Agriculture and Agribusiness

Integrated Pest and Disease Management

Spraying on a calendar treats pests that are not there and misses the ones that are, and it is the fastest route to resistance, residue violations and a bill that exceeds the damage prevented. This course replaces the calendar with a decision rule. Delegates work through pest and disease identification, including the damage symptoms that are commonly misattributed. Life cycles and the vulnerable stage of each pest follow. Scouting is covered practically: sampling pattern, frequency, and recording that supports a decision. Economic thresholds are addressed as the basis for spraying or not spraying. Cultural, biological and chemical controls are covered in that order, since chemistry used first is chemistry wasted. Pesticide selection follows, including mode of action groups, rotation for resistance management and the label as a legal document. Application is addressed through sprayer calibration, nozzle choice, water volume and drift. Pre harvest intervals and residue compliance are covered. The course closes on beneficial insects, on record keeping and on responding to a failed spray.