College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Pest Management
Campus Landscape Management
The University of Iowa campus comprises over 1,700 acres of diverse landscape which is managed by UI Facilities Management, Landscape Services, as well as UI staff and contractors who maintain property surrounding facilities operated by Residence Services, Recreation Services, University Hospitals and Clinics, Athletics, and Tenant Properties.
UI Landscape Services
Landscape Services has embedded Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies into their Landscape Services Managment Plan. As stated in the Plan, "pest control will involve utilizing Integrated Pest Management principles to control insect, disease, and weed pests. Pesticides will only be used when a determination has been made that all other options to control the target pest have been ineffective or cannot be used." Landscape Services also notes in its Turf Management Philosophy and Practices that they "follow an organic-based, holistic and comprehensive approach, using the best management practices to promote and maintain a healthy turf."
UI Landscape Services Management Plan
UI Turf Management Philosophy and Practices
Integrated Pest Management
Pests are populations of living organisms that pose a health or safety risk, damage property, or interfere with the aesthetics or use of facilities for human purposes. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) establishes a sustainable approach to managing pests to an acceptable level by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks.
While IPM is a means to deliver effective pest control while at the same time reducing the volume and toxicity of pesticides used, in some circumstances, small amounts of organic and/or synthetic pesticides may be needed to maintain pest populations at or below an acceptable level. Decisions concerning whether pesticides should be applied in a given situation should be based on a review of all available options. Efforts should be made to avoid the use of pesticides by utilizing non-chemical IPM strategies. When it is determined that pesticides are warranted to meet pest management objectives, treatments should be undertaken with the goal of controlling only target organisms to an acceptable level in specific areas using the least toxic product adequate for the job. The University of Iowa is currently in the process of developing a campus-wide IPM plan that will provide guidance to UI staff and contractors managing pests on campus.