This website provides news, contacts, and outreach publications from the plant science departments of the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, timely resource for Wisconsin people seeking cropping systems information and educational resources. 

The Integrated Crop and Pest Management (IPCM) website features contributions from a broad spectrum of UW Cooperative Extension and CALS faculty, staff, and programs from departments including Horticulture, Agronomy, Entomology, Soil Science, and Plant Pathology.   This site hosts the Wisconsin Crop Manager in an easily searchable format.  See the Publications section to download NPM publications and many other print resources from related plant science programs.

The UW Integrated Pest and Crop Management (IPCM) name began being used in November 1999 when four related UW Extension/CALS programs organized a joint Advisory Committee.    The IPCM programs work cooperatively to address critical issues regarding pest management, pesticide use, and nutrient management by Wisconsin farmers and landowners.

Presently, Wisconsin’s allied IPCM programs include:

• NPM – Nutrient and Pest Management
• IPM – Integrated Pest Management
• PAT – Pesticide Applicator Training
• IR-4 – Wisconsin’s working group of the Interregional 4 Project

The IPCM programs predominately work on agricultural and environmental issues.  The NPM program began with a water quality emphasis, particularly groundwater contamination by nitrates or pesticides from field applications. IPM works to solve specific crop and pest problems with IPM methods.    The Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) program is more specific, providing education leading to certification of pesticide applicators ranging from private farmers to commercial applicators in urban areas.  

The programs are interdisciplinary, working to bring expertise from university departments (agronomy, soil science, entomology, plant pathology, economics, horticulture, and rural sociology) to bear on local issues. 

These issues have included:

(a) Improving crop nutrient practices to reduce agricultural nonpoint source pollution, 

(b) Adopting profitable strategies for pest management,

(c) Validating or adapting scientific recommendations in complex farming systems,  and

(d) Advancing ecologically sustainable production systems. 

(e) The programs also cooperate with the state’s agricultural and natural resource agencies to provide valuable education that prepares farmers and farm advisors for pending regulations and incentive programs.

The IPCM programs deliver a broad spectrum of outreach programs, collaborate on research, and produce outreach publications and complementary materials.  For information about their activities, contact the Program Manager or see an Annual Report on this website.

• NPM, Scott Sturgul, Program Manager, Annual report.-2007  http://ipcm.wisc.edu/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=MnveLup1vyA%3d&tabid=61&mid=586
• IPM: Bryan Jensen, Program Manager
• PAT: Roger Flashinski, Program Manager
• IR-4: Scott Chapman and Dan Heider, Researcher and Outreach Specialist

Integrated Crop and Pest Management Advisory Group

The IPCM Advisory Group consults with the Wisconsin NPM, IPM, PAT, and IR-4 programs on issues of agriculture and the environment. The Advisory Group fosters cooperative efforts by its members and this university outreach and research programs to address critical issues regarding pest management, pesticide use, and nutrient management by Wisconsin farmers and landowners.

The function of the Advisory Group is to assess the present situation and identify problems, to assist in formulating solutions, and to find resources to carry them out.  The Advisory Group members work as a sounding board as well as providing the program Directors and staff with creative solutions and insights.  The members provide additional expertise and information in areas needed by the programs.

The members share common interests in the issues but have different perspectives.  The members link the programs to CALS Departments and reseach, to related state and federal programs, and to several significant state agricultural organizations.  In addition, the Associate Dean for Agriculture and Natural Resources is invited to all meetings.

The Advisory Group meets twice a year (early fall and spring) and is jointly led by campus and off campus Chairs. The present members are listed in the Contacts section of this website.