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Insects, weeds, diseases, and vertebrate pests are major concerns in producing quality horticultural crops or managing landscapes. Pest management requires knowledge about each pest and how it interacts with its environment. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) minimizes losses in both the horticultural enterprise and reduces environmental, economic, and social impacts.

IPM in horticultural systems:

• integrates practices and strategies to minimize losses caused by pests
• considers interactions between pests and crops or landscape systems
• encourages decisions based on pest life cycles, populations, and consequences of pest and crop or landscape management practices
• estimates costs and benefits for water, human health, and profitability of pest management strategy within the horticultural enterprise and the larger system
• improves food safety, environment, and human health

Teaching

Students enrolled in the crop or landscape curricula in horticulture learn pathology, entomology, and weed science. Upper division synthesis courses are designed to resolve case studies, diagnose problems, and develop horticultural enterprises that integrate pest management in the decision process.  Horticulture faculty often contribute to IPM courses since core principles are taught by colleagues representing those disciplines and sciences.

IPM courses include:

• Insect identification and management
• Disease management
• Weed science and management
• Weed ecology and management (proposed)
• Case studies in cropping systems management
• Horticultural management planning

Research and extension

Integrated Pest Management in horticulture is conducted by faculty members responsible for berry, vegetable, nursery, tree fruit, landscapes, and small farm programs. Current projects include:

•  Purple blotch in Marion berries is controlled by removing canes in early spring, training in summer, and harvesting every year.
• In ornamental and nursery crops, Verticillium wilt and Phytophthora stem canker, lygus bugs, honey locust pod gall midge, and invasive weeds are being studied.
• Automated weather and pest detection has improved treatment decisions for codling moth and other pests in orchard and nut crops.
• Management of root rot, soil-borne diseases, white and gray molds, western 12-spot cucumber beetle, and weeds with regional predictive and pest advisory networks has been integrated into vegetable cropping systems.
• Black vine weevil management with nematodes, mite management in vineyards, and a new filbertworm in hazelnuts has completely changed IPM in perennial horticultural crops.
• Master Gardener™ training informs thousands of Oregonians each year about IPM practices for home gardens, landscapes, and communities.

Oregonians learn IPM fundamentals and new information at various educational events including OctoberPest for nursery managers, numerous field days for specific crops, pesticide recertification courses, and professional associations including annual meetings for landscape contractors, golf course superintendents, and annual weed and spray conferences.

Future directions

New IPM frontiers include pest alerts and decision support systems combined with systems research to understand how cropping systems and pests function individually and over time and space. Exploring pests at watershed scales or mosaics of fields and landscape promises new insights and management strategies. Electronic delivery of real-time data and information and support tools helps managers make decisions.
 

Benefits

• IPM helps maintain food quality, shipping, health, and beneficial organisms.
• IPM reduces negative effects on landscapes, parks, golf courses, and green space.
• IPM decisions reduce impact on environment, human health, and costs.
• Oregonians understand the dynamics and trade-offs of pest management and services provided by managed farm and landscape ecosystems.
• Pests are managed rather than controlled.