What is Integrated Pest Management?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining  biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.    (Definition from the National IPM Network).

 

Mission of IPM

 

One of the primary missions of IPM is to help growers produce profitable crops using environmentally and economically sound approaches.  These IPM tools contribute to a system that produces high-quality, safe, and affordable foods and other agriculturally related products.  For many growers, IPM helps balance pest management with profitable crop production and environmental protection.  IPM also reaches beyond agriculture to include pest management in landscape, home, and commercial settings.