New IPM Web Site for Conservation Programs in Pennsylvania: Fruit, Vegetable and Christmas Trees - November 2006

November 9, 2006

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A new Web site has created a one-stop-shop for Pennsylvania growers interested in financial assistance for IPM practices from federal conservation programs.

IPM, or integrated pest management, aims to manage pests -- such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals -- by combining physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe, profitable and environmentally compatible.

Fruit growers benefited from over one million dollars of federal funds over the last three years in return for adopting IPM practices on their farms. One tree fruit grower in Lancaster County uses the program to fund non-chemical control methods, beneficial insects, trapping, and planting disease resistant varieties of trees. The program is allowing the grower to expand upon several IPM practices already in place and try several new ones. Its also allowing them to meet the increasing demand for fruit grown with less chemicals.

According to Barry Frantz, assistant state conservationist for programs with the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Pennsylvania, the Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/65.htm contains descriptions of the various conservation programs available from NRCS and, for a variety of commodities such as Christmas trees, sweet corn and tree fruit, instructions about applying for IPM financial assistance.

Programs include:
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - Reimburses growers for conservation practices including reducing erosion, water and air pollution, and IPM.
• Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) - Reimburses growers for new conservation practices (including IPM) to help reduce their financial risk to implement them.
• Conservation Security Program (CSP) - Provides five to ten year contracts to maintain conservation practices and activities and implement new practices and enhancements.
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) - Reimburses growers for practices that reduce erosion and water pollution that benefit wildlife.
• The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) - Provides reimbursements for permanent conservation easements.
• Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) - Provides educational, technical, and financial assistance to help private forest landowners implement their sustainable forestry management objectives.
• Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) - Growers are reimbursed for keeping land maintained in grass.
• Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) - Reimburses growers for practices that benefit wildlife habitat.
• Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) - Provides incentive payments to restore wetlands.

According to Frantz, growers should sign up for the programs by December 1, 2006 to be included in the first round of allocations.  “In previous years, most of the program funds were allocated in this first round of rankings,” Frantz explains.

To apply for IPM support, growers need to fill out application forms that are available at their local NRCS office, or download them from Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/65.htm.

To learn more about IPM practices for tree fruit, vegetables, Christmas trees and other commodities visit the IPM Pest Problem Solver Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/17.htm.

The Pennsylvania IPM program is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting integrated pest management in both agricultural and urban settings. For more information, contact the program at (814) 865-2839, or Web site http://www.paipm.org/. To view our archived news releases, see Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/10.html.