Agriculturists Licensure Examination (LEA) December 2026: Schedule, Requirements, Coverage, and Review Tips

Update (October 2026): The next Agriculturists Licensure Examination is scheduled for December 1–3, 2026. Online filing through PRC's LERIS system runs until November 3, 2026, so if you plan to take the December exam, there is still a little time to file. Bookmark this page, because we will keep it updated as PRC releases new announcements, including the 2027 schedule.

Back in 2023, our guide to the agriculturist board exam became the most-read post on The AgriculTURO. Thousands of you used it to plan your review. This is the updated version for the 2026 exam and beyond: what changed, what to prepare, and how to review smart in the final weeks.

Quick Facts: December 2026 Agriculturists Licensure Exam

Exam dates	December 1, 2, and 3, 2026
Filing period	Online via PRC LERIS, closing November 3, 2026
Target release of results	Around December 10, 2026 (a target, not a guarantee)
Governing law	Republic Act No. 12215, the Philippine Agriculturists Act (2025)
Passing requirement	General average of at least 75%, with no subject below 50%
Testing centers	NCR and regional centers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao

Always confirm dates, fees, and requirements on the official PRC website (prc.gov.ph) or through LERIS before filing. Schedules can change.

What's New: The Philippine Agriculturists Act (RA 12215)

The biggest change since our 2023 guide is a new law. Republic Act No. 12215, the Philippine Agriculturists Act, was approved on May 29, 2025. It modernizes the regulation of the agriculture profession, including the rules on licensure, the practice of agriculture, and continuing professional development.

For examinees, the key points are:

• The exam is now commonly called the Agriculturists Licensure Examination. You will still see "LEA" in older reviewers and on many websites, and some PRC materials use "ALE." They all refer to the same board exam for agriculturists.
• Graduates of agriculture-related programs may qualify, depending on their degree and the agriculture courses they completed, not just the program title.
• The Board of Agriculture may adjust how subjects are grouped, so always check the latest exam program PRC releases before exam day.

How Many Pass? A Look at Recent Results

In the November 2025 exam, PRC reported that 6,678 out of 9,742 examinees passed, a passing rate of about 68.6%. The exam was held in 18 testing centers nationwide. That means roughly two out of three examinees passed, so the exam is very passable with good preparation. It also means about one in three did not, so a serious review plan matters.

Who Can Take the Exam?

Based on RA 12215 and PRC guidelines, you generally need to be:

• A Filipino citizen, or a citizen of a country that grants the same privilege to Filipinos
• A graduate of a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, or a government-recognized agriculture-related degree with the required agriculture coursework
• Of good moral character, with no conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude

Documentary Requirements for First-Time Takers

Prepare these before your LERIS appointment:

• PSA birth certificate
• Transcript of Records with a scanned photo and the remark "For Board Examination Purposes"
• Valid government-issued ID
• Certificates of good moral character (check the current PRC requirement for the number and signatories)
• Additional documents if you are a government employee or need academic evaluation

Repeaters and conditioned examinees have their own requirements, so check the PRC list for your category.

Subjects Covered

The exam covers the core fields of agriculture. Expect questions from these areas:

1. Crop Science — crop production, plant breeding, plant physiology, horticulture, agronomy
2. Animal Science — livestock and poultry production, nutrition, breeding, animal health
3. Soil Science — soil fertility, soil chemistry and physics, fertilizers, soil conservation
4. Crop Protection — entomology, plant pathology, weed science, pest management
5. Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, and Agri-entrepreneurship — farm management, marketing, cooperatives, agricultural policy
6. Agricultural Extension and Communication — extension methods, adult learning, community development, program management

Here on The AgriculTURO, we have hundreds of review articles organized by these topics. Use the Tags list on the right side of the page to jump straight to a subject.

Your Final-Weeks Review Plan

If the exam is a few weeks away, you don't have time to relearn everything. Focus on what gives you the most points.

Weeks 5–4 Before the Exam: Diagnose

• Take a full practice test for each subject, timed.
• List your three weakest subjects. These are where you will gain the most points.
• Remember the 50% rule: a single very weak subject can cause a failing or conditional result even if your average is high.

Weeks 3–2: Target Weak Areas

• Spend about 60% of your study time on weak subjects and 40% keeping strong subjects fresh.
• Make one-page summary sheets for each subject: key formulas, scientific names, definitions, and processes.
• Answer at least 50 practice questions a day and review every wrong answer.

Final Week: Consolidate

• Review your summary sheets, not whole textbooks.
• Do one last timed mock exam to practice pacing.
• Sleep well. A rested brain recalls more than a crammed one.

