| The purpose of this study was to assess the adoption response of cotton growers to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, identify the extension strategies used to promote IPM, and provide descriptive comparison of IPM programs between the foremost eleven cotton-producing states in the United States. Integrated pest management is presented as an alternative agricultural production strategy referred to as sustainable agriculture. IPM programs for cotton were evaluated by use of a survey instrument and telephone interviews with the IPM coordinators for the eleven cotton-producing states. The most significant findings were that programs vary considerably between states; the most widely employed IPM techniques were selective use of chemicals, use of economic thresholds and sampling for pests; the Cooperative Extension Service worked closely with private consultants and grower associations; and adoption of a wide variety of IPM techniques has been extensive for cotton producers in the eleven foremost cotton-producing states. |
