Pests are organisms that harm our gardens, fields and orchards, landscapes, and wildlands. They can be weeds, vertebrates (birds, rodents), invertebrates (insects, mites, snails), or pathogens such as bacteria and fungi that cause diseases.
Many safe, practical, nonchemical methods reduce pest numbers. These include cultural controls (like changing irrigation practices) and biological control, such as predators and parasitoids. Contact Pest Control Boise now!
As the name implies, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to controlling pests that utilizes biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, the environment, and the economy. It is the basis of federal law (7 U.S.C. 136r) that requires all federal agencies to use IPM in their operations and promote it to the public.
An essential aspect of IPM is prevention, or keeping pests from becoming a problem. Selecting plants that are well adapted to the site, preventing them from becoming diseased, and avoiding over-fertilizing or over-watering help prevent problems before they occur. When pests do appear, IPM programs monitor them to assess the problem and determine if action is needed. If necessary, treatment is designed to reduce the damage the pests cause and keep them below economic injury levels (EIL). The action thresholds set are based on an evaluation of the pest population and environmental conditions and take into account future potential EIL levels due to evolution of resistance to chemicals.
When pest populations are above the EIL, monitoring and scouting help determine what actions to take. In general, treatments are intended to be minimal in order to avoid exposing humans and other non-target organisms to pesticides. The choice of control methods is based on the information gathered through monitoring and inspections, including life history data, pest biology, possible damage to the plant, host plant resistance, natural enemies, weather conditions, and soil conditions.
In some cases, the best option is to remove a pest from the habitat by removing the plant itself. This may be done through weeding, thinning, or hand pulling. When this is not an option, there are several other options, including plant disease suppression, soil amendments, fungicides, or biopesticides.
The use of biological control agents is common in IPM because of their ecological benefits and low toxicity. Examples of biological control agents include natural predators, parasitoids, or bacteria. There are also several commercial products available that contain sterile male insects or genetically modified organisms, which can be used to manage pests in a more environmentally sensitive way.
Biological Management
Biological management relies on the use of living organisms such as predators, parasites, nematodes, and diseases to suppress pest populations. These organisms are known as natural enemies because they naturally occur in ecosystems along with pests and help to keep their numbers at or below damaging levels without the need for insecticides. Biological control is a key component of IPM and can be used in conjunction with or instead of chemical controls.
NIFA supports research in bio-based pest management to provide safer and more effective tools for controlling insects, mites, weeds, plant pathogens, and other destructive organisms. This effort is aimed at reducing our dependence on synthetic pesticides, which can be harmful to human health and the environment.
In nature, organism populations are attacked and killed at high rates by predators, parasitoids, disease pathogens, and competitors. These natural enemies, also called biocontrol agents, can be used to control pests by introducing them into the environment in which they will suppress or kill them or by encouraging them to live in the environment in which they will attack and destroy them. Biological control is one of the safest, most environmentally friendly, and least expensive forms of pest management available.
There are three broad approaches to biological control: conservation, classical, and augmentative. Conservation biological control is the manipulation of the environment to increase the population of natural enemies and thus control pests. This may be done by creating habitat that encourages the natural enemy to live in the area or by enhancing existing habitat. Examples include planting cover crops, using crop rotations, and creating wetlands.
Classical biological control involves the importation of natural enemies into the field from their native areas and then releasing them to suppress or eliminate a pest. In this form of control, it is important to identify the pest correctly so that the correct natural enemy species can be purchased and released. This type of biological control can be highly cost-effective, especially in higher-value crops such as greenhouse vegetables or orchards.
Augmentative biological control is the introduction of small numbers of biocontrol agents into an environment where they will be more effective in controlling a pest. For example, if an agricultural producer wants to introduce a parasitic wasp that attacks the larvae of white grubs (a destructive nematode), the producer may purchase large numbers of the wasp from an insectary and then release them into the field, where they will multiply and provide long-term suppression of the grub population.
Chemical Management
Chemicals are used widely across many sectors of the economy, from manufacturing and mining to agriculture and energy. But chemicals are not without risks, particularly when they’re improperly used, stored, transported or disposed of. Harmful chemicals can trigger eutrophication of water bodies, ozone depletion and threaten sensitive ecosystems and biodiversity. They’re also a significant contributor to climate change, with both direct and indirect emissions from production, transport and use of chemicals. The sound management of chemicals is therefore vital to achieving nearly all dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to protecting human and planet health, say experts.
Improved performance efficiency: With the right protocols and training in place, employees can focus on their work confidently and safely. This boosts productivity and helps reduce operational costs by eliminating unnecessary downtime due to chemical incidents or compliance issues.
Increased safety: Chemical management enables businesses to comply with ever-changing regulations and laws, minimising the risk of environmental damage and fines. It also ensures that employees and contractors have the proper training and resources to handle and use hazardous materials properly.
Cost savings: With the help of a chemical management system, businesses can save on maintenance costs and insurance premiums. This is because a robust system provides a clear, complete record of all materials on-site and their potential hazards, including their compatibility with each other. This allows managers to keep an eye on inventory levels, monitor trends and identify opportunities for efficiencies.
Better communication: A well-established chemical management system can help organizations meet their legal obligations for hazard communication by providing safety data sheets (SDS) and other critical documents that are readily available when needed. The SDSs provide information on the physical hazards and toxicity of chemicals, which can be communicated to employees, contractors and customers to prevent accidents and injuries.
A robust chemical management system can also support sustainability initiatives by demonstrating that your company is environmentally conscious and responsible. You can do this by limiting your use of chemicals, recycling waste and using safer alternatives. This will help build trust with consumers and attract environmentally conscious business partners.
Regulatory Control
Regulatory control refers to the legal frameworks put in place to manage pesticide use, prevent the spread of pests and ensure that agricultural practices are safe for both people and the environment. For this to work, regulatory bodies need to be stable and consistent in their decisions by following a formal process based on specified policies, principles and associated criteria (WHO, 2001). This also helps to prevent any subjectivity and bias within the decision making process.