Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why use integrated pest management (IPM)?

A. IPM strives to reduce pesticide use by applying a mixture of pest control strategies, relying primarily on non-chemical means. This method protects non-target organisms, including humans, from overexposure to pesticides. IPM also reduces pesticide accidents and spills as well as problems stemming from pesticide drift, runoff, and residue. IPM strategies require more human creativity, but result in lower pesticide costs.

Q. Don’t we need pesticides to control pest problems?

A. We do not need to use the most harmful chemicals to control pests. IPM programs rely on non-chemical techniques, including education, proper waste management, structural repair and maintenance, biological and mechanical control techniques, natural enemies of the pest, pest resistant plants, and culture management before low toxicity chemicals are applied.

Q. What is the difference between posting and notification?

A. Posting is the act of placing signs on treated areas at the time of application and leaving the signs up for a specified period of time. Notification is the act of informing the affected public, prior to pesticide application, that pesticides will be applied in their vicinity.

Q. What good will notification signs do?

A. “Laws or policies requiring notification and posting of pesticide applications give concerned people the opportunity to take precautions to avoid exposure to potentially toxic chemicals. The information that is provided can be a powerful educational tool. These laws are supported by a widespread and strongly-held belief that people deserve the right to know about toxic exposures.”(1) In addition, people are becoming more concerned with what they are exposed to, as they begin to appreciate the connection between the quality of their environment and the quality of their health. People cannot protect themselves if they are unaware of their exposure to toxic substances.

Q. Why isn’t genetic control included in SERC’s sample IPM legislation?

A. The intent of SERC’s sample legislation is to reduce all pesticide use. Including plants that are pesticide-tolerant or insect-resistant in IPM does not necessarily reduce the need for pesticide use. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has expressed concern that herbicide-resistant plants might actually foster dependence on herbicides. SERC did not include genetic controls in its sample legislative language due to the highly controversial nature of genetic engineering as well as our understanding that not all IPM programs consider genetic control a legitimate component of IPM. Each state will have to decide this issue for itself.

To find out more about the concerns expressed by the USDA, read their May 2000 report: “Genetically Engineered Crops for Pest Management in U.S. Agriculture: Farm-Level Effects.”

Q. Aren’t all pesticides bad? Why does IPM include them?

A. A pesticide is any chemical designed to kill, repel, control, or protect against pests, such as weeds, rodents, insects, plant diseases, and germs. IPM methods limit the non-target effects of pest control by using the smallest amounts of the least toxic pesticide necessary. Some of the less harsh pesticides are acceptable within organic standards and can be acceptable for IPM methods as well. For example, IPM-acceptable pesticides can include silica gel and/or diatomaceous earth-containing desiccating dusts, which dehydrate insects, and certain soaps made with fatty acids that are toxic to insects. These dusts and soaps are made of natural substances and degrade faster than synthetic pesticides, creating less of a problem for non-target organisms. Additionally, IPM methods are target-specific, requiring application of pesticides to specific plants or areas rather than broad application to lawns or buildings. This target-specificity reduces the amount of pesticide used and prevents unnecessary, non-target effects. In the end, IPM is a compromise – it strives to prevent pesticide use by maximizing the use of non-toxic alternatives, yet allows for target-specific application of the least toxic pesticide, should that be necessary.