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Welcome to the NRCS and IPM Working Group. Our goal is to encourage grower adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) through participation in conservation programs administered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The group is multi-state and multi-disciplinary to include Extension, state and national offices of NRCS, state lead agencies, EPA, and industry. The Working Group convenes via conference call on the first Friday of every month. To participate in our monthly conference calls, please contact Peter Werts, IPM Institute of North America, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for information on how to participate.

Our first efforts will identify and prioritize regional IPM and NRCS needs, and build a strong working partnership between existing IPM infrastructure and NRCS. Review NRCS & IPM Working Group priorities finalized by the group in 2010. An effective partnership will greatly improve our ability to address goals and priorities from the National IPM Roadmap, the NC IPM Center and USDA Secretary Johanns’ 2005 memo on market-based stewardship.  

Our group will improve support for IPM practices and increase IPM implementation in the region by:

(1) Facilitating communication through an initial two-day meeting (held Nov. 15-17, 2006) and follow-up conference calls, email and web pages dedicated to IPM and NRCS program linkages.

(2) Assembling collaborations and resources to develop information for growers to identify IPM tools for addressing conservation concerns prioritized by NRCS conservation programs. Develop simple verification/assessment tools for growers and local NRCS staff to authenticate the value of IPM.

(3) Compiling support documentation to craft program recommendations to NRCS designed to increase use of IPM as a conservation tool.

(4) Supporting producer participation in market-based programs such as SYSCO’s Sustainable Agriculture Initiative, Food Alliance and soil, air and water quality credit trading by increasing awareness of these programs and potential linkages to both IPM and NRCS programs.

(5) Exploring opportunities for ongoing cooperative agreements and other collaborative arrangements between NRCS and IPM professionals.