| |
|
|
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests. IPM practitioners base decisions on information that is collected systematically as they integrate economic, environmental, and social goals. IPM applies to any situation, agricultural or urban, and is flexible enough to accommodate the changing demands of agriculture, commerce, and society. As both a major landscaper and groundskeeper, and home to tremendous technical expertise on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Cooperative Extension, UConn is committed to utilize its resources to improving IPM practices
IPM emphasizes the integration of many pest suppression technologies:
- Biological control--beneficial organisms that manage pests.
- Cultural control--crop rotation, sanitation, and other practices that reduce pest problems.
- Mechanical and physical controls--for example, traps, cultivation, and temperature modification.
- Chemical control--judicious use of pesticides and other chemicals.
- Genetic control (host plant resistance)--traditional selective breeding and new biotechnology that produce pest-resistant crops.
- Regulatory control--state and federal regulations that prevent the spread of pest organisms
The above information courtesy of the UConn IPM Program, a joint venture of the University's Department of Plant Science and the Cooperative Extension System.
Background and Progress :
IPM Effort Goals
- Review UConn's current lawn and turf chemical application practices;
-
Share information about recent developments in IPM within the workgroup;
- Outline an official University IPM Plan for minimizing the use of pesticides and herbicides.
Project Background
UConn is both a major landscaper and groundskeeper, and home to tremendous technical expertise on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Cooperative Extension.
The IPM workgroup is strategically organized to bring together UConn Facilities and Athletics Division staff and contractors, who oversee maintenance of lawn and turf areas on campus, with Plant Science and Agricultural Extension faculty who specialize in IPM education and research, along with other interested students, faculty and staff, in order to review UConn’s current lawn and turf pesticide application practices and to share information about recent developments in IPM. By bringing both staff and faculty 'to the table' the University has ensured that UConn is currently using pesticides responsibly, and will continue to do so in the future.
Progress Completed
On February 7, 2005, extension scientists, UConn staff from Facilities and Athletics, and landscaping contractors sat down for the first time to discuss pesticide practices here at UConn. The Cooperative Extension scientists agreed to the relevance and importance of these discussions and were quickly helpful in aiding the progress of an IPM policy for the UConn campuses.
During this first meeting, University members began developing a Statement of Current Practices as a means to improve public awareness about existing University procedures and pesticide application guidelines. This Statement, and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) sheets that describe the chemical properties and risks of pesticides and fertilizers applied on campus grounds, will ultimately be made available to the public through this website. The goal of this action is to allow the public to understand how, why, and where pesticides are applied on campus, and the safety precautions that are utilized. The Statement, which was drafted by the workgroup, explores turf maintenance practices by the UConn Athletics Division and the University's Facilities Operation department.
On June 20, 2005, a second meeting of the workgroup was held to review the draft Statement of Current Practices relating to the chemical treatment of the University's turfgrass. In addition, using a template provided by the CT DEP, the workgroup outlined an official Integrated Pest Management Plan for the UConn Storrs Campus, the related athletic fields, and the nearby Depot Campus. This plan was revised and submitted to the workgroup for final review.
On June 27th, the University's Statement of Current Turf Maintenance Practices was approved by the IPM workgroup. This document describes current turf maintenance practices at the University of Connecticut’s main campus at Storrs, Depot Campus, and Athletic Facilities. It is not intended as a formal statement of Integrated Pest Management practices at UConn, but rather as a general description of chemical maintenance of turfgrass at the University.
To view the final document click on the link below:
Statement of Current Turf Maintenance Practices at the UConn Main Campus at Storrs, Depot Campus, and Athletic Facilities
Return to Menu
Related News
In the spring semester of 2006, UConn Landscape and Building Services decided to test drive a new fertilizer blend for its annual spring fertilizer application on the great lawn. The new fertilizer used was a 50% organic blend. The Landscape and Building Services, in accordance with its goals to utilize more organic products in its maintenance practices, monitored the progress of the great lawn in response to this fertilizer application. They hope to integrate the new organic blend into its regular campus-wide maintenance practices and guidelines.
Return to Menu
For more information on this initiative, please contact the UConn IPM Program
Click here to return to the
Sustainable Development Workgroup's Homepage
Page last updated 04/02/09. mnr.
|
|
 |
