"Integrated Pest Mangement (IPM) is an ecological approach to pest control, based upon sound biological knowledge and principles.  IPM has also been defined as the intelligent selection and use of pest control actions that will ensure favorable economic, ecological and sociological consequences....

 "IPM combines cultural, chemical, and biological control strategies together to develop a broad-based approach to controlling the most economically threatening pests.... Pesticides are used in IPM programs, tempered by their compatibility with other control measures and their consistency with IPM philosophy.  Though most programs experience a decreae in spray applications, participation in IPM does not always result in less pesticide use. Pesticide recommendations are based upon monitoring techniques that more accurately estimate current pest pressures, and in some cases, dictate an above averge number of applications.

 "....Economic concepts are an integral part of the philosophy of IPM. Control options must be justified on an economic basis, i.e. the cost of enacting control efforts are worth the benefits derived from these measures. Examples of benefits to the grower would include increased berry quantity and quality, healthy and productive vines, and less money spent on pesticides.
 "....The economic threshold is a central concept in IPM philosophy.  Economic Threshold (ET) is defined as 'the density at which control measures should be applied to prevent an increasing pest population from reaching the economic injury level.' The underlying reasoning is to show that the mere presence of a pest population does not always indicate an economically damaging situation....

 "....Since many pest control measures have social and environmental impacts in addition to economic ones, benefit/risk and benefit/cost ratios are considered to determine the value of a particular control measure.  The benefit/cost ratio must indicate that the additional costs involved for pest management are less than or equal to the added benefits....The benefit/risk ratio weighs the social economics of pest management.

 "....Applying an integrated scheme for the control of the various pests and diseases that curtail maximum productivity for cranberry growers is economically viable.  By utilizing various control measures, as well as incorporating scouting and monitoring techniques, a grower may be able to reduce the chance of significant crop loss from insect and weed pests and from infection by plant pathogens.  Scouting for insects using sweep nets, timing insecticide sprays through the use of pheremone traps, maintaining proper sanititation, judicious use of irrigation, planting resistant varieties, and various cultural techniques are examples of the components found in an integrated management program for cranberries.

 "A typical cranberry IPM program may consist of: sweep net sampling for 6-10 weeks; use of pheremone traps for Sparganothis fruitworm, cranberry girdler, and black-headed fireworm moths to aid in the timing of insecticide sprays; inspection of berries in July-August for cranberry fruitworm eggs; fertilizer recommendations based on soil and plant tissue analysis; determination of crop phenology (percent out-of-bloom) for timing cranberry fruitworm sprays; yield estimates; and mapping of weeds.  IPM consultants and growers usually converse weekly to discuss management strategies.

 "....Pest management implies more than the application of chemicals at the appropriate time.  Knowledge of the pest's life cycle, symptoms, as well as the conditions that predispose the plant to infection or infestation contribute to effective management of cranberry pest problems.  Implementing cultural practices, such as trash removal, sanding, or improving bog drainage, offer the opportunity to broaden the baseline defense against crop loss due to pest pressures."

Alternatives to chemical pesticides in cranberry IPM programs include:
Biological control agents:
 - B.t.-based products (containing the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis) are specific to and control many species of caterpillars.
 - Nematode worms control several pests that live in soil and feed on cranberry roots and runners.
Cultural control options:
 - Late spring reflooding reduces weeds and suppresses certain insect populations.
 - Sanding at regular intervals not only increases vine growth, but also reduces some insect infestations.
 - Pruning improves aeration and reduces fruit rot infection
 - Removing leaf trash and improving drainage helps to reduce pests

IPM LINKS
UMass IPM:  http://www.umass.edu/umext/programs/agro/ipm
Massachusetts IPM Guidelines:  http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ipmnet/ma/index.html