INTEGRATED PEST-MANAGEMENT AND WATER-QUALITY

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a promising alternative to convent ional pesticide-based pest control because IPM practices are less like ly to pollute water supplies. Rational application of IPM principles i s at least as profitable for farmers as is conventional pest control. However, better protection of water quality is not automatic. Publicly funded IPM programs should explicitly incorporate water and other env ironmental quality objectives to help ensure that farmers achieve thes e goals.