Community Education > IPM Guidelines: Potato

Introduction
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a systematic approach to pest management that considers all factors affecting crop health, including plant nutrition, horticultural practices, and all suitable means of pest suppression. IPM programs are based on information obtained by sampling and monitoring, and this information is used to make management decisions. Pest management tactics may include biological, chemical, mechanical, and cultural methods. An IPM program for a given crop will include some essential elements, but some practices will not be appropriate in all situations: designing a farm-specific IPM program requires flexibility.

The Massachusetts IPM Guidelines are a list of best management practices, developed cooperatively by growers, university faculty and extension specialists, and private IPM consultants. Additional input was solicited from commodity associations and participants in IPM verification programs and IPM courses. Practices have been evaluated for their practicality and assigned points based on their importance to IPM and/or their difficulty. The guidelines for most crops have been tested and adjusted through the USDA Farm Service Agency ICM cost-share program and through the Partners with Nature program. While these guidelines represent the best management options currently available, they will evolve as new IPM technologies are developed.

IPM Guidelines can be used in a number of ways: 1.) As a checklist for farmers to evaluate their on-farm pest management programs and identify areas where management can be improved; 2.) To verify and document that IPM is practiced on the farm; 3.) As an educational tool which describes the scope and complexity of IPM to farmers, government officials, community groups and the general public.

Definitions
The followings terms are used in calculating points in the IPM guidelines:

Category or Grand Total Practice Points
Refers to the sum of all possible practice points described within a category or individual crop guideline. For example, if a grower used every practice in the guideline, all points would apply.

Adjusted Category or Grand Total Practice Points
Refers to the sum of all practice points appropriate for the crop, within a category or guideline. Because some practices may not apply to the site being assessed, the points associated with that practice may be deducted from the Total Practice Points. Such practices are marked with an asterisk (*) within each guideline.

Bonus Points
Refers to points associated with practices which are of potential value to an IPM system, and are worthy of trial, but are experimental or require exceptional effort. Point values associated with these practices do not contribute to the Total Practice Points but, if the practice is completed, the points are added when calculating Grand Total Practice Points. Bonus points are labeled as such within the guidelines.

Potato

by Dave N. Ferro, Craig S. Hollingsworth, Ruth V. Hazard, John C. Howell, Rob L. Wick, and A. Richard Bonnano

1. 1. Crop rotation is practiced as follows:
   • Field has not been planted to potatoes for two previous years; 20 pts OR
   • Field has not been planted to potatoes in the previous year. 15 pts
2. Fields have been evaluated with an appropriate soil test for nutrient status and pH
   within one year. 20 pts
3. Organic matter status has been tested within three years. 10 pts
4. Fertilizer is applied in accordance with soil test results and expected uptake of
   nutrients, accounting for additional nitrogen supplied by organic matter, compost
   and cover crops. Expected nutrient uptake is determined from the New England
   Vegetable Management Guide. 15 pts
5. Nitrogen fertilizer is applied by split application. Some is applied through the
   planter at planting, and some at cultivation or as a side dress. 10 pts
6. This year's crop was preceded by a winter cover crop. 10 pts
7. If the cover crop was a legume or legume/grass mix, its nitrogen contribution was
   calculated and fertilizer for this year's crop was adjusted appropriately. *10 pts
8. A trial plot is maintained to test one of the following: organic sources of nutrients
   (e.g., compost, legume cover crops, or soil organic matter), reduced rates of
   fertilizer, or use of the pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT) to determine rates of
   sidedressed N. The methods and results are recorded. Bonus: 10 pts

Category Total 95 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. Pesticide application equipment is calibrated at the start of the season and the
   procedure is recorded. 10 pts
2. Calibration is checked at least once during the season and equipment is recalibrated
   as needed. 5 pts
3. Records of pesticide applications are maintained and organized. 10 pts
4. Records of planting dates and stage of crop of treated fields are maintained. 5 pts
5. Water-sensitive spray cards have been used to test the coverage of leaf surfaces in
   this crop within the past five years, using current pesticide application equipment. 10 pts

Category Total 40 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. Certified virus-free seed is planted. 10 pts
2. Sanitation is practiced by properly disposing of cull piles (burial or composting) and
   by removing volunteer potato plants. 15 pts
3. Fungicide application intervals for early blight and late blight are based on potential
   for disease severity due to weather conditions and crop physiological age, e.g. by
   using BLITECAST forecasting system. 10 pts
4. Fields are monitored for diseases including late blight and results are recorded. 15 pts
5. Diseases are accurately identified by the farmer, consultant or diagnostic laboratory. 10 pts

