Integrated Pest Management

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2005-2-21

I'm Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

The use of pesticides was an important part of the "Green
Revolution," the movement that changed modern agriculture. Poisons
can kill crop-eating insects, unwanted plants and harmful fungi. But
these chemicals can also spread into the environment and kill
helpful organisms.

Integrated pest management looks for a combination of methods to
solve problems or prevent them.

Controlling pests starts with identification. Some kinds of
insects, for example, look very similar. It is important to find out
exactly what kind of pest is causing the damage and how much it has
developed.

This first step can help farmers make other decisions. For
example, no action may be needed if the problem is minor. Or,
chemical treatments may not be needed if other methods can do the
same job.

The University of California has had a Statewide Integrated Pest
Management Program since nineteen seventy-nine. Experts have created
guidelines that can help farmers create crop protection plans.

A good way to understand how these guidelines work is to look at
a pest management program for a single crop. For example, alfalfa is
an important food for farm animals, but also a target of many pests.

Alfalfa fields can support many biological controls. These are
helpful insects and organisms that attack pests. If pesticides are
needed, they must be chosen carefully. Use of the wrong poison will
destroy helpful organisms and permit other pests to move in. Birds
can also serve as important biological controls.

The way alfalfa is harvested can have a big effect, too.
Harvesting parts of a field at different times can limit the spread
of pests. Keeping a border of unharvested alfalfa by open water can
also help.

Developed nations are the largest users of pesticides. But the
Food and Agriculture Organization says the pesticide market in those
countries is slowing or shrinking. The United Nations agency says
several countries have set up programs to reduce pesticide use
because of environmental concerns.

Today, many agriculture departments at universities teach
integrated pest management methods.

Internet users can learn more about the Statewide Integrated Pest
Management Program at the University of California at
ipm.ucdavis.edu. Or you can find a link at WWW.testbig.com.

This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario
Ritter. I'm Gwen Outen.