A demonstration program sponsored by the Kentucky IPM Program in western Kentucky showed tomato growers how to use scouting, weather forecasting and a computer program, TOMCAST, to reduce pesticide usage.
Yields were compared between test plots managed using IPM techniques vs. conventional plots. Growers found that using the TOMCAST program combined with scouting for insects reduced the number of fungicides required by one and the number of insecticides by four for a significant cost savings and no significant difference in yield.