Educational MaterialsBugwood Webmaster2020-03-10T15:17:03+00:00 Introduction to IPM Integrated pest management helps growers reduce pest management costs. Topics include pest management approaches, the interdisciplinary roles of horticulture, entomology & plant pathology in strengthening integrated pest management tactics. Pecan Basics This is an overview of the basics such as the importance of the pecan tree, pecan production in the United States, and pecan history and arthropod management throughout that history, from the 1800’s through 1990. Horticultural Practices In horticulture, cultural and physical practices involving caring for plants, like site and cultivar selection, strengthening the landscape for favorable conditions but unfavorable to pests, creating habitats for beneficial insects, weeding, irrigation, nutrition, etc. Beneficial Insects Beneficial organisms fall into two main groups: predators and parasites. This guide discusses description and behavior of beneficial insects in the pecan orchard. Pest Profiles Discussion of the major insect pests in the pecan orchard, how they relate to pecan development stages, grouped by pests of nuts, foliage, and trunks and branches. Insect Monitoring and Control Proper orchard monitoring ensures pests are controlled when they approach damaging levels.This IPM tool outlines control suggestions, survey methods and action levels. Disease Prevention Diseases affecting pecans are caused by bacteria, fungi, nematodes, mycoplasma, and physiological problems. This tool discusses diseases such as pecan scab, vein spot, shuck dieback, crown gall, cotton root rot, and the variety of practices used to prevent and treat them. Vertebrate Management A tool for designing a management plan to control destruction by vertebrates in the pecan orchard. Prevention of losses depends largely on early detection and initiation of control measures. Anticipate feeding habits of crows, blue jays and squirrels and initiate measures to deter them.