IMPLEMENTING IPM THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND THE NONAGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY

Implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices by grower s has been less than expected by the developers of IPM. The key may be the difficulty growers face in obtaining the information they need to make IPM decisions and the difficulty growers have in integrating and interpreting the information when it is obtained. New technologies su ch as expert systems and simulated weather information can make IPM de cision making easier for growers. In addition, agriculture and IPM is affected by the non-agriculture community. Only when the non-agricultu ral community is involved in IPM and understands its importance to the m, will they support the use of IPM through legislation and at the mar ket place. For IPM to be truly successful, it must be accepted and und erstood by both producers and consumers.