Why are record-keeping and evaluation important to IPM?

• A. To know year-to-year what pest problems develop and what strategies work.
• B. To justify pesticide use in all cases.
• C. To schedule annual pruning.
• D. To measure leaf color.

Answer: (A)

Record-keeping and evaluation underpin adaptive, data-driven pest management. By documenting which pests appear, when they show up, and how well different actions worked, you can compare year to year and identify trends. This lets you see which problems recur and which management tactics actually reduce pest pressure, so you can adjust monitoring, thresholds, timing, and control methods for future seasons. The result is more effective protection with less unnecessary pesticide use. Pruning schedules and leaf color measurements aren’t core drivers of IPM decisions, and IPM aims to use evidence to guide targeted actions rather than justify pesticide use in every case.