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IPM CAPs Benefit Growers:

• Have a professional evaluate your opportunities to protect natural resources on your farm.
  
  
• Improve results from your insect, disease, weed and wildlife pest management activities and investment.
  
  
• Develop a written plan to guide you as you implement these opportunities for improvement.
  
  
• Receive payment for up to 75% of the cost from Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
  

What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

• Prevention-based, highly effective approach to managing insects, diseases, bird and other wildlife pests.
  
• Crop rotation can break pest cycles.
  
• Proper crop spacing and thinning improves airflow and sunlight penetration.
  
• Drip irrigation reduces plant wetness and susceptibility to disease.
  
  
• Uses pest biology, pest-damage thresholds, beneficial insects and pesticide toxicity to make informed decisions for the best results.
  
• Pesticide applications are made only when needed and at the right time.
  
  
• Reduces amounts and toxicity of pesticides used on farms; lowers risk to you, your workers and nearby natural resources.

What is an IPM CAP?

• An Integrated Pest Management Conservation Activity Plan (IPM CAP) identifies ways your farm can adopt or improve conservation practices, especially related to pest management.
  
• An IPM CAP might describe how to reduce or eliminate pesticide run-off risk to a nearby water body, eliminate high drift potential due to sprayer type or nozzle configuration, improve inefficient water use and more.
  
  
• Written by a third-party, certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) for a grower in any state. More information below.

• New: Sample IPM CAP

Six Steps to Getting an IPM CAP for Your Farm:

1. Request that your state offer IPM CAPs. Contact your state NRCS office to determine if NRCS offers IPM CAPs in your state. If not, express your interest and support for the program. States must choose by December 18, 2009 which CAPs they will offer. Mail, email and/or fax a written request to your State Conservationist to offer IPM CAPs.
   
   
2. Apply for IPM CAPs funding. If IPM CAPs are offered in your state, you can apply to have one written for your farm. Contact your local service center (Start here to find one near you) to let them know you're interested in hiring a TSP to write an IPM CAP for your farm. They will provide you with an application form.
   
   
3. Submit the completed application to NRCS. Your application will be ranked and funded based on your state's priority resource concerns under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
   
   
4. Sign the contract. NRCS will notify you if your application is accepted. You will then work with NRCS to finalize a written contract to have an IPM CAP written for your farm.
   
   
5. Find your TSP. After the contract is finalized, you may hire an IPM CAPs-certified TSP. You can find a TSP is through the NRCS' TSP database, called TechReg. Contact an IPM CAPs-certified TSP near you to make arrangements to conduct an on-site assessment and develop your IPM CAP.
   
   ** Please note: In order to receive financial assistance, you must sign the NRCS contract before hiring a TSP to write the plan.**
   
   
6. Ensure TSP writes and submits the CAP. The IPM CAP must be written and submitted to the NRCS within one year of signing the contract in order to receive your payment from NRCS.
   
   
7. Put your CAP into action! Implement the CAP on your own or apply for additional funding through the EQIP program. The EQIP 595 Pest Management standard provides funding for implementing plans such as these. Click here for more information on EQIP 595 .
   

Grower Resources:
National IPM CAPs Working Group. Request Letter to NRCS State Conservationist. Nov. 2009. 5pp. (doc) Containing:

• Introductory message regarding the need to support IPM CAPs in your state,
• letter of request to offer IPM CAPs to your state conservationist and
• NRCS state conservationist contact information, listed by state.

Natural Resources Conservation Service contact site to find a local service center: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/organization/regions.html

Natural Resources Conservation Service TechReg website to find current IPM CAPs-certified Technical Service Providers (TSPs) in your state/county: http://techreg.usda.gov/CustLocateTSP.aspx

North Central Working Group for IPM Incentives for Growers website with information regarding the EQIP 595 Pest Management standard: http://www.ipm.msu.edu/work-group/about-EQIP.htm