Virginia Tech
OP-9: Integrated Pest Management

Virginia Tech’s main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia contains 2,500 acres.

Management of Crop Lands:

Virginia Tech’s crop and farm lands cover approximately 1,800 acres all of which is maintained in accordance with a four-tiered Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan as follows:

1. Action Thresholds: Each of our crops (corn, alfalfa, barley, grass hay, pasture) is grown over numerous fields through the CALS farm system. Each field is treated separately in the IPM plan, so we never treat an entire crop as one unit when making applications- its one field at a time. One of our managers is regularly scouting fields to determine what, if any, course of action is required. We make applications only if the manager thinks crop losses will out-weigh application expenses.

2. Monitor and Identify Pests- Managers regularly monitor crop needs, identifying pests and pest damage, and we take actions only when they’re warranted, not as a standard practice.

3. Prevention- our goal is to utilize approved Best Management Practices which necessarily maintain pest damage prevention practices.

4. Control- our goal is to always use the lowest pesticide rates possible to control pests; we also use concentrated pesticides and purchase in bulk containers to reduce plastic container waste.

Management of Buildings:

Virginia Tech’s building footprint covers approximately 400 acres. All administrative, academic, residence halls, dining services, health services, student centers, athletic, and recreational sports facilities are maintained with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan. The plan for residence halls and dining services provides pest management control service in offices, 4,500 student rooms, all public areas such as kitchens, lounges, laundries, stairways, bathrooms, mechanical rooms, and crawl spaces. The plan includes the outside ground areas directly adjacent to the residence halls. Individual student/occupant requests and any visible indications of infestation prompt immediate action. The IPM contract requires the technician to visit the department two times per month at which time he or she inspects all assigned areas, attends to any requests by identifying pests and making recommendation for mechanical, structural, or sanitation needs that would prevent the presence of pests. If these recommended measures are not effective, low risk controls such as bait stations and targeted chemicals to disrupt pest mating are initiated. In the event these low risk control measures are not effective the targeted spraying of pesticides is employed.

Management of Lawns and Grounds:

Virginia Tech’s lawns and grounds cover approximately 300 acres. Although lawns and grounds do not adhere to a prescribed IPM plan, they are maintained with herbicides for broadleaf weeds and invasive plant material.

Margie Lawrence is the Assistant Director for Housekeeping and Furnishings of Housing & Dining Services within Housing & Residence Life (HRL). She can be contacted at margie@vt.edu or (540) 231-4984 for more information about HRL’s IPM plan.

J. Wyatt Sasser is the Housekeeping Director for Facilities Services. He can be contacted at jsasser@vt.edu or (540) 231-7426 for more information about the IPM plan for all academic and administrative buildings.

Anthony Watson is the Associate Director of Building Services & Grounds. He can be contacted at anwatson@vt.edu or (540) 231-6852 for more information about grounds maintenance.

Dwight Paulette Jr. is the College Farm Coordinator. He can be contacted at kentland@vt.edu or (540) 731-1289 for more information about the management practices of the campus crop lands and farm lands.