Community IPM decreases risks from pests and pest management practices in urban, siburban and rural communities.

New Yorkers are demanding a safe environment for where they live work and play, and pesticide-restrictive legislation is affecting many communities. To address these concerns, risks from both pests and the methods used to control them must be considered. For example, parents want children to be safe from stinging insects but the public doesn't want pesticides used in schools. Similar examples can be drawn from parks, golf courses, homes, municipalities, hospitals and office buildings. Professional pest managers are willing to use lower-risk alternatives to pesticides, or to minimize their pesticide use-if methods are proven effective. However, research to discover and develop these techniques, and extension to train managers are needed for change to occur. At the same time, the general public needs to learn more about environmentally-friendly options for managing pests. This knowledge is used for decisions such as preventing and managing pest problems at home; selecting a lawn care service; choosing food products in the grocery store; and forming opinions about farmers in the community.

The Community IPM effort was initiated in the mid-1990s to extend the NYS IPM Program's successful work of minimizing negative effects of pests and pest control methods on human health and the environment, to non-agricultural settings. Settings include schools, homes, offices, parks and golf courses. Teaching alternative practices that are effective and economically feasible is a major thrust of Community IPM. The extension programming draws from science-based information developed at Cornell and elsewhere. We train school personnel IPM ways to manage school buildings and grounds, and how to comply with the state's 48-hour pre-notification law. Golf course superintendents, lawn care professionals, landscapers, and structural pest control operators are also being trained. Supporting this effort are research projects that compare golf course management strategies (including traditional, IPM and nonchemical approaches), investigate alternative strategies for managing school grounds, and develop non-toxic ways to handle stinging insect problems. Finally, the general public is the target of efforts to raise general awareness of IPM, and specific IPM practices for the home. To this end, we have produced 9 brochures and 22 public service announcements, and provide information on our website.

We trained employees from 125 school districts, and distributed our IPM Workbook for NYS schools to all 702 school districts in NY. We helped schools solve specific problems with mice, ants, lice, stinging insects, weeds and more-and taught them how to handle the problem themselves next time. We partnered with state agencies to conduct a comprehensive survey of pest management practices in schools. Results help us target current extension and research activities, and provide a baseline to assess future progress. For pest management in municipal settings, we created and distributed IPM for Municipal Buildings, a manual and educational CD. We assisted facilities managers in less-toxic ways to manage pest problems in office buildings, jails, athletic fields, golf courses and a county farm. The state's turfgrass industry has greatly benefited from the IPM Program, with over 20 IPM training opportunities available annually. Golf course research showed that IPM putting greens could be maintained with 30-54% fewer pesticide applications, and up to 85% less environmental impact, than conventionally managed greens. We provided turf managers with alternative techniques, and strongly influenced management of the NY's 3.5 million acres of turf. Homeowner general awareness of IPM has increased, as shown by surveys in the last 20 years. With 9 brochures, one booklet, and 22 public service announcements, we further encourage them to adopt IPM techniques at home.

• Other USDA (e.g., Water Quality, Special Grants, NRI)
• Private/Other (e.g., unrestricted funds, commodity groups, foundations, companies)
• State funding

• Lynn Braband
• Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann
• Gary Couch
• Claudia Coen
• Carrie Koplinka-Loehr
• Mary Woodsen
• Frank Rossi
• Joyce Rodler
• Brian Eshenaur
• Walt Nelson