Integrated Pest Management Project Research Articles

Modeling economic-environmental-ecological trade-offs for non-point source control strategies: A case study of Dianchi lake watershed, China

Non-point source (NPS) pollution has become a primary threat to the water environment. With the implementation of numerous control projects, striking a balance between economic costs and efficiency has become an urgent issue for decision-makers. To identify the optimization solutions for best management practices (BMPs) at the watershed scale, a genetic algorithm and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model were combined to evaluate the trade-offs of NPS control strategies. The BMPs considered in this model included soil testing and fertilizer application technology, integrated pest management projects, conservation tillage, lakeside belt ecological construction, forest construction, and vegetation filter strips. The decision variables are the type and size of the BMPs, with the objective of minimizing costs while simultaneously maximizing both total phosphorus (TP) reduction and ecosystem service value. TP reduction was simulated usinga calibrated SWAT model that successfully assessed NPS pollution in the Dianchi lake watershed. Considering NPS generation and transfer, three NPS control scenarios were designed: source reduction, process retention, and integrated control. The upper limits of the costs for three scenarios were 157, 4921, and 5013 million yuan, respectively. It is suggested that the ecological benefits should be taken into account in the BMPs design. This finding is conducive to generating optimized control schemes that can effectively balance the trade-offs between socioeconomic costs and environmental sustainability.

Fortuitous Introduction of <i>Lantanophaga pusillidactylus</i> (Walker) Into Nepal

The neotropical plant, Lantana camara L., introduced as an ornamental plant to several countries, has become an invasive weed. It was first reported from Nepal in 1848. About 50 countries have introduced natural enemies for suppression of the weed. India, Nepal’s neighboring country, initiated biological control of this weed in 1916 and reported the occurrence of Lantanophaga pusillidactylus Walker. In a recent survey, the Feed the future Nepal Integrated Pest Management project found larvae of this insect feeding on flower heads of L. camara in Nepal. This communication reports the first discovery of L. pusillidactylus in Nepal on March 13, 2023.

White-Tailed Deer Spatial Distribution in Relation to '4-Poster' Tick Control Devices in Suburbia.

Deer are keystone hosts for adult ticks and have enabled the spread of tick distributions. The ‘4-Poster’ deer bait station was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture to control ticks feeding on free-ranging deer. Although effective in certain scenarios, ‘4-Poster’ deer treatment stations require the use of bait to attract deer to one location, which may cause increased deer disease transmission rates and habitat damage. To better understand and manage the impact of baited ‘4-Poster’ stations on deer movements, we captured and GPS-monitored 35 deer as part of an integrated pest management project. Fifteen ‘4-Poster’ stations were deployed among three suburban county parks to control ticks. To quantify the effects of ‘4-Poster’ stations, we calculated deer movement metrics before and after feeders were filled with whole kernel corn, and we gathered information on visitation rates to feeders. Overall, 83.3% of collared deer visited a feeder and revisited approximately every 5 days. After feeders were refilled, collared deer were ~5% closer to feeders and conspecifics than before filling. Males used a higher percentage of available feeders and visited them more throughout the deployment periods. Although these nuanced alterations in behavior may not be strong enough to increase local deer abundance, in light of infectious diseases affecting deer populations and effective ‘4-Poster’ densities, the core range shifts and clustering after refilling bait may be a cause for concern. As such, trade-offs between conflicting management goals should be carefully considered when deploying ‘4-Poster’ stations.

The effect of paddy farmers' participation in rice integrated pest management projects with an emphasis on environmental protection indicators (Case study: Fooman County, Guilan Province)

