I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Integrated Pest Management

2. Course Prefix & Number:
AGRO 1124

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This course introduces students to the concept of integrated pest management in crop production. This course will focus on the study of insects, diseases, and weeds that have an economic impact on crop production. Students will learn how to effectively assess pest populations and determine treatment options.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

No placement tests required

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

ENTO308 Management of Field Crop Insects – 3 Credits – University of Nebraska-Lincoln, AGRI 1670: Integrated Pest Management – 3 Credits – Ridgewater College

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Agronomy Diploma

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Develop an Integrate Pest Management plan for controlling a pest in agriculture.
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Evaluate treatment options for pest and determine benefits and risks of the treatment.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Describe different types of control methods of pests;
• Document the four main groups of pests;
• Identify resources available for determining Economic Thresholds;
• Analyze the signs or symptoms of pest;
• Document how pest management has evolved;
• Compare treatment options for targeted pest;
• Understand how IPM affects profitability and economics;
• Ability to identify pest in crop production; and
• Identify lifecycles of common pest in agriculture.

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Pest Control History
   • Pests in modern agriculture
   • Pest control changes since WWII
   • EPA’s role in pest management
2. Pest Management Control Methods
   • Types of control
     • Biological (natural enemies)
     • Mechanical (trapping/tillage)
     • Cultural (crop rotation)
     • Chemical (pesticides)
     • Genetic (variety selection)
   • Multiple types of control methods used to control the same pest
3. Integrated Pest Management Strategy
   • IPM and its application to agriculture
   • Benefits of properly implementing an IPM program
4. Identifying Pest
   • Four main groups of pests
     • Weeds
     • Invertebrates (insects/mites/spiders/slugs)
     • Disease or pathogens (bacteria/nematodes/fungi/microorganisms)
     • Vertebrates (reptiles/mammals)
   • Signs or symptoms of pest existing
   • Key pests, occasional pests, and secondary pests
   • Resources available to aide in identifying pest
5. Lifecycle and Timing of Pests
   • Disease Triangle (host/pathogen/environment)
   • General growth stages and reproduction of diseases
   • General growth stages and reproduction of invertebrates
   • Life cycle or growth stage affects on treatment options
6. Economics of IPM
   • Economic threshold (ET) and economic injury level (EIL)
   • EIL and ET levels vary depending on pest lifecycle and crop growth stage
   • EIL and ET levels affect profitability from control practice
   • Resources available for determining pest ET
7. Implementing IPM
   • Pest management goal (Prevention/Suppression/Eradication)
   • Current pest
     • Scouting strategies
     • Set-up a monitoring program
   • Benefits and risks of different control methods
8. Effectiveness of Pest Management
   • IPM program control on a pest long term
   • Pesticide resistance