Physical controls such as trapping and collection can be utilized, but traps are expensive and collecting is labor intensive. Finally, interference with pest development and behavior is possible by use of juvenile hormones, sterilization and other complex species-specific methods. Perhaps IPM will replace heavy reliance on chemical pesticides as farmers and consumers become more aware of the deleterious impact pesticides have had on human and animal health. Thus far efforts to reduce the risk of crop failure, via pesticide application may have created more risks than they have eliminated. Reducing Risk Through Pest Control Both insects and weeds jeopardize crop success.
Various insects consume specific crops while weeds compete with crops for space, sunlight and water.
Consequently, a rationalized approach to agriculture must entail methods to neutralize these risk factors. When World War II ended, manufacturers found several ways to make use of wartime chemical supplies, one of which was to develop herbicides and insecticides from toxic chemicals and market them to farmers. Since 1945, pesticide use has increased 3,300 percent while crop loss from insect damage has increased 20 percent. Globally, the sale of pesticides has become a 25 billion dollar market. Rationalizing a form of production that centers around living organisms is not easy.