Spring 2023: The Importance of Scouting

The Importance of Scouting

Insect pest management is an important component to successful crop production. The key to an effective pest control program relies on regular monitoring, accurate identification, and proper control timing. Scouting and monitoring for insect pests helps identify and address potential issues before loss occurs or mitigate damage, reduce pesticide usage, and decrease damage to non-pest populations. Monitoring of populations also allows growers to make decisions on applications based on economic thresholds limiting unnecessary pesticide applications.