Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated pest management (ipm) is a collection of techniques used to control pests in agricultural production while protecting against longterm damage to the environment, human health, and property. In contrast to conventional pest control, which has relied heavily on chemical pesticides and short-term economic return, IPM involves the use of a combination of nonpesticide methods for the reduction and control of pests.

IPM relies upon both preventative methods for avoiding pest problems along with biological, mechanical, and cultural controls for addressing pests. It is a system in which pest problems are controlled and reduced to acceptable levels, but not necessarily eliminated. Acceptable levels of crop loss are established in advance, and then a program is implemented to manage pests accordingly.

No unified program exists in IPM; the ...