Continuous Improvement
It is the goal of all farmers is to grow abundent, affordable food and fibre, economically and in an environmentally and socially sensitive manner while maintaining the natural resource base for future generation. New technologies are a major factor in the continuous improvement of crop protection including access to computer technology and the advancements in pest control procedures and products.
Computer technology is coming to the aid of farmers. They are increasingly using computerized systems to support their decision to insure that pesticides applications are used only when necessary. Precision farming involves the use of computers, global positioning systems, computer generated field maps, decision-support models, and specialized variable rate equipment to modify input levels and to monitor final crop yield. This sophisticated technology can track weather conditions and predict when, for example a fungal disease such as potato late blight is likely to strike. These tools make application more precise resulting in the minimum pesticide being required and applied. Better application techniques of chemical pesticides have improved pest targeting and reduced drift.
These tools are an important contribution to Integrated Pest management (IPM), a means used by farmers to carefully consider all available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations and keep pesticides and other interventions to levels that are economically justified and reduce or minimize risks to human health and the environment. IPM emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms.
Both biological and chemical pest control methods have changed and improved over the years as the result of some fifty years of research, development and field experience around the world by the plant science industry. The advancement in more targeted crop protection technologies allows for the farmer to use only what is necessary to control pest populations.
In fact it has been shown that there has been a 52% reduction in total pesticide usage over the past 20 years in Ontario(Survey of Pesticide Use in Ontario, 2003). Growers in Ontario are using integrated pest management techniques which combine chemical pest management techniques with other methods including mating disruption and greater pest monitoring.
Ultimately, the implementation of IPM rests with farmers and others trying to control pests. Farmers themselves are often the best judges of what is the most appropriate technology for their needs. Through extensive research, new technologies and practices have created pest control techniques that require less product to be used.