See the numerous benefits for any grower in Florida agriculture of early pest scouting, from a UF/IFAS Extension agent.
“Vegetable production season brings a bounty of food for us and, unfortunately, also for crop pests,” shared a UF/IFAS blog article. The article shared the many benefits of early pest scouting; see the highlights below.
Early Pest Scouting Benefits
The article shared these advantages of early pest scouting:
Finding pest problems before they get bigger. “For example, through their scouting, one grower this season found that whitefly populations were already expanding in their pre-plant seedling trays. They were able to manage the whiteflies before planting the seedlings out into their fields. Scouting efforts also confirmed the presence of other pests that were present but not yet at the stage where their damage was evident or widespread. Because they began scouting early, the grower has the breathing room to monitor the situation while developing a management plan that works for their operation. Think of scouting like your own early warning system.”
Finding beneficials. “Another benefit of scouting is that growers find not only the damage-causing pests, but also the naturally occurring beneficials. While scouting recently at a local farm, we observed beneficial insects, such as lacewings, ladybugs, parasitoid wasps, and spiders. In some cases, we observed the beneficials directly: their eggs, adults, etc. For tiny parasitoid wasps, we were able to note their presence by observing the aphids they had recently parasitized, the cocoon they had emerged from, etc. In developing their plan to manage pests, the farmer observed that some pests, such as aphids, were already being effectively managed by the beneficials. For other pests where a treatment is needed, the farmer can choose an option that will not negatively impact the beneficials that are already at work. By scouting for both pests and beneficials, farmers get a complete picture of their pest management options.”
Gives you time to find resources. “Identifying pests and beneficials can be challenging, even for experienced growers. Here in Florida, new invasive pests arrive in fields on a regular basis, so there is always something new to learn. Your local University of Florida or FAMU Extension Agent can be a good resource person to assist. Extension Agents help growers in their county with periodic scouting, pest and beneficial ID, pest management, and more. We are connected with our university’s specialists and other agencies as well, so we help growers find more specialized one-on-one assistance where needed. Reach out to your local UF/IFAS or FAMU Extension Agent.
Extension Agents, growers, and the public can also access other identification resources, including the UF/IFAS Distance Diagnostic and Identification System (DDIS), the UF/IFAS Insect Identification Lab, and UF/IFAS Regional Diagnostic Labs. The faculty and staff at the labs have been invaluable in helping us assist our local growers.”
Gives you time to create a Farm Pest Management Manual. “Once you have identified pests and beneficials, consider keeping a record of what you found. Think of this as building your own Farm Pest Management Manual, specific to your crops and fields. Again, while more detail can be better, each grower has to find the right balance for them at the time. Among key specifics to note are where (which crop, what part of the crop plant, etc.) and when you found the pest or beneficial, how abundant it was, what life stage it was in, steps you took to manage the pest, and how it worked out. Recordkeeping helps growers make well-informed decisions during the current and future seasons.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.