High-Yield Topics to Review

These topics come up again and again in agriculture review materials. Make sure you can explain each one:

• Soil Science: soil pH and liming, fertilizer grades and computations (for example, how many bags of urea, 46-0-0, supply a given amount of nitrogen), cation exchange capacity, soil sampling, saline and sodic soils
• Crop Science: growth stages of rice and corn, photosynthesis (C3 vs C4 plants), plant propagation methods, seed certification, cropping systems
• Crop Protection: scientific names of major pests (e.g. Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis; fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda), IPM principles, economic threshold, biological control agents such as Trichogramma, major diseases like banana Fusarium wilt
• Animal Science: ruminant vs non-ruminant digestion, feed formulation, gestation periods of common livestock, common diseases and vaccination
• Agricultural Economics: supply and demand, production functions, farm records and budgeting, cost and return analysis, marketing channels
• Extension: extension teaching methods, adoption and diffusion of innovations, community needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation

Try These Practice Questions

Test yourself. Answers are at the bottom.

1. A farmer needs 92 kg of nitrogen per hectare and will use only urea (46-0-0). How many 50-kg bags does he need?
   a) 2   b) 4   c) 6   d) 8
2. Which amendment is most commonly used to correct sodic soils?
   a) Lime   b) Gypsum   c) Urea   d) Muriate of potash
3. Trichogramma is best described as a(n):
   a) Egg parasitoid   b) Larval predator   c) Fungal pathogen   d) Weed
4. Corn is an example of a plant with which photosynthetic pathway?
   a) C3   b) C4   c) CAM   d) None of these
5. Under RA 12215 and PRC rules, what is the minimum general average to pass the agriculturist board exam?
   a) 70%   b) 75%   c) 80%   d) 85%

Exam Day Tips

• Visit your testing venue a day before if possible, so you know the route and travel time.
• Bring your Notice of Admission, valid ID, and the items PRC allows (check the latest list, as it often includes pencils and a specific type of calculator).
• Answer the easy questions first, then return to the difficult ones. Don't leave any blanks unless instructed otherwise.
• Eat a proper breakfast and bring water and a light snack if allowed.
• Stay calm. You have prepared for this.

More Review Resources on The AgriculTURO

• Ace the Agriculturist Licensure Exam: Top Study Techniques and Strategies
• Mastering Time: Effective Strategies for Acing the Agriculturist Licensure Exam
• Cracking the Agriculturist Licensure Exam: Essential Study Resources for Success
• Licensure Examination for Agriculturist 2023 (our original guide)

What About 2027?

PRC usually releases the next year's examination schedule in the second half of the current year. As soon as the 2027 dates for the Agriculturists Licensure Examination are official, we will add them here. Follow our Facebook page and YouTube channel so you don't miss the update.

Answers to practice questions: 1) b — 92 ÷ 0.46 = 200 kg of urea, which is 4 bags; 2) b; 3) a; 4) b; 5) b.

Are you taking the December 2026 exam? Tell us in the comments which subject you find hardest, and we'll prioritize review articles on it. Good luck, future agriculturists!

References

• Professional Regulation Commission — Schedule of Licensure Examinations for the Year 2026: prc.gov.ph
• Professional Regulation Commission — November 2025 Agriculturists Licensure Examination results: prc.gov.ph
• Republic Act No. 12215, Philippine Agriculturists Act (May 29, 2025): lawphil.net

Banana Diseases in the Philippines: Spotting Fusarium Wilt and Bunchy Top Before It's Too Late

Bananas are everywhere in the Philippines. They grow in backyards, line the edges of rice paddies, and cover thousands of hectares of commercial plantations in Mindanao. The country is one of the world's leading exporters of Cavendish bananas, and local varieties such as Lakatan, Latundan, and Saba are part of everyday Filipino meals, from turon to banana cue to sinigang.

But two diseases threaten this beloved crop: Fusarium wilt and Banana Bunchy Top. Both can wipe out whole farms if they are not caught early, and neither can be cured once a plant is infected. The key to protecting your bananas is learning to recognize the warning signs quickly and acting fast to stop the spread.

Part 1: Fusarium Wilt (Panama Disease)

What Causes It?

Fusarium wilt is caused by a soil-borne fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (often shortened to Foc). The most dangerous strain today is Tropical Race 4 (TR4), which attacks Cavendish as well as many other varieties. TR4 has caused serious losses in Mindanao's banana plantations and has spread to many other banana-growing countries.

