The Georgia Pest Management Handbook is a free online reference published by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. It provides pest control recommendations for dozens of crops, livestock, turfgrass, ornamentals, and other categories relevant to farming and land management in Georgia. You can access it directly at ipm.uga.edu, where each crop or category has its own section with specific guidance.
What the Handbook Covers
The handbook is organized into two broad tracks: a homeowner and garden section covering common crops like corn, cotton, fruit and nuts, peanuts, soybeans, tobacco, and vegetables, and a much larger commercial-use section. The commercial section spans more than 20 categories, including alfalfa, canola, clover, forestry and Christmas trees, grain sorghum, small grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale), sesame, sugarcane, sunflower, and perennial grass for pasture and forage.
Beyond crops, the handbook covers pest management for animals (livestock, poultry, and honeybees), aquatic environments and fish ponds, turfgrass, ornamentals, and non-cropland or roadside areas. Additional standalone resources address mosquito control, stored product insect management, vertebrate and wildlife nuisance control, lespedeza control, and insecticidal transgenic crops (plants engineered to produce their own pest protection).
Who It’s For
The handbook serves Georgia farmers, commercial pesticide applicators, county Extension agents, and homeowners. If you grow row crops, manage timber, maintain turf professionally, or simply want to deal with garden pests, there’s a relevant section. Commercial applicators in particular rely on it for product recommendations that align with current labels and Georgia regulations.
It’s worth noting that the handbook’s recommendations assume you’re following Georgia’s pesticide licensing rules. If you’re applying restricted-use pesticides on your own farm, you need a Private Applicator License from the Georgia Department of Agriculture. If you’re applying any pesticide on someone else’s property for a fee, you need both a Commercial Applicator License and a Pesticide Contractor License. These requirements are governed by the Georgia Pesticide Use and Application Act of 1976 and federal law under FIFRA (the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act).
How to Access the Handbook
The handbook is hosted online at the UGA Integrated Pest Management site (ipm.uga.edu/georgia-pest-management-handbook). Each crop or category is listed as a separate link, so you can go straight to the section you need rather than downloading an entire volume. The content is updated by UGA Extension specialists, and because pesticide labels and registrations change frequently, you’ll want to use the current edition rather than a saved copy from a prior year.
If you’re looking for a printed copy, the UGA Extension store has historically offered bound versions for purchase. Your local county Extension office can also point you to the most current materials and help you interpret recommendations for your specific situation.
How to Use It Effectively
Each section of the handbook lists pests by crop, then provides recommended control options along with timing, rates, and any restrictions. The listings typically distinguish between insects, diseases, weeds, and nematodes, so you’ll want to identify your pest type before diving in. For example, the cotton section will have separate tables for herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides rather than lumping everything together.
A few practical tips for getting the most out of it:
- Check the label first. The handbook gives recommendations, but the pesticide label is the legally binding document. If the handbook and label conflict, the label wins.
- Match the section to your use case. The homeowner fruit and vegetable sections list products available to consumers, while the commercial sections include restricted-use products that require licensing. Using the wrong section could lead you to products you can’t legally purchase.
- Use it alongside scouting. The handbook tells you what to apply, but not necessarily when your particular field has reached a threshold that justifies treatment. Pair it with UGA’s scouting guides and pest alerts for better timing.
Licensing Requirements in Georgia
If you’re using the handbook’s commercial recommendations, you likely need some form of pesticide license. Georgia distinguishes between three main categories. A Private Applicator License lets you buy and use restricted-use pesticides on your own land (or your employer’s) for agricultural production. A Commercial Applicator License covers restricted-use pesticide applications in non-agricultural settings or on property you don’t own. And a Pesticide Contractor License is required on top of the commercial license if you’re charging someone for the service.
Georgia also offers reciprocal licensing for applicators licensed in other states with comparable standards. The application fee for reciprocal licensing is $90, and some or all of the exam requirements may be waived depending on your existing credentials.