If a neighboring field is infected with a disease, what approach should you take to protect your field?

Choosing a preventive approach when a neighboring field is infected with a disease is essential for protecting your own crops. Preventive measures aim to reduce the risk of disease transmission before it occurs. In the context of crop protection, this could involve several strategies such as crop rotation, selecting disease-resistant varieties, implementing sanitation practices, maintaining proper field drainage, and using barriers or buffers between fields.

By anticipating the potential spread of disease from the neighboring field, preventive actions help to create an environment that is less conducive to the pathogen's survival and spread. This proactive stance not only safeguards your current crop but also maintains the overall health of your farm ecosystem, minimizing future risks and costs associated with outbreaks.

In contrast, curative approaches focus on treating existing infections, which may be too late if the disease has already begun affecting plants in your field. Reactive measures address an outbreak only after it has been detected, often resulting in more extensive damage. Restorative strategies aim to recover from damage after a setback has occurred, which also does not prioritize the prevention of disease in the first place. Therefore, taking a preventive approach is the best option to maintain the health of your crops in the presence of nearby disease.