Category Total 60 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. Colorado potato beetle (CPB) densities are monitored weekly by scouting 25 to 50
   plants per field. 15 pts
2. Application of insecticides for CPB corresponds to action thresholds specified in the
   New England Vegetable Management Guide. 10 pts
3. Insecticide resistance management is practiced as follows:
   • The same synthetic insecticide is not applied more than once per season. 10 pts OR
   • The same synthetic insecticide is not applied to the same generation of
     the CPB. 5 pts
4. CPB egg masses are flagged at the beginning of each CPB generation to determine
   egg hatch and proper timing of microbial insecticides. 5 pts
5. If imidacloprid is used, its use is limited to the following resistance management
   approach (Maximum 20 pts):
   • Whole-field soil-applied systemic (Admire) application is limited to
     non-rotated fields and is applied no more than once every two years in
     the same field. Foliar application is not made where systemic application
     was made. *10 pts
   • Foliar application (Provado) is limited to one generation of CPB
     (overwintered or summer adults) per season. Foliar application is not
     made where systemic application was made. *10 pts OR
   • Soil application is made as a perimeter treatment to outer six rows or
     20" in non-rotated fields or adjacent to fields previously planted to potato. *10 pts
   • If soil perimeter application is used, foliar application is not made in
     the same year. *10 pts
6. Microbial insecticides (such as Bt) are used at least once per generation for control
   of CPB. 15 pts
7. Non-chemical Colorado potato beetle control methods are employed, such as
   propane flaming, delayed planting, or disruption of movement from
   overwintering sites. 10 pts
8. If transgenic-Bt plants are used, at least 20% of field is planted to a non-transgenic
   crop, and CPB are managed based on UMass Extension action thresholds. *10 pts
9. Aphid densities are monitored weekly by examining 50 leaves per week. Aphid
   species are identified and insecticides are selected which will best control the
   species present. Application of insecticides for aphids corresponds to action
   thresholds specified in the New England Vegetable Management Guide. 10 pts
10. Potato leafhopper densities are monitored by examining 50 leaves per week.
    Application of insecticides for potato leafhopper correspond to action thresholds
    specified in the New England Vegetable Management Guide. 10 pts

Category Total 115 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. 1. This year's fields were scouted for weeds in the previous year, at mid- to late
   season. Weeds were identified and mapped. This information was used in the
   current weed management program. 10 pts
2. 2. Weed management includes one or more of the following:
   • Herbicide use is supplemented by at least one cultivation or hand weeding; 5 pts
   • Herbicide rates are reduced through banding of herbicides & cultivation; 10 pts
   • No herbicides are applied and weeds are controlled through cultivation. 15 pts
   • Herbicide rates are reduced by delaying application until, or after,
     crop emergence. Bonus: 5 pts
3. Weeds in fields, alleys and roadways are prevented from going to seed. 10 pts
4. Fields are scouted in midseason for weeds. Location and species of uncontrolled
   weeds are mapped and the information is used in planning for next year. 10 pts
5. Outbreaks of new or problem weed species are controlled, using chemical or
   non-chemical means, to prevent spreading or seed production. 10 pts
6. A trial plot is maintained to test a different weed management technique. The
   methods and results are recorded. Bonus: 10 pts

Category Total 70 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

1. Manager has a current copy of the New England Vegetable Management Guide. 5 pts
2. Manager attends one or more state/regional/national Extension vegetable training
   session during the current year. 5 pts
3. Manager subscribes to the UMass Extension Vegetable Notes & IPM Message. 5 pts

Category Total 15 pts
Adjusted Total ______ pts

Grand Total 395 pts
Adjusted Grand Total ______ pts
Percentage of adjusted total %

Selected IPM Articles:
Education and Certification Report FY 1999
Education and Certification Report FY 2000
Adoption of IPM Systems
Sweet Corn IPM Adoption
IPM in Massachusetts Public Schools
Partners with Nature - History
IPM for Bedding Plants - 1996 Survey
Massachusetts IPM Guidelines
Introduction & Acknowledgements
Apple
Cole Crops
Cranberry
Pepper
Potato
Pumpkin & Squash
Strawberry
Sweetcorn
Field Tomato
Greenhouse Tomato
Highbush Blueberry
Pointsettia
Raspberry
Wine Grape