PENNSYLVANIA EXTENSION INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR AGRICULTURE AND COMMUNITIES

For more than fifteen years the Pennsylvania IPM Program has continued to evolve into an internationally recognized extension and outreach organization promoting integrated pest management awareness and practices that are economical and protective of human health and the environment. Our program reflects the needs of Pennsylvania as well as the fact that IPM researchers and extension specialists currently deliver well-integrated IPM programming in agriculture. All IPM programs in Pennsylvania strive to attain the following goals: Improving profitability through the adoption of IPM practices. Reducing potential human health risks from pests and pest management practices. Minimizing adverse environmental effects from pests and related pest management. However, PAIPM has designed its various programs to address particular needs. For instance in agricultural IPM programs, profitability and environmental degradation have heightened importance. In urban programs, human health has priority. For the next three years PAIPM will concentrate on developing and maintaining IPM educational programs in agronomic crops, specialty crops, housing and schools. In addition, PAIPM will continue to address public health pest management education and the use of geographic infromations systems to aid in IPM decision making.