Certified Crop Advisor Practice Exam

In Integrated Pest Management (IPM), what does the economic injury level represent?

1. The threshold for treatment

2. The cost of treatment

3. The benefit of treatment

4. The point where cost equals economic benefit

The correct answer is: The point where cost equals economic benefit

In Integrated Pest Management (IPM), the economic injury level (EIL) is defined as the point at which the cost of the pest damage equals the cost of implementing control measures, indicating that any losses from pests would outweigh the costs of treatment. This concept is crucial for making informed decisions about when to intervene against pests. When the pest population reaches this level, it signals that it is financially justified to take action to control the pest. This ensures that any treatment applied is justified economically, allowing farmers and agronomists to avoid unnecessary treatments that may not result in net savings or profitability. The significance of the economic injury level helps in managing pest populations sustainably and economically, contributing to the overall efficiency of agricultural practices. The other options represent different concepts but do not accurately define the economic injury level. For instance, the threshold for treatment refers to the action threshold, which indicates when treatment should begin based on pest damage estimates or pest presence, but it is not the same as EIL.