What is IPM?

Integrated pest management (IPM) combines science and common sense to reduce the environmental and economic impact of pests in agricultural settings, homes, schools, gardens and landscapes. Through a comprehensive approach, IPM provides strategies and solutions that minimize risk to humans, animals and the environment. 

I

Integrated

IPM is integrated because it brings together, or integrates, a range of biological, organic, cultural, mechanical, and chemical options for pest problems.

P

Pest

Although IPM used to focus on insect pests, the range now includes fungi, bacteria, viruses, weeds, wildlife, and more.

M

Management

And it’s about management because you can only manage pests—you can’t eliminate them, no matter what people say.

IPM Process

Identify

Informed pest management decisions start with proper identification

Monitor

Get to know the patterns of the pests in your space.

Act

Know when to act—develop an action threshold at the first sign of pests to determine when pest control action should be taken. 

Explore

Prevention is the first step to reducing the presence of pests, but once pests become an economic or health risk, consider and research all possible pest management strategies before taking action.

Evaluate

How effective was your control method? Take the time to consider how the IPM tools you used worked or how they could be improved for next time.