- Author: Robert J Keiffer
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an eocsystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines ... and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and nontarget organisms, and the environment.
Last Friday the UCCE (Lake and Mendocino), Mendocino County Dept. of Agriculture, the Lake County Winegrape Commission, the Mendocino WineGrowers Inc., and the Mendocino College Agricultural Dept. held an IPM Seminar targeted towards the Lake and Mendocino Counties' viticulture industry. Current topics such as controlling nematodes in vineyaards, updates on Virginia Creeper Leafhopper and grape vine red blotch, aquatic weed control in irrigation ponds, and impacts of illegal pesticide use in cannibis cultivation kept the audience engaged.
The IPM Seminar was held at the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center's Rod Shippey Hall which was packed with the 110 or so participants. Here you see some of the partipants enjoying a homemade hot-soup lunch outside of the Rod Shippey Hall.