"When did IPM begin?"

I get ask this question frequently and readers might like to read the following.

IPM started out in a couple of different concepts that later merged. The first concept was "Supervised Pest Control". This was the monitoring of pests and levels to measure success and when to take action. The other concept was "compatible pest control" where the implementation of different practices had to work together. The word "integrated" came out of the use of the word "compatible".

One person instrumental in coining the phrase "Integrated Pest Management" was Dr. Perry L. Adkisson. While working at the Texas A&M University’s entomology department, Dr. Adkisson's research was used to stop the spread of the boll weevil into Texas. His scientific study of the behavior of the boll weevil led to its control and eradication.

IPM became national policy in February 1972 and President Richard Nixon directed federal agencies to advance IPM. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter established an IPM Coordinating Committee.

In the modern day Structural Pest Control industry, IPM has lent itself more towards reducing the use of pesticides and minimizing chemical exposure to people, pets, the environment, and non-target organisms.

in 1998, Governor Paul Cellucci, enacted the Executive Order no. 403 that declared Integrated Pest Management for Massachusetts State Agencies.

The information above came from the Spring Edition of the "American Entomologist" and other sources.