In 1994, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) jointly announced an “IPM Initiative” with the goal of achieving adoption of IPM on 75% of planted cropland area in the USA by the end of 2000 (Jacobsen, 1996). Both the USDA and EPA indicated that an anticipated outcome of that level of IPM adoption would be a reduction in pesticide use on the nation's farms. In order to accomplish the goals of the initiative, a modest increase in funding was allocated for research, outreach and education by both the USDA and EPA.

A survey conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in 2000 indicated that growers adopting some level of IPM on farms had increased from around 50% at the beginning of the IPM Initiative to about 71% at the end of 2000 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2001). However, the anticipated reduction in pesticide use did not occur, and according to NASS surveys, pesticide use actually increased about 4% from 1994 to 2000 measured by quantity of active ingredient applied. In that same period, use of those pesticides considered most risky by EPA decreased by approximately 14%.

During 2000 and 2001, the US General Accounting Office (GAO) conducted a review of the IPM program. The review was sponsored by Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition, and General Legislation of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.