GAP GAP Pest & Disease Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a biological control method accepted under GAP pest management guidelines?
- Fumigating soil with methyl bromide
- Releasing beneficial insects such as ladybugs to control aphids (Correct answer)
- Applying synthetic pyrethroid insecticides
- Using high-pressure water sprays as the sole control
Correct answer: Releasing beneficial insects such as ladybugs to control aphids
Releasing beneficial insects is a biological control strategy that reduces pest populations with minimal environmental impact.
Question 2: Under US GAP guidelines, restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) may only be purchased and applied by:
- Any farm employee who has completed a safety course
- A certified pesticide applicator or someone under their direct supervision (Correct answer)
- Farm owners regardless of certification status
- Licensed distributors at the point of sale only
Correct answer: A certified pesticide applicator or someone under their direct supervision
Federal law requires that RUPs be purchased and applied only by certified applicators or supervised individuals.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a buffer zone when applying pesticides near a water body on a GAP farm?
- To mark the boundary of the organic certification area
- To prevent pesticide runoff and drift from contaminating the water source (Correct answer)
- To designate where irrigation equipment is stored
- To separate different crop varieties
Correct answer: To prevent pesticide runoff and drift from contaminating the water source
Buffer zones reduce the risk of pesticide contamination of adjacent water bodies through runoff and spray drift.
Question 4: Which scouting practice best supports GAP-compliant pest management decision-making?
- Applying pesticides on a calendar-based schedule regardless of pest presence
- Regularly walking fields and recording pest counts at defined sample points (Correct answer)
- Waiting for visible crop damage before assessing pest levels
- Relying solely on neighboring farms' pest reports
Correct answer: Regularly walking fields and recording pest counts at defined sample points
Systematic scouting with documented counts at sample points provides the data needed to make evidence-based treatment decisions.
Question 5: When storing pesticides on a GAP-certified farm, which condition is required?
- Store with fertilizers to save space
- Keep in a locked, well-ventilated, dedicated storage area away from food and water (Correct answer)
- Store all liquids above dry formulations
- Leave containers open to prevent pressure buildup
Correct answer: Keep in a locked, well-ventilated, dedicated storage area away from food and water
GAP requires pesticides to be stored in a locked, ventilated facility separate from food, feed, and water sources to prevent contamination.
Question 6: What action should a GAP farm take with an empty pesticide container before disposal?
- Rinse once and store for potential reuse
- Triple-rinse or pressure-rinse, puncture, and dispose according to label instructions (Correct answer)
- Burn in an open field to reduce volume
- Return unopened containers only; discard others in regular trash
Correct answer: Triple-rinse or pressure-rinse, puncture, and dispose according to label instructions
Triple-rinsing or pressure-rinsing removes residues, and puncturing prevents reuse; proper disposal follows label and local regulations.
GAP GAP Pest & Disease Management 2
Which of the following is a biological control method accepted under GAP pest management guidelines?