Integrated Pest Managment is Common Sense Gardening and Agriculture

Integrated pest management (IPM) focuses on long-term prevention of pest problems through a combination of techniques such as identifying and monitoring pests, keeping records, using nonchemical practices and understanding pest biology. Pesticides that pose the least possible harm to people and their environment are used only when needed. Integrated pest management is a scientific approach to nature's balance of natural predators and natural habitat to make gardening and farming a natural, healthful process for both the earth and the resulting food and natural resources.

IPM is being applied in schools to protect the health of children, as well as vitaculture to protect the winegrapes of California, and even almond groves.  Integrated pest management can save costs of chemical pesticides and is an important part of organic certification.

California is a leading agricultural advocate of integrated pest management.