The value of pest information in a dynamic setting: the case of weed control

The value of weed scouting information for soil-applied and post-emergence weed management is estimated using a dynamic, whole-farm, stochastic simulation model. The model simulates outcomes of four expected utility functions from management strategies using three levels of weed information. Results from a representative Minnesota corn and soybean farm indicate high value of weed seedling counts (for postemergence control) but relatively low value of weed seed counts for soil-applied control). While herbicide use is often reduced under information-based management