plant diseases and weeds from becoming pests; identifying pests, their natural enemies and damage; monitoring populations of pests and beneficial organisms, pest damage, and environmental conditions; making control decisions based on potential damage, cost of control methods, value of production, impact on other pests, beneficial organisms and the environment; using strategies that may include a combination of behavioural, biological, chemical, cultural and mechanical methods to reduce pest populations to acceptable levels; evaluating the effects and efficacy of management decisions. The IPM concept has evolved in response to problems caused by an over-reliance on chemical pesticides. Some of these problems are development of pesticide resistance, elimination of natural enemies of pests, outbreaks of formerly suppressed pests, hazards to non-target species, and environmental contamination. IPM requires knowledge of how to identify pests and evaluate their damage, how to identify natural control agents, and how to select effective control methods that minimize undesirable side effects. Selection of controls for individual pests must be made with the entire crop management system in mind. Many cultural control methods are carried out as part of normal crop production operations.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a systematic decision-making process that supports a balanced approach to managing crop and livestock production systems for the effective, economical and environmentally-sound suppression of pests.
The IPM concept has evolved in response to problems caused by an over-reliance on chemical pesticides. Some of these problems are development of pesticide resistance, elimination of natural enemies of pests, outbreaks of formerly suppressed pests, hazards to non-target species, and environmental contamination.
IPM requires knowledge of how to identify pests and evaluate their damage, how to identify natural control agents, and how to select effective control methods that minimize undesirable side effects. Selection of controls for individual pests must be made with the entire crop management system in mind. Many cultural control methods are carried out as part of normal crop production operations.
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