سابقه و هدف: وجود نگرانی در رابطه با امنیت غذایی، سلامت غذایی، سلامت افراد جامعه و همچنین جلوگیری از تخریب منابع طبیعی، موجب شکل ­گیری مفهوم کشاورزی پایدار شد. یکی از راهکارهای مهم اجرایی شدن کشاورزی پایدار، اجرای طرح ­های مدیریت تلفیقی آفت­ ها است. مدیریت تلفیقی آفت­ های برنج به ­عنوان یک رهیافت مدیریتی و اکولوژیکی می ­تواند با کاهش مصرف نهاده­ هایی چون سم ­ها و آفت­ های شیمیایی گامی مؤثر در حفظ محیط ­زیست باشد. اجرای عملیات مدیریت تلفیقی آفت­ ها برخلاف روش­ های کنترل شیمیایی، با پیچیدگی­ های زیادی همراه بوده و نیازمند همکاری و مشارکت همه­ جانبه کشاورزان است. بنابراین تحقیق حاضر با هدف بررسی تأثیر مشارکت شالی­ کاران گیلانی در طرح­ های مدیریت تلفیقی آفت­ ها برنج با تأکید بر سنجه ­های حفاظت محیط ­زیست در شهرستان فومن استان گیلان به انجام رسید.مواد و روش ­ها: روش تحقیق حاضر از نظر رویکرد کلی، یک تحقیق ترکیبی (کمی - کیفی) و از نظر هدف، کاربردی است. تحقیق در دو مرحله به انجام رسید. در مرحله کیفی، گروهی 30 نفره از کارشناسان و کشاورزان (مطلعان کشاورزی پایدار و مدیریت تلفیقی آفت­ ها) به­ صورت گلوله برفی انتخاب شدند و مورد مصاحبه قرار گرفتند. تجزیه و تحلیل مصاحبه ­ها با تحلیل محتوای کیفی و با استفاده از نرم ­افزار Maxqda انجام شد و اعتبار یافته­ ها با استفاده از روش سه ­گوشه ­سازی تأیید شد. در مرحله کمی، از بین 16 شهرستان استان گیلان به­ صورت تصادفی ساده شهرستان فومن انتخاب شد. سپس پرسشنامه محقق ساخته بین 323 کشاورز شرکت کننده در طرح مدیریت تلفیقی آفات (IPM1) توزیع شد. بررسی میزان مشارکت در قالب پنج گویه با طیف لیکرت صورت گرفت. داده ­های حاصل با استفاده از نرم ­افزار SPSS مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفتند. در بخش توصیفی از فراوانی و درصد و در بخش استنباطی از ضریب همبستگی اسپیرمن استفاده شد.نتایج و بحث: بررسی میزان مشارکت شالی ­کاران در طرح ­های مدیریت تلفیقی آفت­ های برنج در شهرستان فومن نشان داد که سطح مشارکت شالی­ کاران در طرح بیان شده از دیدگاه آنان در حد متوسط تا خوب بوده است. در نتیجه بیشترین مشارکت­ کنندگان مشارکتی در سطح متوسط داشتند (82/58 درصد). نتایج تحقیق نشان داد که مشارکت شالی­ کاران در طرح­ های مدیریت تلفیقی آفت­ ها به­ جز چند مورد با سایر اثرهای ارائه شده توسط افراد مورد مصاحبه (تیم صاحب ­نظران و مطلعان IPM) همبستگی معناداری در سطح یک درصد دارد. اما از نظر اثرهای اقتصادی، شالی­کاران دیدگاه متفاوتی نسبت به کارشناسان مورد مطالعه داشتند. به اعتقاد شالی­ کاران شهرستان فومن، مشارکت آن­ها با اثرهایی از جمله کاهش هزینه ­های تولید برنج، افزایش تولید برنج و افزایش درآمد و افزایش امکان کشت توأم برنج با دیگر محصولات رابطه ­ی معناداری را نشان نداد.نتیجه ­گیری: طرح­ های پیچیده IPM برای اجرایی شدن نیازمند مشارکت همه ­جانبه کشاورزان است. بررسی تأثیر مشارکت شالی ­کاران شهرستان فومن در اجرای چنین طرح ­هایی و ارزیابی اثرهای مثبت آن­ها توسط کشاورزان بر ادامه ­دار بودن و تقویت طرح­ های بیان شده با تأمین اعتبارات کافی و آموزش مناسب توسط کشاورزان و مسئولان شهرستان تأکید دارد.

