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Crop Scouting 101: What to Look for in the Field

Crop Management · April 2025 · 5 min read

Regular crop scouting is the foundation of integrated pest management and informed agronomic decisions. Walking your fields with a systematic approach catches problems early when they are easiest and cheapest to correct.

Scouting Patterns

Walk a W or zigzag pattern across the field, stopping at five or more locations to make observations. Avoid sampling only field edges, which are often unrepresentative due to compaction, drift, and different microclimates. Each stop should include at least ten consecutive plants or a measured area for consistent pest and disease counts.

What to Observe

Check plant stands and growth stage uniformity, looking for gaps that indicate germination problems or seedling diseases. Examine leaves for insect feeding damage, fungal lesions, and nutrient deficiency symptoms on both upper and lower surfaces. Note weed species, density, and size to determine whether post-emergence herbicide timing is still effective.

Recording and Acting

Record observations with location, date, growth stage, and pest counts so you can track trends over the season. Compare insect counts to established economic thresholds to decide whether treatment is justified. Sharing scouting reports with your agronomist or crop consultant leads to more targeted, cost-effective recommendations.