A new Integrated Pest Management (IPM) guidance page has been launched on the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) website to help land managers.
IPM is a whole farm management approach which considers all available plant protection methods to prevent, monitor and control pests, weeds and diseases. It is a flexible approach so that farmers and growers can consider a variety of alternative approaches.
It emphasises the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agricultural ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms.
It blends farming skills with the latest technology and scientific research and development, according to DAERA.
DAERA states that it aims to support resilient and sustainable agricultural production, healthy crops using a range of plant protection methods, and enhance wildlife and biodiversity.
The new guidance page includes the following: Aims and principles of IPM; Examples of what it means in practice; Tools which can support planning and decision making; and further external pest management guidance.
The guidance page also includes details on how to best apply IPM, including the following guidelines:
- Prevention – Using methods to reduce the risk of pests becoming established, such as crop rotation and encouraging natural predators;
- Monitoring – Inspection of crops and pest, weed and disease identification;
- Use of thresholds – Take into account pest, weed and disease pressures, region, crops and particular climatic conditions to help decide when to use control measures;
- Managing resistance – Using anti-resistance strategies to maintain the effectiveness of chemical pesticide products.
It also outlines how to create an IPM plan, and includes optional online templates to source a plan that works best.
The plan should describe how IPM will be applied to land, including details of: Land and crops grown; Pests, weed and diseases identified on land; and control measures in the current season and plan for the next season.
