From United Soybean Board
Proper crop scouting provides invaluable information farmers can use to make informed decisions to protect yield and quality in their fields. Getting that information requires a plan for how and when to monitor your fields.
Before entering the field, it’s important to have a plan. Farmers are encouraged to map out their route in a way that provides coverage of all field zones, usually in a zigzagging or M-shaped pattern.
It’s generally recommended that scouts observe and take detailed records of environmental conditions, pests, diseases, weeds, crop-growth progress and the overall health of the crop. Reference materials or online resources can help farmers identify pests and crop abnormalities they may not recognize on their own.
“If a grower sees something in the field that they can’t identify, they can always send a photo or sample to an extension agent for help,” says University of Minnesota Extension Entomologist Bob Koch, Ph.D. “I usually recommend that growers carry a hand lens to help them see small pests, a sweep net to aid in the collection of samples and a smartphone or camera to take photos.”
Determining scouting frequency is usually dependent on the time of year, weather and pest populations. If a potential problem does pop up, farmers should check all their fields before assuming the issue is widespread or requires an immediate response.