title: Assessing the integrated pest management practices of southeastern US ornamental nursery operations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Southern Nursery Integrated Pest Management (SNIPM) working group surveyed ornamental nursery crop growers in the southeastern United States to determine their pest management practices. Respondents answered questions about monitoring practices for insects, diseases and weeds, prevention techniques, intervention decisions, concerns about IPM and educational opportunities. Survey respondents were categorized into three groups based on IPM knowledge and pest management practices adopted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three groups differed in the use of standardized sampling plans for scouting pests, in monitoring techniques, e.g. sticky cards, phenology and growing degree days, in record-keeping, in the use of spot-spraying and in the number of samples sent to a diagnostic clinic for identification and management recommendation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stronger emphasis is needed on deliberate scouting techniques and tools to monitor pest populations to provide earlier pest detection and greater flexibility of management options. Most respondents thought that IPM was effective and beneficial for both the environment and employees, but had concerns about the ability of natural enemies to control insect pests, and about the availability and effectiveness of alternatives to chemical controls. Research and field demonstration is needed for selecting appropriate natural enemies for augmentative biological control. Two groups utilized cooperative extension almost exclusively, which would be an avenue for educating those respondents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Mills River, NC, USA. Anthony_LeBude@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: Anthony V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: LeBude
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Amy F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Fulcher
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Klingeman Iii
authors.forename: Juang-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Chappell
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Windham
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Braman
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.forename: Winston
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dunwell
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams-Woodward
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ivors
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adkins
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neal
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007300:Insect Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015144:Southeastern United States; D014197:Trees / Q000469:parasitology*; D000078329:Workforce