Overview | In Focus | Funding | Partners | Events | Results/Impacts | Resources | Contacts

Overview

Issues surrounding pesticide use have been on the public agenda since the book "Silent Spring" was published in 1962. At the center of this debate is a concern that pesticide users are not adequately protecting the food supply, the environment, and farm workers from unintended adverse effects. Meanwhile, pesticide users face increasing pest resistance to pesticides, the loss of economical pest control products due to regulatory actions and market forces, and higher costs of new reduced risk pesticides. CSREES works in partnership with researchers and educators in the Land-Grant University System and the private sector to develop and implement new ways to address these complex pest management issues. CSREES provides funding to support extension IPM implementation and pesticide applicator safety programs in 50 states and six territories, the Minor Crop Pest Management Program (IR-4), four regional IPM centers, four competitive grants programs, and numerous special grants. Each of these investments contributes to the development of safe and effective IPM systems that increase farm profitability, reduce environmental and human health risks, and protect natural resources.

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In Focus

• CSREES Integrated Competitive IPM Grants address and avoid present and future pest problems.
• CSREES' Integrated Pest Management program provides benefits to agricultural producers, the environment, pest management professionals, and the public.
• CSREES supports the Minor Crop Pest Management program's efforts to make existing IPM tools available for specialty crops.
• CSREES' National Research Initiative (NRI) supports development of basic building blocks for the IPM program.
• The Extension IPM Implementation Program helps agricultural producers and other pest managers with alternative pest management strategies.
• The National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) provides laboratory testing to crop producers, land managers, and ornamental plant growers.


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Partnerships

• CSREES and partners provide National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants (NAICC) members with IPM knowledge they can put into practice every day.
• CSREES national program leaders represent the USDA on the National Invasive Species Council.
• The USDA Office of Pest Management Policy (OPMP) and CSREES work together to find solutions to regulatory challenges.

Events

• Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, November 14-17, 2004.
• International Conference on Pesticide Application for Drift Management, Waikoloa Hilton, Kona, October 27-29, 2004.
• Northeastern Regional IPM Conference, Manchester, NH, March 15-16, 2005.


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Selected Results and Impacts

• CSREES funding helped develop a weed decision support system that helps growers make better management decisions.
• IPM program helped Wisconsin potato growers develop a reduced-risk pest management program.
• The Minor Crop Pest Management Program (IR-4) transformed temporary exemptions into longer lasting solutions.

Resources

• State IPM Program Contacts Database, Regional IPM Centers. A searchable database of state program contacts.
• National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS). Contains extensive information about agricultural pest surveys.
• Animal and Health Product Compendium and other compendia, CAB International.


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Contacts

Michael Fitzner

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