of biological control; 20% have used it sometimes Of 

 those who have used biological control, 8% indicated 

 that this method failed about half the time to achieve 

 satisfactory control. About 3% of the growers felt that 

 biological control failed most of the time; which was the 

 same percentage of growers who felt chemical pesti- 

 cides failed them most of the time. Seventeen percent 

 of the growers cited a lack of knowledge on how to use 

 biologicals as the major factor limiting their use of this 

 management approach. 



GROWER NEEDS. When asked how Extension or state 

 departments of agriculture could best help growers 

 implement IPM, 26% listed the preparation of pest fact 

 sheets as the most important, 14% cited organizing edu- 

 cational programs, and 13% selected establishment of a 

 professional IPM advising service. Biological control was 

 listed as the most important area of research needed to 

 help growers implement IPM by 15% of the growers. Re- 

 search on development of local guidelines for IPM and 

 resistant cultivars were considered the most important 

 research needed by about 12% of the growers. The 

 compatibility of pesticides and biological control agents 

 was listed as the second most important area of re- 

 search by 16% of the growers. 



What Does the Future Hold? 



A high proportion of the growers said a lack of knowl- 



edge about IPM limits their implementation of this ap- 

 proach Thus education and training must be the pri- 

 mary focus of our program. Based on grower responses, 

 hands-on training given to small groups in half- or full- 

 day sessions is the best educational method. Planning 

 is underway now for Greenhouse IPM workshops for 

 growers in the three states to be held in February. 

 These hands-on workshops will cover basic IPM tech- 

 niques, including scouting, identification of pest (dis- 

 eases and insects) and beneficial organisms, how to 

 USE biological control, and what's hot for new chemical 

 pesticides In addition, production of a practical guide 

 to 1PM for growers of greenhouse ornamentals and bed- 

 ding plants is also planned. 



What Can Growers Do? 



Participate in the upcoming workshops! The goal of this 

 Greenhouse 1PM Program is to meet the needs of grow- 

 ers in their efforts to produce plants more efficiently 

 with less chemical pesticides. Suggestions to help us 

 achieve this is most appreciated. Growers are encour- 

 aged to communicate ideas to the authors. 



\ames Boone, Michael Brownbridge, Bruce Parker, and Marga- 

 ret Stunner are at the University of Vermont, Burlington; 

 ]ames Dill is at the University of Maine in Orono, Alan Eaton 

 is at the University of New Hampshire, Durham. He can be 

 reached at 603-862-1734. 



IPM ACTIVITIES USED REGULARLY BY GROWERS IN 1995 



IPM Activities No (% of growers) Yes (% of growers) 



THE PLANTSMAN 



