Seven IPM Steps

Knowledge of past pest occurrence, locations (“hot spots”), and management practices are essential as past problems are likely to recur or continue without intervention. The winter months are a valuable time for reviewing pest issues from the previous season, by asking questions such as:

• Can environmental conditions be modified to reduce pest pressure? For example, can trees be removed around a putting green to increase airflow and reduce disease incidence and severity?
• Can traffic be routed to reduce stress? For example, can cart or walking paths be moved to diffuse walk-off areas on a putting green?
• Were monitoring procedures adequate to detect pests early? For example, should pitfall traps be installed to monitor for early season annual bluegrass weevil migration?
• Can pest-resistant grass cultivars be overseeded on any area of the course? For example, a cultivar such as Memorial, a dollar spot resistant cultivar of bentgrass, can be used to overseed putting greens.
• Are cultural practices adequate for minimizing pest problems? For example, would more frequent topdressing decrease anthracnose pressure?
• Have suppliers of new or hard to find products or equipment been identified in order to be prepared to react quickly to a pest outbreak? For example, where can entomopathogenic nematodes for grub control be obtained if needed and desired?

Part of planning is also being aware of new pests. Educational meetings, trade journals, blogs, listserves, and contact with other superintendents and local cooperative extension personnel are usually the best avenues for being alerted. Once a threat is identified, a superintendent should plan how to prevent, monitor, and manage the new pest.

Whenever possible, the pest pressure should be quantified with measurements such as:

• number of insects per unit area
• disease patch sizes
• percent area affected

Qualitative descriptors such as “high”, “low”, or “very bad” are subjective and difficult to calibrate and track change over time. Photographs also provide excellent documentation and can be used for identification and training.

Once detected, pests must be properly identified and documented, including mapping on an area map and recording the date of the outbreak. This information can be used to build a database for reference in future seasons. Superintendents and staff should continually hone and improve skills by attending training seminars and field days, obtaining reference materials, and providing peer-peer training on problems occurring on the course. Golf course personnel should also know where to send photos or samples when additional expertise is warranted for identification or confirmation.

Soap flushes are a useful monitoring technique. The soap irritates many insects and causes them move out of the thatch and lower plant parts to the tips of grass blades for easier detection and counting. This technique is especially useful for monitoring. Source: Jennifer Grant.

Soil cores removed with cup cutters can be searched quickly and easily for the presence of white grubs. The grubs can also be identified for species and life stage. Source: Curt Petzoldt.

 
Recommended diagnostic laboratory locations include:

• Cornell Cooperative Extension County office (diagnostic labs available in limited locations), http://www.cce.cornell.edu/learnAbout/Pages/Local_Offices.aspx
• Cornell University Insect Diagnostic Laboratory, http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu/
• Cornell University Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic, http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/
• Rutgers University Plant Diagnostic Laboratory, http://njaes.rutgers.edu/plantdiagnosticlab/default.asp

To avoid unacceptable damage or loss, the IPM method relies on an integrated approach using multiple cultural, mechanical, and biological management methods. Using the IPM approach, chemical control is reserved as a last option used only when other methods are insufficient for maintaining acceptable turfgrass quality and playability.

When chemical control is warranted, evaluation and analysis (Step 4) often allows for early intervention, which may result in the use of lower toxicity treatments and spot treatment rather than whole area treatments. An IPM practitioner considers all approaches and selects the least disruptive, but effective, option.

IPM Record Keeping

Photographs are useful for documenting pest occurrence and damage, and can be compared against past and future photos. Source: Jennifer Grant.

 
Ways to simplify documentation and integration of IPM methods with other aspects of course management include the following:

• Integrate scouting records with mandatory pesticide application records.
• Encourage all staff to report pest sightings and have a convenient method for tracking and sharing this information.
• Use electronic records rather than hand-written records.
• Encourage staff use of tablets and phones for sending data and photos to a central location.
• Use Cornell’s TracGolf software program (http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/trac/about/about_golf.asp)
• Emphasize scouting records and other IPM information as part of staff training, meetings, and daily communications.

Communication to golfers, members, administrators, and neighbors is also important. Communicating with these stakeholders lessens the chance of surprises and conflicts and increases recognition of the superintendent and staff as trained professionals that care about protecting the environment. Explaining the IPM approach in personal communications, promotional literature, club newsletters, blogs, and websites helps to advance these goals.