Mediterranean fruit fly subplot hot spots prediction by experts' experience

AbstractThe Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is a major pest, infesting hundreds of crop types. Since current field monitoring is mostly manual, understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of pest emergence at the fine scale can optimize precise trap placement and site‐specific treatment activities, also within area wide integrated pest management projects. We carried out a three‐year study in deciduous orchards in Israel, testing for the existence of subplot hot spots in which medfly populations display small‐scale aggregations over consecutive seasons, beyond the expected spatial variability resulting from host type and ripening sequence. medfly population increase in these locations often preceded or was parallel to infestations in surrounding orchards, suggesting that hot spots can provide an important tool for effective prediction and control of pest emergence. We also examined the use of expert knowledge to predict hot spot locations and suggest a methodology for verifying them.

Costs and benefits of a leaf beetle Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program II. Cost-benefit analysis

ABSTRACTForest health and biosecurity programs rarely capture sufficient data to enable thorough cost-benefit analyses to be done. One notable exception has been Forestry Tasmania’s research project to develop and use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for the leaf beetle Paropsisterna bimaculata. For this project we were able to estimate all major costs and benefits in monetary terms for the period 1975–2034, to allow analysis of a ‘control’ and a ‘no control’ option across a full rotation.Overall, the 1975–2034 leaf beetle IPM project provided a net positive return at a 5% discount rate. However, the case study was atypical because research commenced nearly three decades before the IPM program was used operationally in the expanding eucalypt plantation estate. For this reason, the year 1990, when research on the precursor of the operational IPM program commenced, was chosen as the default base year for commencing cash-flow analyses. The present value (in AU$ as at 2015) of the total expenditure between 1990 and 2034 on research to develop the leaf beetle IPM program and on its operational use was $5.4 million, of which nearly 60% was expended on research. The research costs included costs to develop the operational IPM program using conventional insecticides and costs involved in unsuccessful attempts to develop an IPM program using more environmentally friendly control options. When research expenditure was restricted to that needed for developing an IPM program using conventional insecticides, the internal rate of return from the project exceeded 7.5%. Additional timber yields from using the IPM program translated to additional revenues, which resulted in positive cash flows after 2011. The benefit:cost ratio resulting from the operational use of the IPM program (treating research expenditure as sunk costs) was 7.5.The long interval between commencing research, and applying the IPM program operationally once the plantation estate had become established, is not typical of the circumstances relating to future pest threats. Nonetheless, the findings from our study are still relevant to projects involving future pests that may cause similar damage. Another finding of the study was that research needed for future projects to develop an operational pest management program will provide greater benefit if done centrally and the resultant program adopted broadly by as many affected plantation owners as possible.

Farmer Field Schools: Unexpected Outcomes of Gendered Empowerment in Wartime Nepal

<p>This article is the outcome of an empirical study of technical training of women and men through Farmer Field Schools in rural Nepal during the last decade. When the Farmer Field Schools started in Nepal as part of the FAO Integrated Pest Management project in 1997, this was also the year that the Maoists declared the People’s Revolution. The article describes the increased participation of women in FFS and its positive effect on food security of their families. After initial failure of FFS to include gender in its policy and activities, the article discusses the gradual acceptance of gender issues in the training. Empowerment is seen as a developmental process rather than as a product somebody or a group can gain access to or own. Different forms and objectives of empowerment of both women and men are discussed, and the unintended outcomes of FFS intervention in the context of rapid social-economic and political change during the Maoist revolution in Nepal.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Farmer Field Schools, gender, empowerment, Maoist revolution</p>

Integrated Pest Management for Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture in Asia and Africa.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a leading complement and alternative to synthetic pesticides and a form of sustainable intensification with particular importance for tropical smallholders. Global pesticide use has grown over the past 20 years to 3.5 billion kg/year, amounting to a global market worth $45 billion. The external costs of pesticides are $4–$19 (€3–15) per kg of active ingredient applied, suggesting that IPM approaches that result in lower pesticide use will benefit, not only farmers, but also wider environments and human health. Evidence for IPM’s impacts on pesticide use and yields remains patchy. We contribute an evaluation using data from 85 IPM projects from 24 countries of Asia and Africa implemented over the past twenty years. Analysing outcomes on productivity and reliance on pesticides, we find a mean yield increase across projects and crops of 40.9% (SD 72.3), combined with a decline in pesticide use to 30.7% (SD 34.9) compared with baseline. A total of 35 of 115 (30%) crop combinations resulted in a transition to zero pesticide use. We assess successes in four types of IPM projects, and find that at least 50% of pesticide use is not needed in most agroecosystems. Nonetheless, policy support for IPM is relatively rare, counter-interventions from pesticide industry common, and the IPM challenge never done as pests, diseases and weeds evolve and move.

