California cotton growers utilize integrated pest management

Krebill-Prather, R; Vargas, R; Goodell, P; Brodt, S

California cotton growers utilize integrated pest management

Authors

Rose L. Krebill-Prather
Ron N. Vargas
Peter B. Goodell
Sonja B. Brodt

Authors Affiliations

R.L. Krebill-Prather is Research Associate, Washington State University; R.N. Vargas is County Director and Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Madera County. The authors thank the California Cotton Growers and Ginners Association for their support, and the UC Statewide IPM Program for their support through Smith-Lever 3(d) IPM Extension funds. Special thanks to all the participants who took the time to answer and return the survey; P.B. Goodell is IPM Advisor and IPM Extension Coordinator, UC Statewide IPM Program; S.B. Brodt was Program Evaluation Specialist.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 61(1):24-30. DOI:10.3733/ca.v061n01p24. January 2007.

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Abstract

In 2000, the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) conducted a comprehensive survey of pest management decision-making and pest control practices of cotton growers in the 11 major cotton-producing counties of California. The results indicate progress in growers' knowledge and implementation of IPM principles and techniques, although the use of certain aspects, such as treatment thresholds for insects, often fell short of researchers' recommendations. The survey also confirmed the central role of pest control advisers (PCAs) in IPM decision-making. Although independent PCAs communicate more with growers than do PCAs who are affiliated with product suppliers, PCA affiliation did not affect most on-the-ground pest treatment actions measured by this survey. The results indicate a need to expand IPM adoption surveys to include PCAs and to develop more effective ways of measuring IPM decision-making beyond counting the techniques used or not used.

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