Commercial Outlook and Adoption of Landscape IPM Tactics in Central New Jersey

Abstract

The largest agricultural industry in New Jersey is the commercial landscape/nursery/turfgrass industry; it is also one of the highest users of pesticides. In the lawn care industry alone, >906,000 lb of pesticides (active ingredients) were used in 1990. A proven way to commercially reduce pesticide usage while maintaining landscape quality is through Landscape Integrated Pest Management (LIPM) tactics; however, adoption of LIPM nationally has been slow. In 1994–95, a survey of 525 landscape contractors, arborists, groundskeepers, and turfgrass professionals was conducted to determine attitudes towards adoption of LIPM tactics. Customer perceptions, products utilized, educational needs, and attitudes toward alternative control tactics were assessed. Results show the majority of landscapers do not wish to spray pesticides, and do utilize good horticultural methods. However, purchasing traditional pesticide products that are cost-effective and proven are favored relative to environmentally “safe” and new. Concerns constraining LIPM adoption include potential for customer dissatisfaction, recovering monitoring costs, increased knowledge requirement for LIPM tactics, and fear of inadequate control.