Pesticides Substances that kill or control pests Broad-spectrum Includes insects, rodents, and weeds Allow greater crop yields Can kill or harm organisms other than the intended target Use is regulated by FIFRA Broad-spectrum Kill lots of different species of pest Selective Kill only one species or type of pest

Pesticides Persistent Nonpersistent Do not break down easily Kill organisms longer Remain in the air, soil, or body tissues like fat or bone Nonpersistent Can break down easily Must be applied more often

Pesticides Resistance Pesticide Treadmill Some pests survive exposure to pesticides They pass their resistant genes and traits on to offspring Resistant pest population increases Pesticide Treadmill Stronger pesticides must continually be developed to kill resistant pests

FIFRA Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Established 1947, amended 1972 and 1988 Gives the EPA authority over registering pesticides Restricts the use of pesticides Regulates the sale, transport, disposal and storage of pesticides Requires that harmful effects be made publicly known

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Combines multiple agricultural techniques to control pests and minimize pesticide use Crop rotation Prevents crop-specific pests and diseases Intercropping Uses plants that deter pests Pest-resistant crops Creating habitats for predators of pests Ladybugs, parasitic wasps

Biological Pest Control* Also called biocontrol Involves using natural predators and diseases of pests Ladybugs Parasitic wasps Myxomatosis virus Can be disastrous if not researched properly Mongoose Cane toads

Ecosystem-Based Farming Cattle graze fields and fertilize grass with manure Produce meat and dairy for consumers Poultry eat bugs and other organisms attracted by manure Produce meat and eggs for consumers Manure that collects inside a barn is layered with grass and corncobs Makes food for pigs Breaks down and creates compost for fertilizer Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms p. 283-84 in book