An American Farm Bureau Federation study indicates that chemical applications to farm fields declined almost 25 percent between 1982 and 1990. Farm Bureau instituted a pesticide use study to determine the actual quantity of certain chemicals that is applied to crops. Preliminary data indicate a far smaller amount of chemicals is applied than was estimated by scientists and regulators. Chemicals are not cheap and farmers tend to apply them only when necessary. Money, however, is not the only factor.
Insect resistivity continues to pose problems.
Some estimates are that IPM could reduce pesticide use by 75 percent. And it's catching on. Surveys indicate that 90 percent of the growers in Far West Texas, around El Paso, and many other farmers across the state now use some form of IPM in their farming operation. Now, we're realizing how important it is to understand and identify beneficial insects. The idea here is to rely on biological controls, such as predator or parasitic insects that are the natural enemies of pests when possible.