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New Pest Management Standards Issued - June 2001
June 18, 2001
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA -- New Pennsylvania Practice Standards for Pest Management have been issued by the Pennsylvania state office of the USDA National Resources Conservation Service (PA NRCS), and are now consistent with the national standards.
"The purpose of the new standard is to enhance the quality and quantity of commodities, minimize the negative impacts of pest control on the environment and control such pests as undesirable weeds, diseases, insects and other organisms," explains Barry Frantz, PA NRCS. "This applies to wherever pests are managed, excluding structural pest situations," he says.
The new standard recommends planning and implementing an integrated approach to pest management that increases the chance of success, reduces reliance on any one tactic, delays resistance to pesticides and reduces the need for emergency actions (which usually involve a limited choice of chemical alternatives). Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles that strive to balance economics, efficacy and environmental risk are to be incorporated into planning alternatives.
IPM aims to control pests -- such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals -- by combining physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe, profitable and environmentally compatible.
According to the standard, all methods of pest management must comply with Federal, State, and local regulations, including management plans for invasive pest species, noxious weeds and disease vectors. In addition, economic threshold levels for pest control, as established by Penn State Cooperative Extension guidelines or other approved guidelines, will be used to develop plans and recommendations for pest control.
"The standard also contains additional criteria and information on developing a pest management program," Frantz explains. "An extensive list of references is also included so a grower can obtain more information on how to implement the new standard."
The NRCS Pest Management standard is a voluntary practice that farmers will be encouraged to use. USDA programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), that provide cost-sharing to farmers for implementation of conservation practices, will use this standard when providing cost-sharing for Pest Management.
To obtain a copy of the standard, see the PA NRCS web site at www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov. Or, contact Barry Frantz at (717) 237-2216 or barry.frantz@pa.usda.gov for more information.