EFFECT OF PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON ECONOMICS OF SMALL SCALE TOMATO PRODUCTION IN MISSISSIPPI^©

Evaluation and improvement of management techniques is important to increase the viability of small scale vegetable production. Three management strategies, including calendar spray schedule, integrated pest management (IPM), and organic pest control, were evaluated in terms of their effect on yield and economic return for ‘Celebrity’ and ‘Bush Early Girl’ tomatoes in Mississippi. In Spring 2014, significantly greater yields were obtained from the IPM management system for both tomato cultivars studied. Significantly greater economic return was obtained from ‘Bush Early Girl’ IPM than for other ‘Bush Early Girl’ treatments. Total return from the ‘Celebrity’ IPM treatment was greater than that for the ‘Celebrity’ calendar treatment but not the ‘Celebrity’ organic treatment. When considered across both cultivars, the IPM management treatment resulted in significantly greater yields and total return than other treatments.