Molecular characterization and periplasmic expression of the nlp gene of Streptomyces cyaneofuscatus UTMC 2101 in Escherichia coli

Necrosis and ethylene-inducing peptide 1 (Nep1) proteins (NLP) are novel bioherbicides with high potential for application in integrated pest management projects. nlp genes are distributed widely among prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms including members of actinomycetes. In this study, using a pair of degenerate primers, the middle fragment of the nlp gene from Streptomyces sp. UTMC 2101 was PCR-amplified, cloned and sequenced. Characterization of the 378-bp DNA fragment obtained confirmed the replacement of a tryptophan (W) with a phenylalanine (F) residue in the conserved heptapeptide motif ‘GHRHDEW’, which indicates that the necrosis-inducing Phytophtorae protein1 (NPP1) domain belongs to type II. Flanking regions of the known fragment of the nlp gene were synthesized by inverse PCR and the full nucleotide coding region of 828 bp, encoding 275 amino acid residues, was obtained. We analyzed expression of recombinant NLP in Escherichia coli by SDS-PAGE and evaluated the bioherbicide activity of the periplasmic fraction against tobacco leaves, confirming the production of soluble recombinant NLP in the periplasm. Phylogenetic identification of Streptomyces sp. UTMC 2101 showed 100 % similarity to Streptomyces cyaneofuscatus (KF381399) in the 16S rRNA gene. Thus, we report the first evidence of expression and activity of NLP from the Streptomyces genus. Our results could be useful for bioherbicide development in E. coli without the need for protein purification.

Farmer Field Schools for Improving Farming Practices and Farmer Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Farmer Field Schools for Improving Farming Practices and Farmer Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Multi-Agency Team Uses University Archival Tool to Conserve Vital Project Information

The Western Cereal Leaf Beetle Team culminated a successful integrated pest management project on the cereal leaf beetle (CLB) by archiving their materials at http://clbarchive.wsu.eduin an open, digital repository hosted by Washington State University (WSU) Research Exchange. This archive enables researchers to store materials under a stable, searchable URL that is found easily by online search engines. Materials stored may be added or removed to maintain relevance, and file formats may be updated as software changes over time. Creative Commons licensing of the archive enables researchers to use these materials freely, with credit given to the authors.

Adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.): A Case Study from Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project was implemented in the cropping season 2006-07 in six villages of Guntur District. Survey was conducted in the six villages and all 150 chilli farmers participating in Crop Life India (CLI) sponsored IPM project were treated as a sample for the study. In the case of sucking pests, 56% of the farmers expressed that mites were an important pest. Among the fruit borers, a majority (83.33%) felt that Spodoptera litura was a serious problem and; among diseases, 56% opined die-back to be the major problem. More than twothirds of the respondents adopted all components of IPM, with the exception of bioagents where adoption was just 46%. 44% felt leaf spot was a major disease. Over 80% adopted border crops, trap crops, scouting techniques and mechanical-control measures. All the respondents followed 10-15 day pre-harvest interval of pesticide application as a measure for obtaining quality produce and better price. Problems of post-harvest pests and diseases were not observed in the case of well-dried chillies.

The importance of forecasting and warning systems in implementation of integrated pest management in apple orchards in Turkey*

