PEST-MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF CROP CONSULTANTS IN THE MIDWESTERN USA

A mail survey was conducted of independent crop consultants in 12 midw estern U.S. states working in corn (Zea mays L.), soybeans [Glycine ma x (L.) Merrill], wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and grain sorghum (Sorg hum bicolor L. Moench.) during 1993. The survey was conducted to docum ent the acreage of crops monitored by crop consultants, and some of th eir operational characteristics. Kansas and Nebraska had the greatest reported acreage of crops scouted, over 3 million and 1 million acres, respectively. Total acres scouted were highest for corn, followed by soybeans, wheat, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and sorghum. Acres cont racted with crop consultants varied from 0.4 to 40.0% of the total 199 3 harvested acres, depending on state and crop. The most common interv al reported between field visits was once a week. Averaged over all st ates, the highest consulting fees were charged for alfalfa ($4.80), wi th less charged for corn ($4.31), sorghum ($4.26), soybeans ($4.07), a nd wheat ($3.74). There was a great range in fees within crops across the region (e.g., corn fees varied from $3.21-6.13/acre). Planting tim e application of insecticides was the most commonly used corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte and D. barberi Smith & Lawren ce) control. Postemergence applications of insecticides for larval roo tworms (cultivation time applications and chemigation) were used prima rily in Kansas and Nebraska. Foliar sprays for adult torn rootworm con trol were also most common in these states. Use of crop rotation varie d greatly across the region (23.8-83.7% of acres were corn after anoth er crop). Additionally, across all states except Missouri, there was a significant correlation between frequency of rotation in corn and ins ecticide use against corn rootworms; i.e., states with higher frequenc ies of rotated corn treated a lower percentage of corn acreage for cor n rootworm control. The diversity of crop consultant activity across t he region has implications for future adoption of IPM practices on mid western field crops.