About Integrated Pest Management

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This website provides Integrated Pest Management (IPM) information from Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach, the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and its many departments and programs. The ISU Integrated Pest Management program represents research and extension faculty and staff from the Departments of:

Goal of IPM

The Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management (ISU IPM) team serves the university, external stakeholders and the people of Iowa by coordinating and supporting IPM activities at ISU, seeking innovative ways to train and educate about IPM principles and practices and maintaining IPM activities valued by our stakeholders. Our overall goal is to provide science‐based IPM information to Iowans to increase productivity and economic competitiveness while reducing human health risk and protecting the environment from the adverse impacts of unnecessary or inappropriate pest management strategies.

Scouting and diagnostics are the foundation of IPM. Early and accurate detection of pests gives us the information we need to take steps towards management. Preventing pests from becoming established is more effective than managing pests once they are present.

There are a wide variety of tools available to manage pests, each with differing costs and benefits – both monetarily and environmentally. It is important to always consider the most cost-effective strategies that minimize adverse human, environment, and organismal effects.

Critical IPM issues are:

  • Slow pest resistance development - Includes western corn rootworm, soybean aphid, waterhemp, frogeye leaf spot of soybean and soybean cyst nematode.
  • Invasive and re-emerging pests - Includes bacterial leaf streak and tar spot of corn, boxwood blight, soybean gall midge, emerald ash borer, spotted wing drosophila and Palmer amaranth.
  • Proper identification of plant problems - Accomplished through scouting and diagnostics; first step in pest management and improper identification can lead to mismanagement.
  • Reduce risk to public health and the environment - Accomplished by advancing adoption of IPM in production agriculture and communities by recommending appropriate management strategies.
  • Understanding technology and appropriate use - Increases effectiveness of scouting, pest monitoring and education and improves timely and effective delivery of University Extension programs.
  • Formative IPM experiences and education for youth - Promotes IPM practices and agriculture in general with future decision makers through outreach and experiential learning.

The Iowa State IPM program is partially funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The ISU IPM program also gets organizational support from the North Center Region IPM Center, Iowa State University Extension and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Thanks to the many strategic partners for funding and support of IPM efforts.

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