Grower Incentives for IPM: Using

Integrated Pest Management to

Protect Natural Resources

2010-2011 Working Group Objectives

• Create and expand partnerships between state and regional conservation agencies, university agricultural

specialists, non-profit environmental organizations, crop consultants and growers.

• Provide educational opportunities for each to better understand how each sector can help facilitate grower

adoption of IPM.

• Expand geographic scope of group to promote increased adoption of IPM on a national level.

• Create health and consumer incentives for production of more sustainably-grown foods through adoption of IPM.

• Assemble resources for growers to address conservation concerns.

Pest Management Impacts

Natural Resources In 2006, the US Geological Survey reported that 94% of fish, 94% of

surface water and 33% of ground water samples collected from 1992

and 2001 showed contamination with one or more pesticides.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can reduce pesticide risks to water,

air, aquatic life, birds and other natural resources. Review the 2006 US Geological Survey at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3028/

The North Central NRCS and IPM Working Group, comprised of more

than 100 IPM, Extension, NRCS, industry and other state and federal

agency specialists, works together to increase awareness and

appreciation for the role of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in

protecting our natural resources. Innovative partnerships such as ours

provide an ideal opportunity to increase adoption of not only IPM but

natural resource protection across the board. We are currently

focused on increasing use of existing NRCS programs for improving

pest management and resource protection.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): NRCS’ EQIP

595 Integrated Pest Management Standard offers cost-share rates to

growers to implement IPM to conserve natural resources.

Lack of awareness and communication has resulted in uneven cost-

share opportunities for growers across the country, as illustrated by

EQIP cost-share rates in Wisconsin vs. North Dakota in 2008.

.

Developing and Sharing

ResourcesSince 2006, our group has been working to replicate pioneering

work in Michigan, Wisconsin, California, Pennsylvania and

several Northeastern states. We have adapted and developed

resources including:

• Online webinar trainings for NRCS, University Extension and

other IPM specialists.

• Guide to IPM Elements and Guidelines,

http://www.ipmcenters.org/ipmelements/IPMElementsGuidelines

.pdf

• North Central field crop and fruit IPM tools.

• State-specific information for EQIP cost-shares and

enrollment.

• Real-life success stories of growers who benefited from

participating in EQIP.

• Guide to developing collaborations among NRCS and IPM

colleagues on a state level.

• NRCS, University Extension and grower meetings in Indiana,

Ohio, Iowa and Minnesota to identify natural resource concerns

and state-wide grower needs. Upcoming meetings are planned

in New York and Montana.

To access resources, member directory and meeting

minutes, visit http://www.ipm.msu.edu/work-

group/home.htm

A New Conservation OpportunityNRCS is currently piloting Conservation Activity Plans (CAPs) to increase

conservation planning on farms. The IPM CAP option represent a key

opportunity to address natural resource concerns from pest management

activities. Technical Service Providers (TSPs) and growers work together to

identify and plan conservation practices to address resource concerns such as

pesticide runoff to a nearby water body, high drift potential due to sprayer type

and configuration, reduced risk pesticide options and mitigation measures and

more.

Review the Sample IPM CAPs developed by our group at

http://www.ipminstitute.org/IPMCAPs/home.htm

Wisconsin, 2008

North Dakota, 2008

IPM tools serve as guides to evaluate on-farm pest management practices for

growers interested in NRCS’ EQIP 595 Integrated Pest Management Standard.

Get Involved!Interested in increasing grower access to NRCS programs for IPM in your state? Join over 100 NRCS,

University and other IPM specialists. Contact Peter Werts at pwerts@ipminstitute.org.

Thanks to the North Central IPM Center and Northeastern IPM Center for funding , and to the National

Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants and national NRCS staff for their additional support.

Monitoring insect activity can help growers determine when pesticide

applications are necessary.

The Natural Resources Defense Council’s 2007 report, More Integrated

Pest Management Please, highlights these disparities. “In Connecticut,

for example, NRCS’ partnerships are delivering high quality technical

assistance and training to growers in IPM and nutrient management. In

a few states, this type of effort has also resulted in the allocation of EQIP

payments to assist transition to certified organic production systems that

rely on advanced IPM to control pests.” In other states, there is almost

no participation in NRCS programs for pest management. Review the full

report at http://www.nrdc.org/health/pesticides/ipm/contents.asp

An IPM CAP includes:

• NRCS CPA 52: Environmental Evaluation Worksheet

• Client and TSP information

• Background and site information

• Environmental risk assessment

• Monitoring guidelines

• Conservation plan

Coddling moth mating disruption is an effective non-pesticidal alternative for managing this tree fruit pest on a site-

specific and area wide basis. Costs can be higher and management needs more intensive than conventional

pesticides, making this an ideal practice for both cost-share and technical assistance.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): By providing financial and

technical assistance to growers, this NRCS program provides a unique

opportunity to conserve and enhance soil, water, air and other natural

resources. Cost-share rates support growers to implement conservation

practices while maintaining practices already in place. IPM practices

implemented by growers can increase their chances of earning a CSP

contract. Visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html

for job sheets including descriptions of conservation activities for resource

concerns such as air quality, animals, energy and others.