The fungus enters through the roots and moves into the plant's water-conducting tissue. It blocks the flow of water, causing the plant to wilt and eventually die. Worse, the fungus produces tough spores that can survive in the soil for decades, even when no bananas are planted.

How to Spot It

• Yellowing of older leaves, starting at the edges and moving toward the midrib.
• Leaves collapse and hang down around the pseudostem like a skirt, while the youngest leaves may stay upright for a while.
• Splitting at the base of the pseudostem.
• Brown or reddish-brown streaks inside the pseudostem when it is cut crosswise. This internal discoloration is a key sign.
• Plants become stunted, produce small bunches, or fail to produce at all.

Fusarium wilt symptoms can resemble drought stress or nutrient deficiency, so internal discoloration of the vascular tissue is the clearest field indicator. If you suspect it, report it to your Municipal Agriculture Office or the DA so that experts can confirm it.

How It Spreads

Because the fungus lives in soil, anything that moves soil can move the disease:

• Infected planting materials such as suckers
• Muddy boots, tools, and vehicle tires
• Irrigation and floodwater
• Farm animals moving between plots

Management

There is no chemical cure for Fusarium wilt. Management focuses on prevention and containment:

• Use clean planting material. Tissue-cultured plantlets from accredited laboratories are free of the fungus. Never take suckers from infected or unknown farms.
• Plant resistant or tolerant varieties. Somaclonal variants of Cavendish developed in Taiwan, known as GCTCV lines, have shown tolerance to TR4 and have been tested and used in the Philippines. Philippine research programs supported by DOST-PCAARRD have also worked on improved Lakatan and Cavendish varieties with better disease resistance. Ask your agriculture office about what is available.
• Practice strict biosecurity. Set up footbaths and tire baths with disinfectant at farm entrances. Clean tools between plots. Limit visitors to the farm.
• Isolate and destroy infected plants. Infected plants should be killed in place (often by injecting herbicide), and the area should be fenced off and not replanted with susceptible bananas.
• Improve soil health. Research in Mindanao has shown that healthy soils with good organic matter, beneficial microbes, and proper drainage can help suppress the disease. Avoid waterlogging.
• Rotate or intercrop. In some cases, planting non-host crops in infested areas may help reduce the fungal population over time.

Part 2: Banana Bunchy Top Disease

What Causes It?

Banana Bunchy Top is caused by the Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). Unlike Fusarium wilt, it is not spread through soil. Instead, it is carried from plant to plant by the banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa), a small, dark-brown insect that feeds on banana sap. The virus also spreads through infected suckers and planting materials.

Bunchy Top affects many banana types and is a serious problem for smallholder growers of varieties like Saba and Lakatan.

How to Spot It

• Dark green streaks or "dot-dash" lines along the leaf veins and the midrib. These are easiest to see when you hold the leaf up to the light and look at the underside.
• Narrow, upright leaves that are shorter than normal and bunch together at the top of the plant, giving the "bunchy top" appearance.
• Yellow, wavy leaf edges.
• Infected plants rarely produce a proper bunch. If they do, the fruit is small and deformed.

The dark green streaks on the leaf stalk and midrib often appear before the bunching becomes obvious, so check new leaves regularly.

Management

• Use virus-free planting materials, ideally tissue-cultured plantlets from accredited sources.
• Inspect plants regularly, at least every two weeks, focusing on the youngest leaves.
• Kill aphids first, then remove the plant. Before uprooting an infected plant, control the aphids on it so they do not fly to healthy plants when disturbed. Then destroy the entire mat, including suckers and the corm. Chop the plant into small pieces so it cannot regrow.
• Act as a community. If one farm removes infected plants but neighboring farms do not, the virus will return. Barangay-wide or municipal eradication campaigns are far more effective.
• Control weeds and alternate hosts around the farm to reduce aphid populations.
• Do not replant immediately. Wait until all infected plant material is gone before planting new bananas in the same spot.

Comparing the Two Diseases

	Fusarium Wilt (TR4)	Banana Bunchy Top
Cause	Fungus (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense)	Virus (BBTV)
Spread	Soil, water, tools, infected suckers	Banana aphid, infected suckers
Key sign	Yellowing older leaves, brown streaks inside pseudostem	Dark green dot-dash streaks, bunched narrow leaves
Cure	None	None
Main control	Clean planting material, resistant varieties, biosecurity	Virus-free planting material, aphid control, removing infected plants

Prevention Is the Best Cure

For both diseases, the most important lesson is the same: it is far easier to keep disease out than to get rid of it. Buy clean planting materials, inspect your plants often, train farm workers to recognize symptoms, and report suspected cases early. Working with neighbors and local agriculture offices multiplies the impact of every farmer's effort.

