DIFFICULTIES IN MEASURING ADOPTION OF APPLE IPM - A CASE-STUDY

This research investigates the process of measuring integrated pest management (IPM) and the implications of particular measurement in understanding IPM adoption.Data collected from apple growers in New York State in 1991 were used to develop a measurement of IPM adoption based on nine subscales combining 35 IPM components. Three factors or dimensions of IPM were found: scouting/monitoring, cultural controls and biological controls. Scouting and monitoring practices were associated with beliefs about costs and benefits of IPM; the use of cultural controls was related to economic factors, and the use of biological controls was negatively related to perceived credibility of chemical fieldmen.