Record Keeping and Forms

The scouting techniques described should provide accurate orchard surveys that will allow assessment of the damage potential of insect and disease populations in an orchard. Accurate reporting of survey results is just as important as an accurate orchard survey.  Every item on a scouting form (see example) is there to assist the grower in making a management decision concerning pest control.  The information on scouting reports will be used to make management decisions that can either save or cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.  Incomplete or illegible information on the form increases the chances of an incorrect management decision.  A scout must make accurate orchard surveys and provide the grower or manager with an accurate and complete copy of each survey report.   The information on the survey form is also used to inform decision makers of developing and impending insect and disease problems and to assist them in the development and improvement of management programs.  The scout is the heart of the pest management program. 

The data forms that you use should enable efficient collection of pertinent survey information, be easy to understand, and easy to fill out and use. Forms should also enable reliable computerization (if desired) of a representative sample of the survey data so that efficient and timely monitoring of pest populations across the state could occur.  Every form should be filled out completely and legibly. 

All information entered on the Pecan Survey Report should always be expressed in the appropriate units and/or coded as indicated on the form. If 50 yellow aphids are found on a total of 5 compound leaves on each of the trees surveyed and you put the number 50 in the aphid column rather than the average number of aphids, which was 10, you erroneously told the grower he needs to treat.  Be precise and use the correct units to report your findings.  It is important to report a zero or somehow designate on the form that you actually checked for the insect, disease or damage rather than leaving the column blank.  If a column is blank, it might be assumed that you did not check for that insect, disease or damage!  If the column is blank, then no one can be sure of your survey results. 

A Pecan Tally Card is also available for your use while surveying an orchard.  The front of the card should be used to record your findings as you check each tree. The back of the card contains information about the insect pests and when you are most likely to encounter them. 
The University of Georgia

The University of Georgia - Department of Entomology
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Athens, Griffin, Statesboro, and Tifton, GA USA

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Questions and/or comments to: bugwood@arches.uga.edu    Page last modified:  March 15, 2000    Text only