1. Pest Management for NRCS Conservation Planning Barbara Stewart, State Agronomist, NRCS

2. NRCS Pest Management Policy Addresses environmental risk associated with pesticide use when implementing Conservation plans to address all resource concerns. Minimize negative impacts of pest mgmt activities on natural resources.

5. Pest Management Plan NRCS roles in pest management are: –Evaluating pest management environmental risk; –Developing appropriate mitigation alternatives; –Assisting clients to adopt IPM; –Assisting clients to develop the pest management component of their overall conservation plan.

6. Partnerships NRCS does not make Pesticide Recommendations. –ISU Extension –Crop Consultants –Agricultural Chemical Dealers, Suppliers –Anyone who influences recommendations When Pesticides are used Environmental Risk Analysis is to be completed.

7. Environmental Risk Analysis Windows Pesticide Screening Tool –WIN-PST 3 is used to evaluate: site-specific soils probable pesticide recommendations –WIN-PST 3 provides: Soil/Pesticide Loss Ratings –the potential to move offsite Soil/Pesticide Hazard Ratings –offsite movement potential combined with exposure adjusted toxicity rating

8. Soil RatingPesticide Rating Interaction Rating Exposure Adjusted Toxicity Rating WIN-PST Hazard Rating

10. Environmental Risk Analysis WIN-PST only provides risk estimates for pesticide losses in water that moves: beyond the edge of the field. below the bottom of the root zone.

11. WIN-PST Hazard Ratings For identified resource concerns, mitigation is NOT needed when WIN-PST hazard ratings are: VERY LOW LOW However, IPM (where available) is always required for an RMS.

12. WIN-PST Hazard Ratings INTERMEDIATE - calls for moderate level of mitigation. –Utilize intermediate level of practices and management techniques. HIGH - calls for extensive mitigation. –Utilize high level of practices and management techniques.

13. WIN-PST Hazard Ratings EXTRA HIGH - last resort alternative. –Applicable only if there are no viable alternatives - all available mitigation practices and management techniques must be utilized. –Even with mitigation, this pesticide may still exceed its toxicity threshold and negatively impact identified resource concerns.

14. Mitigating Pesticide Environmental Risk: Mitigation –The process of minimizing the potential for harmful impacts of pest management activities on soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources through the application of conservation practices and/or management techniques. Mitigation Techniques Management Techniques –Pesticide application method, rate and timing, etc. Conservation Practices –Residue Management, Filter Strip, Irrigation Water Management, etc.

15. Basic Mitigation Categories:  Reduce quantity of pesticide applied.  Utilize less hazardous pesticides.  Prevent pesticide from moving away from its point of efficacy (in field).  Prevent pesticide from leaving the field (bottom of root zone - edge of field).

16. Minimum Pest Plan Requirements Plan Map and soil map Location of sensitive resources and setbacks IPM practices planned –ID targeted pests –Timely scouting pest infestation and crop conditions –Economic thresholds –Assess effects of present pest management and evaluate alternatives

17. Plan Requirements Cont. If chemical control is used then environmental risk analysis WIN-PST If hazard rating Intermediate, High or Very High mitigation measures must be implemented and identified in pest management plan

18. More Information Pest Mgmt Standard (595) Revised Oct 03 Technical Note Agronomy #26 http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov CCE Certified Software - WIN-PST 3 http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/pestmgt/