Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators: Pest Management Practices
Craig Osteen
No. (AH722) ,
September 2000
Insects, disease, and weeds cause significant yield and quality losses to U.S. crops. Pesticides, one option to combat pest damage, have been one of the fastest growing agricultural production inputs in the post-World War II era, and have contributed to the high productivity of U.S. agriculture. Herbicides and insecticides account for most pesticide use, but the recent increase in pounds of pesticide used is mostly for fungicides and other pesticide products applied to high-value crops. Pesticide expenses have increased from 4 to 5 percent of total production expenses during the 1990's. Many scientists recommend greater use of biological and cultural pest management methods. Major innovations have been the development of genetically engineered herbicide-tolerant varieties, which allow more effective use of herbicides, and plant pesticides, which reduce the need for chemical applications. Government programs to encourage the development and use of biological and cultural methods include areawide pest management, integrated pest management (IPM), national organic standards, and regulatory streamlining for biological pest control agents.
Keywords: pesticides, pest management, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, biological controls, integrated pest management, organic standards, ers, usda
In this series ... Reports are
in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
Chapter 4.3: Pest Management Practices, 103 mb.
Contents
- Pesticide Use on Major Crops
- Biological Pest Management Practices
- Cultural Pest Management Practices
- Decision Criteria and Information
- Factors Affecting Pest Management Decisions
- Pesticide Regulatory Issues
- Alternative Pest Management Programs and Initiatives
- References
See other chapters in the Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators series.
Updated date: September 6, 2000
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