I appreciated your November article ["Mother Nature's managers," page 14] about Chuck Benbrook's new book, "Pest Management at the Crossroads," published by Consumers Union. I bought 10 copies so that our employees, board of directors and investors could read it. The book is a comprehensive and factual compilation of the current and potential future of IPM and biointensive IPM.

What amazes me is how many people I encounter who still say that IPM has never been proven to be profitable for any U.S. farmer. With numerous examples and analyses, hopefully this book will challenge the IPM skeptics. I see the book as a challenge for us in the pesticide industry to provide not just product in a bag or jug, but to work toward providing more solutions as IPM systems

Pam Marrone
President, AgraQuest, Inc.
Davis, CA