Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, has been defined by many people in many ways. It is a concept coming from the agricultural community where crop rotation, irrigation, proper fertilization, etc. are used to create better and healthier crops, presumably through the use of less pesticides and in a way that is better for the environment.
The Pest Control Technology (PCT) Technician's Handbook (3rd Edition) by Dr. Richard Kramer states:
IPM - A decision making process that anticipates and prevents pest activity and infestation by combining several strategies to achieve long-term solutions. Components of an IPM program may include proper waste management, structural repair, maintenance, biological and mechanical control techniques, and pesticide application.
At Adam's, we define IPM as follows:
Integrated Pest Management is a multifaceted approach to preventing and solving pest problems by integrating education, inspection, identification, sanitation, exclusion, communication, biological and mechanical means of control, and where appropriate, specific pesticide application with the lowest impact techniques and product selection practical.
A Philosophy More Than A Strategy
As an overall philosophy, it requires technicians to have greater knowledge and skills, requires a better decision making process than otherwise would be used, and should ultimately reduce pesticides used. IPM is not necessarily more expensive. Some pest concerns simply cannot be solved, or solved cost effectively, without using pesticides. They still have their place in the process. Even choosing a material is important. We prefer low odor or no odor materials, non-staining, less toxic materials that are easy to mix and apply. We prefer baits and materials targeted to a specific pest.
Example 1: Customer has Bats
Through inspection, our knowledge of bats, communication with our customers, and an extensive repair and exclusion process, we are able to get bats out of structures safely without using chemicals or harming the bats. This has the added benefit of keeping them out in the future as well, because the structure is sealed tight.
Example 2: Customer reports Fruit Flies
We know that Drain Flies are often misidentified as fruit flies. Proper identification tells us the pest. Our knowledge of its biology and habits tell us how best to control it. Communication with, and education of our customers tell them how important sanitation of drains and standing water are. In some cases drain cleaners may be an appropriate measure.
How does Adam's stay current?
At Adam's, we regularly attend the annual Pest Management conferences held by the National Pest Control Association, the bi-annual Whitmire Microgen Scientific Symposium, the annual Minnesota Structural Pest Control Operators Re-certification Conference (attended by all our licensed employees), Purdue University's Urban Pest Management conference, and other specific training, such as Bird Barriers school for Bird Netting and Exclusion and PCT'S Leadership Conference. Additionally we are members of Associated Pest Control Services, a group of companies across the nation who largely do not compete with each other and who share IPM and other ideas freely so that each can deliver a premium product.
What do we do with all this information?
It is disseminated during new technicians 4-6 weeks of classroom and field training and again during our monthly training meetings. This is our niche - superior service by better trained technicians.