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been widely implemented in apple orchards in various regions of Turkey. Between 1995 and 1999, in Central Anatolia and the Aegean Region, apple scab (Venturia inequalis) and codling moth (Cydia pomonella) were key pests, and implementation of pest control was based on forecasting and warning systems. During the project, orchards in which IPM was implemented and in which farmers applied conventional practices were compared. In nine provinces in which IPM projects were carried out in 1999, the damage due to codling moth was 0–1.3% in IPM orchards while it was 0.4–21.8% in nearby non‐IPM orchards. It is clear that damage did not reach the acceptable threshold level of 2% in any of the IPM orchards, while damage was much higher than the threshold in conventionally‐farmed orchards. The number of fungicide applications against apple scab decreased to 5–6 applications from 10–15 applications in the Eğirdir district of the Isparta Province in 1996 as a result of IPM implementation. No insecticides were applied against codling moth in IPM orchards in the Nigde Province in 1998 and 1999 because population levels of the pest were low and under the economic threshold. Apple producers received training and 1200 producers from Central Anatolia became experts in IPM for their own orchards, learning to make appropriate decisions about pest control. The Apple IPM Guideline was prepared and disseminated. In Turkey modern equipment for forecasting and warning systems was employed and, in the last decade, forecasting and warning networks have been improved. Computer‐based systems have increased the speed and accuracy of forecasting as well as decreasing its costs. A computerized national forecasting network in apple orchards now transmits data from the field to system headquarters automatically. The national forecasting network has been expanded and covered 12 208 800 apple trees in 34 provinces in 2006, using 115 electronic forecasting and warning stations.

Symposium Long-term weed management studies in the Pacific Northwest

Abstract The winter wheat production system of the Pacific Northwest is characterized by severe wind and water erosion and winter annual grass weeds requiring high herbicide input. Since 1985, numerous multi- and interdisciplinary, long-term, large-scale, integrated cropping systems studies have been or are currently being conducted. The primary focus of these studies was on weed biology, ecology, and management, whereas secondary evaluations were on alternative cropping systems, conservation tillage, and fertilizer or herbicide inputs. The 6-yr integrated pest management project, conducted in the high-rainfall zone (> 400 mm), showed for the first time that when weeds were adequately managed, conservation production systems were more profitable than conventional systems. In the intermediate rainfall zone (350 to 400 mm), a recently concluded 6-yr, three-state study integrated single-component research results into a multifaceted approach to managing jointed goatgrass. This project has been used as a mode...

The Learning Facilitation Role of Agricultural Extension Workers in the Adoption of Integrated Pest Management by Tropical Fruit Growers in Thailand

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a well-known innovation that accords with modern environmental management "best practice". In this paper it is examined in two related ways. First, attention is focused on the role of Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) as learning facilitators in a non-formal setting. Second, the paper relates the IPM project and the role of AEWs to adult continuing education theory and practice. As contextual background, a recent IPM diffusion project in a region of Thailand, where durian is grown extensively, as a process of innovation adoption is outlined. The research focused on the factors influencing the durian growers to adopt IPM. The sample of 120 durian growers reported on the importance of AEWs in persuading them to give IPM a proper trial. In sum, the intelligent way IPM knowledge was transferred, through the mediating role of AEWs, reflected the current emphasis on collaborative partnerships and learning as an effective means of managing change in complex environments. The paper provides an illustration of the "search for social relevance" theme of adult education from the less well-known field of agricultural extension in rural communities and a developing country.

Changes in pest management practice in almond orchards during the rainy season in California, USA

In California, regulatory agencies are concerned about organophosphate (OP) contamination of surface water. OPs originate in part from applications on dormant almond and stone fruit orchards that are washed off during winter rainstorms. Programs conducted by the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Project, University of California Cooperative Extension, and the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems (BIOS), a coalition of public and private groups, have promoted the replacement of OPs on almonds during the rainy season with alternative practices. Data from individual applicator records from the California Pesticide Use Reports demonstrated that during 1992–1997, almond growers in all nine major almond-producing counties significantly reduced use of OPs. The area of almond orchards treated with OPs during the dormant season was reduced by 40–55%, depending upon the region. Similarly, the percentage of growers who used OPs during the dormant season was reduced by 31–48%, and the mass of OPs applied to almond orchards during the dormant season was reduced by 22–57%. During the same period, there was a significant increase in the percentage of growers who used “reduced-risk” treatments: the microbial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis at bloom-time, oil without an insecticide during the dormant season, and no treatment during the dormant or bloom season. In addition to the decrease in OPs during the dormant season, there was a significant decrease in the area treated with OPs during the growing season. However, there was also a significant increase in the use of pyrethroids during the dormant season, a practice that might result in some surface water and sediment contamination.

