Surveying farmers on IPM, a concept that began 50 years ago in California, two Illinois entomologists found:
83% believe economic thresholds are still viable for insect pest management.
73% say insect control decisions are based on economic thresholds.
24% say insect control decisions are based on potential yield benefit.
97% planted a Bt hybrid in 2008 seeking a yield benefit.
80% would still plant a Bt hybrid even if corn borer or rootworm levels were low.
Still, the results suggest that many acres of corn and soybeans are not scouted, wrote entomologists Kevin Steffey and Mike Gray. For details see www.ipm.uiuc.edu/bulletin/article.php?id=1062.