basic economics a common sense guide to the economy

Effective, less risky pest controls are chosen first, including highly targeted chemicals, such as pheromones to disrupt pest mating, or mechanical control, such as trapping or weeding. Once monitoring, identification, and action thresholds indicate that pest control is required, and preventive methods are no longer effective or available, IPM programs then evaluate the proper control method both for effectiveness and risk. These control methods can be very effective and cost-efficient and present little to no risk to people or the environment. In an agricultural crop, this may mean using cultural methods, such as rotating between different crops, selecting pest-resistant varieties, and planting pest-free rootstock. This monitoring and identification removes the possibility that pesticides will be used when they are not really needed or that the wrong kind of pesticide will be used.Īs a first line of pest control, IPM programs work to manage the crop, lawn, or indoor space to prevent pests from becoming a threat. IPM programs work to monitor for pests and identify them accurately, so that appropriate control decisions can be made in conjunction with action thresholds. Many organisms are innocuous, and some are even beneficial. Not all insects, weeds, and other living organisms require control. The level at which pests will become an economic threat is critical to guide future pest control decisions. Sighting a single pest does not always mean control is needed. The four steps include:īefore taking any pest control action, IPM first sets an action threshold, a point at which pest populations or environmental conditions indicate that pest control action must be taken.

In practicing IPM, growers who are aware of the potential for pest infestation follow a four-tiered approach.

IPM is not a single pest control method but, rather, a series of pest management evaluations, decisions and controls. In contrast, organic food production applies many of the same concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides. The IPM approach can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, such as the home, garden, and workplace. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices.

Basic economics a common sense guide to the economy