Nine Steps To Follow For Building A Strong IPM Program | North America
Creating a well-planned and well-executed Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) is the foundation for raising a sellable and profitable crop. IPM programs are customized to each grower’s crop, environmental conditions, and predicted disease and pest pressure. The basic structure of all IPM programs involves a variety of pest and disease control products that include cultural, physical, chemical and biological methods. All of these elements must be purposefully integrated to work in tandem to ensure they are more effective than chemical controls only were used.
Here are nine critical steps to follow to build a strong IPM program:
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STEP #1 START WITH A CLEAN GREENHOUSE If you ask an expert what growers should pay more attention to, sanitation is a top answer. Sanitation is not exciting, but it allows growers to reap benefits while eliminating potentially costly headaches. Start clean by removing all plant debris, and eliminate weeds, algae, and soil in the greenhouse, as these elements can play host to mites and other pests in between crops. Sanitize benches, floors, hose nozzles and other surfaces. Avoid over-fertilizing plants, because lush new growth is especially attractive to mites. |
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STEP #2 INSPECT ALL INCOMING PLANTS Be sure to properly inspect all incoming plants, including cuttings and plugs. Inspect for disease or pest problems, and if any are noticed, quarantine infected plants and put them through treatment before moving them into the greenhouse. |
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STEP #3 KNOW YOUR PEST & PLANTS Knowing the pests you have and understanding when they start appearing is the core of developing and executing an IPM program. Learn to identify significant greenhouse pests and what they look like at all stages of their life cycle. Without proper identification of the problem, it is impossible to treat it effectively. Most beneficial insects and some new insecticides narrowly target particular species so that misidentification can be costly in both time and money. Call an expert to help you identify if you are not sure. |
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STEP #4 SCOUT PROPERLY & FREQUENTLY Many greenhouse issues are too small to be seen without close inspection. That is why it is important to dedicate a regular time for scouting, which includes checking for pests and diseases by walking the crop and examining flowers, stems, roots, and leaves.
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STEP #5 CHOOSE THE RIGHT TREATMENT
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STEP #6 HAVE A LONG-TERM ROTATION PLAN IN PLACE It is important to know your control measures and their modes of action. To prevent pests from developing resistance, it is crucial to rotate chemicals by mode of action during the season and follow all label guidelines about rates and frequency. Many newer products target specific species and life stages, so careful monitoring is key to getting the best results. |
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STEP #7 INCLUDE PLANNED CONTROL METHODS Your IPM program should include planned control methods in case there is a problem. In some cases, you may apply controls preemptively, but in others, you may wait until the first sign of a problem. It is most important to have a plan in place if you need to use a chemical. Be sure to consider how it interacts with any biological controls already in the greenhouse, and ensure it has a different mode of action than a previous application to prevent the buildup of resistance.
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STEP #8 KEEP RECORDS Record any actions you take on your crops. This is an essential part of your IPM program. Being able to look back to the previous year’s successes and challenges allow you to design a program to address potential problems this year more successfully. Plus the government requires you to keep pesticide records. Additionally you should also keep track of when and if biological controls are used, as well as the environmental conditions when pests are observed. Track inputs such as fertilizer and plant growth regulators, and monitor how the plants grow. We suggest measuring the height and width of plants at regular intervals to manage growth and make adjustments in future growing seasons.
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STEP #9 ASK FOR EXPERT HELP Even experienced growers might encounter a stubborn problem or a new one, and calling in a specialist can be helpful. Consult a biocontrol expert, especially when starting your program. Once established with a program, it is also useful to have someone follow-up during the season to see if any changes are needed, as well as to provide insight on new products, techniques or research. If you are using biocontrols, it is recommended to consult with experts who know life cycles, environmental requirements, and effects of pesticides for advice on the right biocontrol method to use. Contact us for more information | Vince Livengood: 515-537-4812 | croptech@kemin.com Download the pdf here |