BUILDING AND INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR POTATOES IN NORTH AMERICA: WHERE TO START?

The potato is one of the world’s most important food crops widely cultivated in Europe, Africa, Asia/Oceania and North America. The United States is one of the top ten potato producers. The states of Washington, Oregon and Idaho produce nearly 2/3 of the potatoes grown in North America. This paper will present information regarding potato production in the United States, identifying current status of the methods used to manage pests. An overall overview of diseases, weeds, and insects affecting the potato crop will be giving focusing on pests of worldwide influence. Increasing potato production in a sustainable manner requires an integrated approach covering a range of strategies. Combating pests is a continuous challenge that producers have to face as they intensify their production techniques to satisfy the increasing demands of the local and global marketplace.