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| Web URL(s): | http://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/mitgc/article/1989135.pdf
Last checked: 02/27/2009
Requires: PDF Reader |
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| Publication Type:
| Proceedings |
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| Author(s): | Smith, Thomas M. |
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| Author Affiliation: | President, Grass Roots, Inc., East Lansing, MI. |
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| Title: | Integrated pest management for lawns - selling the concept |
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| Meeting Info.: | East Lansing, MI: January 16-18, 1989 |
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| Source: | Proceedings of the 59th Annual Michigan Turfgrass Conference. Vol. 18, 1989, p. 135-137. |
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| Publishing Information: | East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University |
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| # of Pages: | 3 |
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| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Lawn care services; Communications; Public relations; Integrated pest management
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| Abstract/Contents: | Traditional lawn care programs simply call for the application of a tank mix of fertilizer and pesticide. While this has worked, customers now want to reduce pesticide applications, and some new laws restrict pesticides. Research suggests that pesticides may injure turf ecosystems. Different lawns may have different problems, requiring different solutions. These are persuasive arguments for Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is based on the fact that the easiest and most effective way to reduce pests is to improve plant health and vigor. Pesticides should be the last resort when other methods have failed. The true problem is often environmental; the plant is in the wrong place, the plant is a poor variety, the growing conditions are unfavorable, or a multitude of conditions that could diminish plant vigor. Instead of diagnosing a pest, and spraying the pest, one should instead find the cause of the plant's weakness, and treat the causative factors in the plant's environment. It is not always easy to accept the concept of not spraying the pests. But if one accepts the reality of increasing customer resistance to chemical treatments, we better learn how. The first step in the shift of the industry is to shift from selling applications, to selling information. A legitimate option with IPM is to do nothing. But at the price to do nothing, we would quickly go broke. So it becomes necessary to charge for the diagnosis, much as a doctor may charge for his time, whether he treats or not. If we are going to charge for expert diagnosis and advice, then we better be experts. So improved training becomes the next step. A new 2 year lawn care program is already available at Michigan State University. A third step is to equip yourself to implement an IPM program including pesticide spot treatment, proper fertilization, watering and mowing, soil testing, aerification, spot seeding, thatch control, and even irrigation. Finally educate your customers. This really fits in well with the first step. Since IPM methods can be preventative, it becomes impractical for the company to do it alone. Your customers become your best asset in an IPM approach. You can supply newsletters, extension bulletins, and in-house fact sheets all to help educate the customer, as well help you justify charging for a visit and diagnosis. Companies that have adopted the "plant health" approach have reduced pesticide use by 40-60%. This means smaller trucks, because you just don't need the volume for spot applications. Labor costs may be higher, because a well trained technician is needed to make IPM work. Expanding services to each account means increased profits. In the near future our current approach will no longer be in demand. IPM can work very well. But don't wait too long to develop your particular system. |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Smith, T. M. 1989. Integrated pest management for lawns - selling the concept. p. 135-137. In Proceedings of the 59th Annual Michigan Turfgrass Conference. East Lansing, MI: January 16-18, 1989. East Lansing, MI: Michigan State University. |
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| Web URL(s):
http://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/mitgc/article/1989135.pdf
Last checked: 02/27/2009
Requires: PDF Reader |
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MSU catalog number: SB 433 .A1 M47 |
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