Integrated pest

management
Created by: Brannon Wittenberg
Soil and Water Conservation BNR
391

Objective: To understand the differences in

both characteristics (i.e., logistics,
effectiveness, and environmental effects) and
economic costs of integrated pest
management (IPM) and conventional pest
management.

 Definition

IPM Background

A decision-based process involving coordinated use of multiple

tactics for optimizing the control of all classes of pests (insects,
pathogens, weeds, vertebrates) in an ecologically and
economically sound manner. (Prokopy, 2003)

How it started
Increasing demands for reduction in chemical pesticide use have
led to increasing adoption the alternative IPM systems.
Government programs have jumpstarted IPMs with systems like
EQIP, which provides incentives to manage your land on the
principles of IPM.

Relevance to soil and water conservation

Pesticides have a direct effect on water conservation and IPM
provides a environmentally friendly solution to pesticide use.
IPMs are a growing conservation practice that has a focus on
environmental benefits like many other soil and water
conservation practices.

Logistics
Conventional pest management is heavily reliant
on pesticide use. (Lewis WJ, 1997)
On large scale farming operations, conventional pests
management requires that the farmer spray their fields.

IPM offers a wide range of different practices that

require the farmer to change previous practices.
(Ehler LE., 2006)
These practices involve studying the environment,
complex pests management schemes, and potentially
hiring consulting help. (Higley LG, 1996)

Effectiveness

Conventional

Pesticides range in effectiveness of saving crops.

Pimentel estimated that 10% of yields would be lost to
pests with the cease of pesticide use, but still 37% of yields
are lost to pests annually with pesticide use. (Pimentel,
1992)

Pests build tolerances that require stronger

pesticides.
Approximately 504 insect and mite species, 150 plant
pathogen species, and 273 weed species are resistant to
pesticides. (Georghiou, 1990)

Integrated Pest management

Provides the best alternative to conventional pest
management and is put through governmental
programs like the EQIP program.

 Conventional

Environmental
impacts

Pesticides alone have many negative effects on the following:

Human health
Animals and contamination
Beneficial predators and parasites
Super pests
Bee populations
Crop production
GW and SW contamination
Wild birds
Microorganisms

(Pimentel, 1992)

Environmental impacts

(Pimentel et al, 1991)

(Pimentel et al, 1991)

Economic Costs
Conventional
In 1991, based solely on crop returns, $4
billion was invested in pesticide use and
saved approximately $16 billion in crop
damage.
Added costs from environmental impacts of
pesticide use changes the initial costs to
approximately $8 billion. (Pimentel et al, 1991)

IPM
Usually requires investment in capital, but
annually will have lower fixed and variable
costs than conventional.
Estimated costs of reducing all pesticide use by

(Pimentel D. et al, 1991)

(Pimentel D. et al, 1991)

Conclusions

Conventional Pest Management

Logistics
Is the most time efficient pest management practice and
alleviates the pressures put on modern farmers. (Cook SM,
2006)

Effectiveness
Conventional pests management provides a nonpermanent
solution to pest management. (Lewis WJ, 1997)

Environmental impacts
The largest problem of conventional management and is the
main reason government programs and society is pushing to
alternative practices.(USDA, 2013)

Economic costs
The cost-benefit analysis of pesticides seems to be profitable
even when environmental costs are factored in, but some
costs (Human health, bee, and habitat deterioration) cannot

 IPM

Conclusions

Logistics
Requires more time spent creating management plans,
studying the environment, and could require seeking
consulting. (Higley, 1996)
IPM put more pressure on the farmer to seek solutions that
are profitable to the environment and economically.

Effectiveness
Practices vary in their effectiveness depending on
environmental factors.

Environmental impacts
The goal of IPM is to reduce the negative environmental
effects of insect control as much as possible.

Economic costs
The annual costs of IPM have proven to be much cheaper
than conventional pesticide use.

Best management practices

Pesticides are best used as a temporary
measure due to the various
environmental cost.
IPMs provide a more long term solution to
pest management, so agriculture should
start adopting more IPM and use
pesticides more sparingly.
Management processes with a larger
emphasis on environmental profit, like
IPM will hopefully start to carry over into

Best management practices

(Ehler, 2006)

Bibliography
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management. Annual review of entomology 52:375.
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Georghiou, G.P. 1990, Overview of insecticide resistance. Pg. 18-41.
Higley LG, Pedigo LP. 1996. Economic Thresholds for Integrated Pest Management. U of
Nebraska Press.
Lewis WJ, Van Lenteren JC, Phatak SC, Tumlinson JH. 1997. A total system approach to
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www.ipmcenters.org/IPMRoadMap.pdf