MU celebrates the history and future of integrated pest management

PEST CONTROL …

The University of Missouri’s IPM program began in the mid-1970s with a focus on insects

PUBLISHED ON November 21, 2022

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Researchers at the University of Missouri are celebrating 50 years of integrated pest management and reflecting on the past, present and future of IPM.

The University of Missouri IPM Program began in the mid-1970s with a focus on insects. The program has been expanded to focus on sustainable insect, weed and disease management. “One current focus is a statewide pathogen survey to better understand disease threats to corn and soybeans. This is critical if we are to avoid running out of chemical control options,” said MU Extension Specialist and IPM Coordinator Mandy Bish.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describes integrated pest management as an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest control that relies on a combination of smart methods.

In 1972, the first large-scale IPM research project was initiated to address the growing problems associated with the negative effects of widespread pesticide use, according to Michigan State University. He brought together the interdisciplinary research that underpinned IPM and included identifying natural enemies in agricultural systems and pest modeling to better assess crop risk and identify treatment options. Entomologists led the initial charge for IPM, helping to create national legislation (Senate Bill 1794) to fund research.

Federal funding supported two major research projects: the Huffaker Project and the Consortium. The Huffaker Project, conducted in the mid-1970s, investigated insect and mite problems in five major commodities—alfalfa, apples, citrus, cotton, and soybeans. The Integrated Pest Management Consortium expanded this research to include all major pests—insects, diseases, and weeds. By the mid-1980s, these projects had led to the adoption of IPM practices on more than 14 million acres of farmland and increased the net income of farmers by approximately $578 million per year.

During the 1990s, several important IPM infrastructure resources were developed, including pest diagnostic technology, weather-based modeling systems, and increased research and outreach faculty working to increase on-farm IPM adoption.

“PMI has become a critical pest management concept for the survival of agriculture,” said Sam Polley, MU Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator.

“IPM minimizes crop losses, minimizes pesticide use and maximizes environmental conservation. It’s a win, win, win,” he said. “US agriculture’s success with integrated pest management gives food producers a chance to change the public image of pest management. We can show the public that growers care about the environment when they use a proven science base to make informed pest management decisions.”

Bish and Polley agree that the future of IPM is promising, despite ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​a future for the future, including climate change, invasive pests and pesticide resistance. IPM also faces challenges in educating the public about the true costs and benefits of adopting or not adopting available pest management technologies.

To learn more about the history and future of integrated pest management in the north-central US, check out the special IPM 50th anniversary series on the “Pest Central” podcast in feeds.buzzsprout.com/2039018.

In one episode, Bish and Polley talk about the importance of IPM in Missouri. “Pest Central” is available on most major podcast platforms.

Learn about the University of Missouri’s IPM program at ipm.missouri.edu.

— MU Extension