Which is a preventative pest management strategy?

• A. Planting weed and disease free seed
• B. Applying maximum label rates indiscriminately
• C. Ignoring crop rotation
• D. Relying solely on chemical control after infestation

Answer: (A)

Preventative pest management aims to stop pests before they establish themselves in the field. Planting weed and disease-free seed is the best preventive step because it reduces the initial source of pests and pathogens, lowering the chance they will take hold from the very start. Clean seed minimizes inoculum and weed seeds that can harbor pests, giving the crop a healthier beginning and making later control easier and more effective. The other options aren’t preventive: applying maximum label rates indiscriminately doesn’t prevent pests and can cause crop injury, resistance, and environmental harm; ignoring crop rotation removes a powerful tactic that disrupts pest life cycles; and relying solely on chemical control after infestation is reactive and often leads to higher costs and greater risk of resistance. Starting with clean seed aligns with a proactive, preventive approach to pest management.