University of Kentucky
OP-9: Integrated Pest Management

As to our plan of action related to the “four tiered approach to integrated pest management”, that is a little hard to describe. We do not have a written, detailed action plan related to “action thresholds”. Our threshold is one that is quantified by visual identification. We then base our response related to the pest, the level of infestation and seasonal timing. This is our approach to the whole Campus. But even this approach is qualified by an event like the recent Emerald Ash Borer infestation that affected our entire region. We were informed that the borer was present in our area. We took preventative action on the Ash tree community not waiting to see the insect visually or any resultant damage. We do “monitor and identify pest” prior to any attempt to terminate. On plant material both woody and herbaceous we will identify either by our experience or by taking a sample to the Plant Diagnostic Lab of the Ag Department on Campus. Once a positive id has been made we determine if the problem is to that one individual or to multiples. We proceed on that information. Our “prevention” is selective, not the approach to the Emerald Ash borer. However there are plants that are susceptible to certain pests and diseases, Crabapples are an example. We try to prevent infestation or infection with sprays or inoculations to both healthy and stressed members of this group over the entire Campus. We do attempt to apply pre-emergent lawn herbicides in the spring, coordinating our application to the bloom of the Wisteria plant. This plant blooms in early spring alerting us to the fact that the soil is warming and favorable for weed germination. But due to staffing limitations we cannot get to the entire Campus during this short window. So we target key, high profile areas for annul treatment and others on a rotating schedule. But if an area is scheduled for treatment and does not need it we skip it that year. So I guess I will let you determine the percentage of the Campus that should be put to the blank. To my way of thinking it is 100%. But other than this letter and my word I could not prove that to anyone.