Using National Agricultural Statistics Service pest management practices survey to assess IPM adoption in California

Abstract Data from the pest management practices survey conducted annually by the National Agriculture Statistics Service were used to estimate the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) in California. Surveys indicate 75% or greater use rates by acreage of 11 pest management practices in vegetable crop production in 2022 and 7 pest management practices in fruit and nut crop production in 2021. Agronomic crops have fewer pest management practices used on 75% or more of the acreage, with 4 in cotton in 2019, 6 in rice in 2021, 4 in wheat in 2022, and none in barley in 2019. Scouting for diseases, insects and mites, and weeds is the most widely used pest management practice in all the crops. Differences between use rates measured by acreage and use rates measured by farming operations suggest that large and small operations use different pest management practices. Trends indicate flat to increasing use of many pest management practices in general but decreasing use of some pest management practices in small grain crops. Changes in pest management practices and use rates are influenced by many factors, including University of California IPM efforts, changes in pesticide regulations, changes in crop production practices, and consumer pressures. The information from these surveys will support the development of Extension IPM outreach materials by the University of California Statewide IPM Program.