Quick Review for Agriculture Students

• Panama disease is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense; TR4 attacks Cavendish.
• Bunchy Top is caused by BBTV, transmitted by the banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa.
• Both diseases are best managed through clean planting materials and early detection.
• GCTCV lines are somaclonal Cavendish variants with tolerance to TR4.

Conclusion

Fusarium wilt and Bunchy Top are two of the most serious threats to banana farming in the Philippines, but they can be managed with knowledge, vigilance, and teamwork. Walk through your banana plants regularly, learn the warning signs described here, and act quickly when you see them. Your harvest, and your neighbors' harvests, may depend on it.

Have you encountered these diseases on your farm? Share how you dealt with them in the comments.

References and Further Reading

• CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas — Status of epidemics and management of Fusarium wilt TR4 in the Philippines: rtb.cgiar.org
• DOST-PCAARRD — S&T management approaches against Fusarium wilt of Cavendish in Mindanao: pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph
• DOST-PCAARRD — Improved Lakatan and Cavendish varieties through S&T: pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph

Climate-Smart Crops: Drought-Tolerant Varieties Every Filipino Farmer Should Know

Every few years, the Philippines feels the grip of El Niño. Rains arrive late or not at all, irrigation reservoirs drop, and rainfed farms crack under the sun. Farmers who depend on rain, and that includes a large share of the country's rice and corn growers, are often the hardest hit. As the climate warms, long dry spells are expected to become more frequent and more intense.

One of the most practical ways farmers can prepare is by choosing climate-smart crop varieties, especially those bred to tolerate drought. These varieties will not make crops immune to dry weather, but they can make the difference between a reduced harvest and no harvest at all. This article introduces drought-tolerant options available to Filipino farmers and the farming practices that help them perform at their best.

What Makes a Crop "Climate-Smart"?

The term climate-smart agriculture refers to farming approaches that do three things at once: increase productivity and income, help farms adapt to climate change, and, where possible, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-smart varieties contribute mainly to the first two. They are bred to cope with stresses like:

• Drought and dry spells
• Flooding and submergence
• Salinity from saltwater intrusion
• High temperatures during flowering

Many also mature earlier, which shortens the time the crop is exposed to risk in the field.

How Plants Cope with Drought

Plants use different strategies to survive dry conditions, and breeders select for these traits:

• Escape — finishing the life cycle before the worst of the drought. Early-maturing varieties use this strategy.
• Avoidance — keeping water inside the plant, for example by growing deeper roots or closing leaf pores (stomata) to reduce water loss.
• Tolerance — continuing to function even when tissues are partly dry, and recovering quickly when rain returns.

A good drought-tolerant variety often combines more than one of these.

Drought-Tolerant Rice Varieties

Rice is a thirsty crop, so drought tolerance is especially valuable. The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have developed and released varieties for rainfed and drought-prone areas. A well-known group is the "Sahod Ulan" series, whose name means "catching the rain." These varieties were selected to yield better than conventional varieties when water is limited, and they are recommended for rainfed lowland farms.

PhilRice has also released early-maturing varieties that can be harvested sooner, helping farmers avoid late-season dry spells. During El Niño years, the Department of Agriculture and PhilRice have promoted these varieties along with water-saving technologies as part of drought-readiness programs.

Because recommended varieties change as new ones are released, ask your Municipal Agriculture Office or the nearest PhilRice branch station which drought-tolerant varieties are currently recommended and available in your province.

Corn and Other Crops

Corn generally uses water more efficiently than rice, but it is very sensitive to drought around tasseling and silking. Dry weather at this stage can cause poor pollination and ears with missing kernels. Seed companies and public breeding programs offer hybrids and open-pollinated varieties with better drought tolerance. When choosing corn seed for dry areas, look for:

• Shorter maturity
• Good "stay-green" ability, meaning leaves stay green and functional longer under stress
• Good performance in local trials under rainfed conditions

Other crops naturally handle dry conditions better and can be part of a climate-smart farm plan. Sorghum, mungbean, peanut, cassava, and sweet potato are all hardier under limited rainfall. Mungbean is especially useful as a short-duration crop after rice, using the residual soil moisture before the land dries out completely.

