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Integrated
Pest Management & Integrated Fruit Production
Orchardists in
Nova Scotia follow a program known as IPM or Integrated
Pest Management. In this program, insecticides are
used in the orchard only when it is known that it is necessary
to prevent crop loss. Most growers know the important
insects which attack their fruit crops, and make a habit
of checking for those insects. Private and company
scouts are also employed to do this service for growers.
In the IPM system,
natural enemies of pests are utilized to control them.
However, if populations of these beneficial insects are
not sufficient to control the pest population, then a control
product must be applied. This is a responsible system
which considers both economics and the environment.
It also helps to alleviate other problems such as pesticide
resistance and outbreaks of secondary pests.
IFP - Integrated Fruit Production
A relatively new concept in the world of fruit production
is know as IFP or Integrated Fruit Production. At
the heart of this program is integrated pest management.
However, IFP goes beyond that in that it looks at the whole
orchard system from the planting of trees through to storage
and packing of the harvested fruit.
In IFP, the whole
fruit growing system is considered. Cultural practices,
environmental management, safety, record keeping and education
are all a part of integrated fruit production. As
a result of practicing IFP, the following goals can be achieved:
production of optimum yields of quality fruit
achievement of a standard of sustainable food production
production of a safe, high quality food product for
consumers
The end result
is an economic and environmentally sustainable food production
system.
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