Mycotoxin Contamination of Foods in Africa: Antinutritional Factors

Mycotoxins are regulated in foods and feeds because of carcinogenic (aflatoxin), immunotoxic (deoxynivalenol), or environmental estrogenic (zearalenone) properties. In addition to having tumorigenic properties, many mycotoxins are antinutritional factors that cause unthrifty growth and immune suppression in young animals. In the developed world, human exposure, and particularly exposure of children, to dietary mycotoxins is virtually nonexistent because of regulatory standards. In developing countries, monitoring and enforcement of standards is rare, and mycotoxin-susceptible foods are often the primary staples in rather undiversified diets. In sub-Saharan Africa, people are exposed to unsafe levels of various mycotoxins, often in mixtures, and the consequences in terms of public health burden have been ignored. This paper presents information on the health effects that have been attributed to mycotoxin exposure from the medical research literature and data on existing mycotoxin levels in maize in West and Central Africa. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in its Maize Integrated Pest Management Project, has recognized mycotoxins as one of the most important constraints to the goal of improving human health and well-being through agriculture. An overview of various research and development activities at the Institute is given.

Fate of blue-green algae in the food web of flooded rice-field ecosystems

As part of an integrated pest management project to study the role blue-green algae (BGA) may play in the food web of rice-field ecosystems, 14C-labelled filamentous and monocellular BGA were used as food for fish, zooplankton and benthic fauna in artificial rice fields in the form of three aquaria. 14C present in the organisms was then traced by liquid scintillation to follow the manner in which the labelled BGA were consumed by different organisms. In this study the grazing rate of fish (mud carp) was compared to that of benthic organisms and zooplankton. It was found that fish consumed the BGA at the fastest rates and in the largest amounts, followed by the benthic species and zooplankton. It was also found that filamentous BGA were consumed in higher amounts than monocellular BGA. The importance of grazing in nutrient recycling is emphasized.

Diffusion and adoption of farm technologies among resource-limited farmers: Experiences from the ICIPE/UNECA Integrated Pest Management Project in Western Kenya

The ICIPE/UNECA pilot IPM project was implemented in the Oyugis and Kendu Bay areas ofwestern Kenya during 1987 - 1992. One of its objectives was diffusion of proven IPM technologies from farmers participating in the projectto their non-participating neighbours. A survey of 98 non-participating farmers aimed at finding out whether they had adopted any of the IPM technology components that were being implemented by the project farmers was completed in 1992. Whereas nearly two-thirds of the farmers were aware of ICIPE's research work in the project sites, only 30% in Oyugis and 16.7% in Kendu Bay had adopted some IPM technology component. Those farmers adopting components tended to have had contact with the project's technicians and extension workers, and had also visited the IPM crop trials.

Weed Management for Crop Production in the Northwest Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Region

A 9-yr large-scale integrated pest management (IPM) study was initiated in 1985 to develop and refine profitable conservation cropping systems in the Palouse wheat-growing region of the Pacific Northwest. Weed scientists from the USDA-ARS and the land-grant universities of ID and WA led a team of researchers and extension personnel from eight disciplines to investigate the interactions of crop systems, tillage systems, and weed management levels (WML) on crop production. Ineffective weed control has been a major deterrent to the adoption of conservation tillage by wheat growers. With this in mind, the primary focus of the scientists on the IPM project was integrated weed management (IWM) in conservation crop production systems for highly erodible land. For the first time in the Pacific Northwest, systems research developed a conservation production system using a 3-yr crop rotation that controlled weeds effectively, reduced erosion, was less risky than traditional farming systems, and was profitable. Broadleaf weeds were more prevalent in the 3-yr rotation of winter wheat-spring barley-spring pea compared to continuous wheat in both conservation and conventional tillage systems. In conservation tillage, troublesome grass weeds included wild oat and downy brome. Wild oat was controlled effectively at the moderate and maximum weed management levels under conservation tillage in the 3-yr rotation. Two years out of winter wheat (such as in the 3-yr rotation) reduced downy brome populations. In contrast, growing a spring crop 1 yr, followed by 2 yr of winter wheat was not effective for controlling downy brome. Effective weed control was instrumental in developing successful conservation IPM cropping systems, and education and technology transfer were important in helping action agencies assist growers in adopting these systems.