Certified Crop Advisor Practice Exam

The economic threshold is the level of pest injury when pest control will prevent what from being reached?

1. Threshold level

2. Economic damage level

3. Economic injury level

4. Control level

The correct answer is: Economic injury level

The economic threshold is specifically defined as the point at which the cost of controlling a pest is equal to the economic loss caused by that pest if no control action is taken. When the pest population reaches the economic threshold, it indicates that pest control measures will prevent the economic injury level from being exceeded. Economic injury level represents the amount of pest damage that economically justifies control measures, reflecting the point at which losses exceed the costs associated with implementing pest control strategies. The relationship between these terms is crucial: the economic threshold prompts action to prevent reaching the economic injury level, ensuring that financial losses from pest damage do not outweigh the costs of control. In summary, recognizing the economic threshold allows for timely pest management interventions to minimize potential losses, aligning with agricultural economic principles.