Integrated pest management - Assignment Example

Integrated Pest Management Word Count: 547 Integrated Pest Management Introduction Pests are a major concern in all types of agriculture, especially in the present world where there is stringent environmental and food laws. They are potential cause for farm revenue losses, product contamination as well as store damage. Pigeons are common pest and usually nest in grain stores where they can cause a lot of damage to stored grains. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides cost effective approach through which pigeons can be kept off a grocery store.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)Integrated pest management is an effective pest control method that is environmentally friendly and is mainly driven by common-sense practices (Flint, 2012).). IPM makes use of the information about the interaction of pests with their environment as well as their life cycles. The information obtained about the life cycle of a given pest and how it relates with its surroundings is integrated with common pest control approaches to achieve an economical pest control approach that is friendly to both the environment and human life (Radcliffe, Hutchison & Cancelado, 2008).

Pigeon Control Using Integrated Pest ManagementGrains are the main food for pigeons and people will usually feed pigeons unknowingly by spilling food or grains inside or around grocery stores. These pests usually roost in high areas and often nest in steeples and vents within buildings as well as any other protected region. An integrated pest management plan provides four fundamental stages for effectively controlling pigeon infestation of grocery store. Based on IPM pest management approach, a person will set an action threshold, monitor and identify pests, install prevention, and implement control measures if the prevention technique fails (Koul, Cuperus & C.A.B.

International, 2007).Pigeons can cause damage and disease through droppings, which can cause human injuries through slips and fall and also increase the rate at which grain structures wear out. An economic danger becomes evident where one observes vast quantity of droppings, flocks of pigeons within or around the store. After identifying the economic threat in annual infestation by pigeons, the owner of the store can thus implement prevention measures to discourage the pigeons from coming back to the store.

The owner of the store should work on making roosting as well as nesting areas for pigeons inhospitable. The store owner can fill the vents or voids from which the pigeons access the store. He or she can make comfortable pigeon resting areas stay in a slanting position so that they have difficult time perching on them. Also, balloons and scarecrows, including plastic predator birds or snakes, can be used to keep away the birds, though this does not provide a long term-solution. The pigeons can also be kept away from the store by starving them.

This is achieved by ensuring that there is absolutely no fallen food or grains inside or around the grocery store. Pigeon feeding should be discouraged at all costs within or around the store area.Conclusion Pigeons can be a menace to grocery store owners. They can cause diseases and damage t stores and stored products. The most effective way of keeping the bird off the store is complete elimination of their food supply by ensuring no spilt grains or foods within or around the store. IPM is human an environment friendly ad a cheap way of pest control.

ReferencesFlint, M. L. (2012). IPM in practice: Principles and methods of integrated pest management, 2nd Ed. Oakland, California: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.Koul, O., Cuperus, G. W., & C.A.B. International. (2007). Ecologically-based integrated pest management. Wallingford: CABI.Radcliffe, E. B., Hutchison, W. D., & Cancelado, R. E. (2008). Integrated pest management. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.