Integrated Pest Management Northeastern Agricultural Education Mr. Caffee Pests • • • • • Insects Weeds Animals Fungus Virus Pest Control • • • • • Stomp ‘em Chemicals Mother Nature Traps Hunting Chemicals may not be enough!!! • • • • • Resistance Resurgence Public Outcry Urban Sprawl Secondary pests will fill that niche. What is a niche? • A niche is a specific organism’s role in the environment. – Example: A ladybug’s niche is to eat aphids and thrips. – A honey bee produces honey and pollinates flowers. – A mosquito has a rotten niche! They feed on mammals, like us! Beneficial Insects • • • • Walking Sticks Praying Mantis Ladybugs Honey Bees Pest Control Methods • • • • • Mechanical Biological Cultural Genetic Enhancement Chemical Mechanical Control of Pests • Tillage – Rotary Hoe – Cultivator – Disc • Slash & Burn • Hand Weeding Biological Pest Control • • • • • • • Beneficial Insects Parasites Predators Sex Attractants Irradiation of males Fungal Control Selective Breeding Cultural Pest Control • • • • • • Plant Population Row width Fertility Planting Date Crop Rotation Surface Residue • • • • • Mixed Cropping Scarecrows Drainage Smother Techniques Burial of Garbage Genetic Enhancements • Round-up Ready – Soybeans – Corn – Alfalfa • • • • STS Liberty Link Bt Corn Potato Leaf Hopper Resistant Alfalfa