University of Massachusetts Amherst
OP-9: Integrated Pest Management

The University of Massachusetts Extension Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is a systems-oriented educational program that involves an interdisciplinary approach to ecosystem management, agricultural crop production and community pest management. This approach incorporates mechanisms for accurate estimation of both pest and beneficial insect populations, includes both economic and environmental cost and benefit assessments, and prescribes a combination of strategies for control of pest problems. The goal of the program is to provide research-based information, education, and cost effective techniques for growers, grounds managers, and others to use in producing high yields of quality products, and to help maintain crops, landscapes, schools or other structures while reducing potential adverse effects on human health and the environment. A further goal is to enhance adoption of IPM practices by the greatest possible number of users and aid in the development of private-sector IPM services.