Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
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Reducing Pesticides in Minnesota Schools: September 2001
Routine pesticide use is typical in schools across the country. Many parents and educators are concerned about pesticide use in schools because of potential health effects, including cancer, neurological effects, and birth defects.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an alternative approach to controlling pests using the most appropriate and least hazardous techniques. Preventing pest infestations in the first place is stressed.
The main elements of a good IPM program are:
- Monitoring to establish whether there is a pest problem
- Identifying the causes of the pest problem
- Addressing the causes by changing conditions to prevent problems
- Utilizing pest suppression techniques, if necessary, that are based on mechanical and biological controls.
IPM recognizes that pests need food, water, and shelter to survive and uses controls that cause the least possible harm to people and the environment. Pesticides are used only as a last resort, when other methods fail, and care is taken to choose the least-toxic alternative.
Reducing pesticides in Minnesota schools
In Minnesota, the Janet B. Johnson Parent's Right to Know Act of 2000 requires that parents be notified when pesticides are used in schools.
Reducing Pesticides in Minnesota Schools was a two-year pilot project initiated by the nonprofit Saint Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium (NEC) in partnership with Advocates for Better Health and Environment and four Minnesota schools to determine whether an effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is feasible in Minnesota schools.
The study showed that it is feasible to implement IPM without incurring additional costs and that any school can have a successful IPM program, with a little bit of technical assistance and the commitment to make changes.
Participating schools
- Lincoln Elementary, Faribault
- Sibley Elementary, Northfield
- Como Park Senior High, St. Paul
- Randolph Heights Elementary, St. Paul
Resources and information
The study's final report and appendices provide details for implementing an IPM program in a school. These resources are good for school managers, maintenance personnel, and pesticide applicators, as well as teachers and parents.
Final report (170Kb)Additional resources
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
For information about IPM and training, contact Jeanne Ciborowski <jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us>, 651-201-6217, or visit www.mda.state.mn.us/ipm/ipminschools.html.
- Information sheets, including an overview of IPM, and pest-specific fact sheets for insects, weeds, plant diseases and rodents.
- Pest Patrol, student activity booklet and teacher guide (3rd grade level, meets Minnesota graduation standards).
- Minnesota K-12 Schools Pest Management Practices Survey (December 1999)
- Developing an IPM Policy Statement for Your School District
Other Minnesota resources and contacts
- University of Minnesota Extension Service, Community and School IPM, www.extension.umn.edu/pesticides/IPM/ipmhome.htm, Dean Herzfeld, 612-624-3477
- Minnesota Department of Education, Searchable Database for Toxicity Categories and Pesticide Products, http://app.education.state.mn.us/HealthAndSafety/Pesticide.do.
- Minnesota Department of Health, Model Pesticide Notices and Memorandum to Schools, www.health.state.mn.us/divs/ eh/pesticide/notices/index.html Chuck Stroebel, 651-201-4927
General resources
- California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Pesticide Regulation, School IPM Program, www.cdpr.ca.gov/cfdocs/apps/schoolipm/main.cfm.
- IPM Institute of North America, School IPM, www.ipminstitute.org/school.htm.
- Purdue University, IPM Technical Resource Center, School IPM Hot Line 1-877-668-8476 www.entm.purdue.edu/entomology/outreach/schoolipm/.
- University of Florida, IPM in Schools, http://schoolipm.ifas.ufl.edu
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has its own pages for IPM (www.epa.gov/pesticides/food/ipm.htm) and IPM in Schools (www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/)
Healthy schools
- Healthy Schools Network, Inc., www.healthyschools.org.
- Minnesota Department of Health, Healthy Children Healthy Schools newsletter, www.health.state.mn.us/divs/ fh/mch/CAREweb/care-pub.html#newsletter.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tools for Schools Program, www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/index.html.
