What is the first step in proper disease management?

Identifying the pest is crucial because it allows you to understand the specific disease or issue affecting the crop. This step involves accurately determining the pathogen, whether it is a fungus, bacterium, virus, or another organism, and assessing its impact on the plants. Once the pest or disease is identified, it becomes possible to tailor subsequent management strategies effectively. Without this initial identification, any control measures implemented could be misguided or ineffective since different pathogens require different methods of management. Proper identification is foundational to developing an effective disease management plan, ensuring that interventions are relevant and adequate for the specific problem at hand.