Pacific Lutheran University
OP-9: Integrated Pest Management

The goal of PLU's program is not to eradicate pests entirely, but rather to manage the population so that economic damage does not occur. Due to the complexity of ecological systems, total elimination of pest populations has proven to be environmentally unsound; the balance is sensitive and intricate, and manipulation of one variable profoundly affects all other variables. Therefore, the entire system must be regarded holistically, with extreme consideration given to the impact on the delicate interplay within it. A major strategy of our program is cultural control: proper plant selection based on knowledge of a plant's origin, habitat, and environmental requirements. It also means choosing species and varieties that possess the most resistance and inhibit the rise of potential pest populations. Included in this concept are the use of indicator plants, soil preparation techniques, and crop rotation. All these methods work in conjunction with the natural environment, reducing the need for chemical application or other unnatural and potentially disruptive methods of pest elimination.