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North Central Region Strives for Increased IPM Adoption |
Each year, producers in the North Central states spend over $3 billion on herbicides. Crop losses and pesticide costs for soybean diseases exceed $1.5 billion, while those for corn insects are between $1.5 and $3 billion. While pesticides control pest problems, their high use leads to questions about IPM adoption. While the Clinton Administration's objective is to reach 75 percent, the current adoption level is somewhere between 15 percent and 60 percent. Increased adoption of IPM will reduce risk of losses, improve profitability, lessen pesticide contamination of ground-surface water, and diminish impact on non-target organisms.
The Extension Services in each state are working to develop strategies to increase IPM implementation in corn and soybeans. State teams composed of producers, ag professionals, government agency staff, environmental and land stewardship groups, land-grant researchers, and Extension specialists are being formed. These teams will prioritize IPM research and educational needs and determine how to assess IPM adoptions. Results from state teams are to be presented at a regional conference in February 1996. The participants at the regional conference will establish IPM goals, identify resources and barriers, and chart a course toward increased implementation. The most important results of this project will be improved communication about IPM and its future, a sense of ownership among participants, and a commitment toward IPM implementation.
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[Integrated Pest Management in the North Central States] |
[National Integrated Pest Management Network] |