Why farmers deviate from recommended pesticide timing: The role of uncertainty and information

Open access
Date
2020-08Type
- Journal Article
Citations
Cited 16 times in
Web of Science
Cited 19 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Precise timing of pesticide applications, as recommended by decision support systems, can ensure crop protection, while maintaining efficient use of pesticides. Yet, farmers often deviate from recommended timing strategies. Here, we assess and explain farmers’ choices to follow or not follow recommendations for the timing of fungicide applications against potato late blight in Switzerland.
RESULTS
Based on daily fungicide application records as well as regional application recommendations and disease pressure we found that 36% of applications take place earlier than recommended. Using regression analysis, we identified the exposure to economic risks of infection, susceptibility of the planted potato varieties to late blight infections, as well as yearly differences in disease occurrence as the most important determinants of farmers’ application decision.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that decisions to not follow application recommendations and apply early are linked to available information and uncertainty with respect to disease predictions. Based on our results, we make recommendations on how to account for farmers’ uncertainty with regard to the timing of pesticide applications in the design of pesticide policies and agricultural decision support systems. These include the use of new technologies and data, mandatory reporting and tailor made taxes and insurance solutions. Although the focus of this article is on late blight in Switzerland, our analysis can easily be extended to other countries and important plant diseases like powdery mildew in grapevines or Fusarium head blight in winter wheat. Show more
Permanent link
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000408556Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Pest Management ScienceVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
John Wiley & SonsSubject
Uncertainty; Information; Timing; Pesticide application; Late blight; Plant disease; Decision Support Systems (DSS)Organisational unit
09564 - Finger, Robert / Finger, Robert
Related publications and datasets
Is supplemented by: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000383933
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Show all metadata
Citations
Cited 16 times in
Web of Science
Cited 19 times in
Scopus
ETH Bibliography
yes
Altmetrics