Many states have developed improved pest diagnostic facilities such 

 as mobile laboratories and diagnostic clinics. Most states conduct 

 specialized courses on identification of pests and provide instruction 

 on latest recommendations to pest control operators, aerial applicators, 

 and pesticide salesmen. Growers are advised on selection of resistant 

 varieties, cultural practices, and when to spray. Clinics are also held 

 in a number of major cities to better inform home owners and home 

 gardeners. The subject matter is interdisciplinary, involving plant 

 pathology, entomology, weed science, and nematology. Extension 

 plant pathologists have organized on a regional basis for the purpose 

 of reporting and forecasting epidemics of diseases such as wheat rust, 

 blights of corn, tomatoes, and potatoes. 



Crop Protection Compared with Human Health Care 



Integrated Pest Management has many similarities with human health 

 services. It may be more complex because of the great number of 

 species and crop varieties involved in protecting the health of plants 

 and animals. Medical services deal with diseases, disorders, and pest- 

 parasite interactions of only a single species— man. 



A great variety of public and quasi-public health institutions provide 

 research, services, and education at both the state and national levels. 

 A sophisticated industry exists for research and development of chemical 

 and biological pharmaceuticals. State and county health departments 

 provide health services and education to physicians and the public. 

 To provide human health care, thousands of medical specialists practice 

 in public hospitals and clinics. There are hundreds of private and co- 

 op type hospitals and clinics. Public and private medical Insurance 

 systems, including Medicare, are readily available to aid our citizens. 

 A number of agencies regulate these diverse activities. 



A similar but not so elaborately financed and staffed system exists 

 in agriculture to protect the health of crops and animals. State and 

 national agricultural agencies provide research, services, and education 

 (academic teaching and noncredit Extension education). A highly 

 efficient industry exists for research, development and sales of chemical 

 pesticides. Industrial development of biological agents is in its infancy. 

 Several thousand technical representatives and salesmen of manufac- 

 turing and retail industry advise farmers and sell crop protection products. 

 This differs from human health care whose physicians cannot sell chemicals. 

 There will be about 200,000 registered commercial applicators of pesticides 

 in 1978, including aerial applicators, pest control operators, and others 



