Greenhouse ipm

Greenhouse IPM is the practice of monitoring and managing pest and environmental information with pest control methods to prevent pest damage to greenhouse plants by the most economical means. Greenhouse IPM practices vary from region to region and particularly by state, according to the habitat and forests present.The greenhouse industry is particularly essential to the agricultural future of certain areas in the country such as New England and especially the Tri-State area of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Currently, the greenhouse industry relies heavily on chemical pesticides. Safer management options are needed.

Action Taken

At the University of Vermont Entomology Laboratory, in conjunction with local growers, consultants, researchers, educators, and the like, a lot of research is being conducted to promote safe greenhouse ipm practices, which include the following:

*The development of fungal biopesticides as effective alternatives for control of thrips, aphids and whiteflies, pests of regional, national and international significance.

* Formation of a Tri-state IPM Advisory Group to address industry needs within the region, as identified by growers.

* Workshops developed by the group capitalize on expertise in the region to provide hands-on training to encourage IPM implementation.

Links

For more information on these initiatives, please visit the University of Vermont Entomology Laboratory http://www.uvm.edu/~entlab