Clyde Ogg, cogg1@unl.edu1, Barbara Ogg, bogg1@unl.edu2, Erin Bauer, ebauer2@unl.edu1, Stephen Vantassel, svantassel2@unl.edu3, Shirley Niemeyer, sniemeyer2@unl.edu4, Anne Streich, astreich2@unl.edu1, Roch Gaussoin, rgaussoin1@unl.edu1, Robert Shearman, rshearman1@unl.edu1, Sarah Browning, sbrowning2@unl.edu5, Kelly Feehan, kfeehan2@unl.edu6, George Haws, ghaws@unlnotes.unl.edu7, Delroy Hemsath, dhemsath1@unl.edu8, James Hruskoci, jhruskoci1@unl.edu9, and Dennis Ferraro, dferraro@unl.edu10. (1) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Agronomy and Horticulture, 101 Natural Resources Hall, Lincoln, NE, (2) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lancaster County Extension Office, 444 Cherrycreek Rd, Lincoln, NE, (3) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, School of Natural Resources, 306B BCH, Lincoln, NE, (4) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Textiles, Clothing and Design, 205 HE, Lincoln, NE, (5) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Dodge County Extension Office, 1206 W. 23rd St, Fremont, NE, (6) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Platte County Extension Office, 2610 14th St, Columbus, NE, (7) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln-McPherson County Extension Office, 115 W. 4th, North Platte, NE, (8) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Dixon County Extension Office, 57509 866 Road, Concord, NE, (9) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Hall County Extension Office, 3180 W. Hwy 34, Grand Island, NE, (10) University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Douglas-Sarpy County Extension Office, 8015 W. Center Rd, Omaha, NE
A national movement is underway to reduce the risk of pesticide exposure by implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) concepts in our schools. University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Extension developed a pilot school program to help selected school districts evaluate and implement IPM in their schools.
Eleven school districts enrolled in the 2-year program and individual pilot schools were chosen from each district. As part of the program, school district representatives were sent to the Nebraska Turfgrass and the UNL Urban Pest Management Conferences to learn more about IPM. UNL Extension then conducted on-site assessments with pilot school officials, and provided each school district with a set of reference materials to use as an aid in making pest management decisions.
Pilot participants indicated that the use of IPM improved the learning environment in their schools by reducing the use of toxic chemicals, decreasing pest-related distractions, and keeping parents and staff better informed. Participants also said that direct contact and encouragement from UNL Extension was the most effective approach to encourage other schools to adopt IPM, and 82% said that UNL Extension recommendations had high influence over practices in their schools. Survey results indicated that all of those involved in the pilot study would recommend that other Nebraska schools participate in a similar pilot program. Sixty-seven percent of participants said they would decrease their use of pesticides. None said they would increase their use of pesticides.
