DIFFICULTIES IN MEASURING ADOPTION OF APPLE IPM - A CASE-STUDY

This research investigates the process of measuring integrated pest ma nagement (IPM) and the implications of particular measurement in under standing IPM adoption.Data collected from apple growers in New York St ate in 1991 were used to develop a measurement of IPM adoption based o n nine subscales combining 35 IPM components. Three factors or dimensi ons of IPM were found: scouting/monitoring, cultural controls and biol ogical controls. Scouting and monitoring practices were associated wit h beliefs about costs and benefits of IPM; the use of cultural control s was related to economic factors, and the use of biological controls was negatively related to perceived credibility of chemical fieldmen.