Survey of Integrated Pest Management Practices in Central Illinois

The Clinton Administration set a goal to develop and implement integrated pest management (IPM) programs on 75% of the managed acres in the USA by the year 2000. In order to document current IPM practices and identify limitations to further adoption, a direct mail survey was sent to 988 farmers in eight central Illinois counties. Survey results indicated that 65% of the farmers hired a custom herbicide applicator, but only 7% hired a professional crop scout to monitor their fields. Forty one percent of the farmers reported they scout their fields weekly, while an additional 35% said they scout fields at least two to three times per growing season. Only 3% of the farmers said they seldom or never scout their fields. Economic thresholds were used to make insect control decisions by 34% of the farmers. In contrast, only 9% of farmers used economic thresholds as a basis for weed management. Sixty nine percent of the farmers responding to the survey were very concerned about the effects of pesticides on applicator health. Understanding how farmers make their pest management decisions may help identify current barriers to the successful adoption of IPM. Research QuestionAs part of its comprehensive pesticides policy, the Clinton Administration set a goal to develop and implement IPM programs on 75% of the managed acres in the USA by the year 2000. Although IPM enjoys support from a broad range of environmental and agricultural groups, it is difficult to agree on a definition, and equally challenging to measure its adoption. The objectives of this project were to document some current IPM practices in central Illinois and identify limitations to further adoption. Literature SummaryMost definitions of IPM include the use of crop scouting and pest control practices based on the use of economic thresholds. Published estimates of IPM adoption in the USA vary significantly, ranging from 20 to 53% of the corn acres and from 13 to 59% of the soybean acres. The level of scouting by professional crop consultants accounts for about 7% of the corn and soybean acres. Study DescriptionA direct mail survey was sent to 988 farmers in eight counties in central Illinois. Farmers were asked about basic IPM practices, including how often they scout fields and have their soil tested, and how they make pest management decisions. Background information, including farm size and types of crops grown were collected. Farmers were also asked to indicate their level of concern about six IPM-related issues. Applied QuestionWhat is the frequency of crop scouting and soil testing by farmers. A high percentage of the farmers surveyed scout their own fields to some extent. Forty one percent of the farmers indicated they scout their fields weekly. While the extent of crop scouting appears high, the intensity of crop scouting was not clear from this survey. For some farmers, crop scouting involves detailed field monitoring and record keeping, while others consider cursory field visits or “windshield surveys” to be sufficient. Soil testing is an important component of a comprehensive IPM program, but 11 % of the farmers indicated that they seldom or never soil test. Twenty eight percent have their soil tested every 1 or 2 yr, 27% test their soil every 3 yr, and 33% test their soil every 4 yr. How do farmers make pest control decisions? Economic thresholds were used by 34% of the farmers to make insect control decisions, but only 9% of central Illinois farmers use economic thresholds as a basis for weed management. Forty five percent of the farmers based their weed control decisions on previous weed problems. The recommendations of agrichemical dealers and crop consultants had a substantial influence on farmers pest control decisions. These recommendations were used by 21% of the farmers for insect control decisions and by 17% of the farmers for weed control decisions. The survey also reflected the changing role of university-based IPM programs. Research and extension programs are less likely to work directly with individual farmers and more likely to work with crop consultants and agrichemical dealers. One method of transferring IPM developments to the grower may be to provide information to agribusiness personnel in the form of newsletters, short courses, demonstrations, and in-depth educational programs.