THE VALUE OF PEST INFORMATION IN A DYNAMIC SETTING - THE CASE OF WEED-CONTROL

The value of weed scouting information for soil-applied and post-emergence weed management is estimated using a dynamic, whole-farm, stochastic simulation model. The model simulates outcomes of four expected utility functions from management strategies using three levels of weed information. Results from a representative Minnesota com and soybean farm indicate high value of weed seedling counts (for post-emergence control) but relatively low value of weed seed counts (for soil-applied control). While herbicide use is often reduced under information-based management, this is not always the case.