Scouting and monitoring for pests is a critical step in quantifying potential damage that can be caused by a pest and aids in determining if intervention to control the pest is warranted. Scouting also helps growers determine the present life stage of the insect or disease which is often critical to properly selecting and timing management strategies.
Growers also benefit from keeping records of their scouting, including maps of their fields, sampling dates and pest pressure, as well as control measures utilized. Scouting should begin as soon as plants begin to grow or pests become active and should continue until the crop is dormant or the risk of the pest has passed.
To assist growers in developing or improving their scouting programs, Michigan State University Extension has developed a series of new bulletins that are available for free download.