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IPM Adoption Evaluated: A Strong Foundation for a Safe, Profitable Crop ABSTRACT
Galen Frantz and H. Charles Mellinger Impending regulatory actions under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) will have potentially profound impacts on pest management practices in Florida’s vegetable industry. Registrations for several key pesticides are likely to be revoked without real-world information on pesticide use. For Florida’s tomato growers, the greatest threat from these regulatory actions is the potential loss of the B2 carcinogens, maneb and mancozeb, which are important components of the bacterial post control program. The results of a survey of integrated pest management (IPM) programs in south Florida indicate that bacterial spot is currently the most damaging disease affecting tomatoes, with annual losses averaging 8.6% according to grower estimates. The amounts of these pesticides applied to each grower’s crop significantly affected placement on the IPM continuum. IPM programs in south Florida tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were surveyed to determine the level of integrated pest management (IPM) used in during the 1997-98 season. Twenty growers participated in this survey, representing 9293 acres in Collier, Dade, Hendry, Lee and Manatee Counties. Survey results indicate that, despite this dependence on chemical disease control, a wide range of farm management, cultural and sanitation practices are incorporated into a comprehensive control program for this and other pests. The measurement technique incorporated the results of an IPM questionnaire and a review of each respondent’s pesticide applications. Questionnaire results indicate that the basic components of IPM, scouting and using thresholds, are nearly universal among tomato growers. The chief biological control agent employed is Bacillus thuringiensis. Most respondents receive scouting reports on beneficial insect activity, and their activity is considered when making spray decisions. |