Course: SLF 112 Integrated Pest Management

Reading & Audio Visual

Readings: Economic Injury and IPM Decisions
Readings: Economic Injury and IPM Decisions

The USDA Agricultural Research Service is finding predators to fight the western corn rootworm (shown here), the most economically damaging pest of corn in North America.
These materials provide a foundation for understanding the concepts of economic injury levels and how they relate to pest management and decision making. There are also readings devoted to the use of degree day calculations and how they relate to insect life cycles.

Pest Management Decision-making: The Economic-injury Level Concept
by Diana G. Alston, Utah State University Extension

This article shows how to apply pest management practices when economic-injury levels are reached in a crop.

Using Degree Days to Time Treatments for Insect Pests
by Marion S. Murray, Utah State University Extension

This reading provides an overview of degree days. It also describes how to calculate them and and how they relate to controlling pests.

IPM: Degree-Day Calculator
by the Illinois State Water Survey © University of Illinois Board of Trustees

This web-based tool provides up-to-date degree day calculations for a variety of insect pests throughout the State of Illinois.

Organic IPM Field Guide
by Ann Baier, Rex Dufour, Martín Guerena, and Karen Van Epen, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service © NCAT

Download this field guide which provides information about organic IPM relating to a variety of specific pests.