If the value of a crop decreases, what happens to the Economic Injury Level?

The Economic Injury Level (EIL) is the point at which the cost of pest damage equals the cost of controlling the pest. If the value of a crop decreases, the revenue potential from that crop also declines. In turn, this causes the EIL to increase.

Since pest damage will result in a relatively greater loss in economic terms when the value of the crop is lower, more pests can be tolerated before reaching the economic threshold where control becomes necessary. Therefore, as the crop value drops, the costs associated with pest damage must be weighed against a lower potential return from the crop, which leads to an increase in the EIL.

Understanding this relationship is crucial for effective IPM decision-making, as it helps determine when and how pest control measures should be implemented in the context of economic feasibility.