Limited resource farmers in the US south produce most of the produce sold in roadside and other stands and in Farmers’ Markets, and these marketing outlets have become increasingly popular in recent years among rural and urban dwellers alike. This could present a food safety nightmare if pesticide use was arbitrary or poorly regulated. In view of this, we conducted a study to analyze the perceptions and use of IPM by small farmers. A questionnaire was used to collect data on crop and animal protection practices, safety issues, new interventions, etc, and was administered in several Black Belt Counties of Alabama. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Most farmers were educated and over 40 years old, planted fruits, vegetables and raised cattle. Lepidoptera and flies were common on crop pests and livestock, respectively. Pesticides were used for pest suppression. Key criteria adopted for spraying were insect population density and the level of damage. Type of pesticide used determined time lag before harvest. Many respondents expressed concern about safety. Respondents were willing to try more expensive and environmentally friendly pesticides, even though up to 25 percent of their farm expenses were on pesticides. Some had heard about transgenic crops and were willing to grow and consume them. Respondents however indicated they had little or no knowledge of IPM. This suggests that serious gaps exist in IPM technology transfer to this group of farmers.
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