Variety Alone Is Not Enough

Even the best drought-tolerant variety performs poorly if the rest of the farm is not managed well. Combine improved varieties with these practices:

1. Save Water in Irrigated Rice

Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), also called "Controlled Irrigation," is a technique developed and promoted by IRRI and PhilRice. Instead of keeping the paddy flooded all the time, farmers let the water level drop below the soil surface before re-flooding. A simple perforated tube (the "field water tube") is placed in the soil so farmers can see the water level. AWD can save a significant amount of irrigation water without reducing yield when done correctly. It also reduces methane emissions from rice fields.

2. Plant at the Right Time

Follow seasonal climate forecasts from PAGASA and advisories from the Department of Agriculture. Planting so that the crop's most sensitive stage, usually flowering, falls during the most reliable rainfall period can greatly reduce drought losses.

3. Conserve Soil Moisture

• Mulching with rice straw, corn stalks, or other plant materials reduces evaporation from the soil surface.
• Minimum tillage keeps soil structure intact and helps retain moisture.
• Adding organic matter such as compost and manure increases the soil's water-holding capacity.

4. Harvest and Store Rainwater

Small farm reservoirs, ponds, and water impounding systems can capture rainwater during the wet season for use during dry spells. Many local governments and the DA support small water impounding projects.

5. Diversify

Do not rely on a single crop. Planting a mix of crops with different water needs and maturity periods spreads risk. If one crop fails, others may still produce. Integrating livestock or fishponds can also provide income during difficult seasons.

6. Get Insured

The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) offers insurance for rice, corn, and other crops against natural calamities, including drought. Registered farmers in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) may qualify for subsidized premiums. Insurance does not prevent losses, but it helps farmers recover.

Where to Get Seeds

• Municipal Agriculture Offices and DA Regional Field Offices, which often distribute seeds under government programs
• PhilRice branch stations and accredited seed growers
• Local seed cooperatives and agricultural supply stores carrying certified seed

Always use certified seed where possible. Saved seed from hybrids will not perform like the original, and poor-quality seed reduces the benefits of any variety.

Quick Review for Agriculture Students

• Drought adaptation strategies: escape, avoidance, tolerance.
• AWD (Alternate Wetting and Drying) saves irrigation water and reduces methane emissions in rice.
• Flowering is the most drought-sensitive stage in both rice and corn.
• Climate-smart agriculture aims for productivity, adaptation, and mitigation.

Conclusion

Climate change is making Philippine weather less predictable, but farmers have more tools than ever to protect their harvests. Drought-tolerant and early-maturing varieties, combined with water-saving practices, good timing, healthy soil, and crop insurance, can help farms stay productive even when the rains fail. Before your next planting season, visit your local agriculture office and ask: which climate-smart varieties are right for my farm?

Which drought-tolerant variety has worked best in your area? Share your experience in the comments below.

References and Further Reading

• IRRI News — "DA, PhilRice and IRRI offer drought-tolerant rice varieties": news.irri.org
• PhilRice — "El Niño-ready technologies intensified": philrice.gov.ph
• Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation: pcic.gov.ph

Why Your Soil Test Matters: Matching Fertilizer to What Your Crops Need

Ask ten farmers how much fertilizer they apply and you may get ten different answers. Some follow what their parents did. Some copy a neighbor. Some buy whatever the store recommends. The problem is that every field is different. A rice paddy in Nueva Ecija, a vegetable plot in Benguet, and a corn field in Bukidnon have very different soils, and even two fields in the same barangay can vary a lot.

When fertilizer does not match what the soil actually needs, farmers lose money in two ways: they pay for nutrients the soil already has, and they still lose yield because the nutrient that is truly lacking was never supplied. A soil test solves this problem. It is one of the cheapest, most powerful tools a Filipino farmer can use, and in many areas it is available for free or at very low cost.

What Does a Soil Test Tell You?

A basic soil test measures the things that most affect crop growth:

• Soil pH — how acidic or alkaline the soil is. Most crops grow best at a pH between about 5.5 and 7.0. When soil is too acidic, nutrients like phosphorus become locked up, and elements like aluminum can become toxic to roots.
• Nitrogen (N) — usually estimated through organic matter content. Nitrogen drives leafy growth and is the nutrient most often lacking.
• Phosphorus (P) — needed for root development, flowering, and grain formation.
• Potassium (K) — important for strong stems, disease resistance, and grain filling.
• Organic matter — an indicator of soil health, water-holding capacity, and nutrient supply.

More detailed laboratory tests can also measure secondary nutrients (calcium, magnesium, sulfur), micronutrients (zinc, boron, iron), and salinity.

Why Guessing Is Expensive

Consider a simple example. A farmer applies complete fertilizer (14-14-14) every season because that is the habit. A soil test later shows that his field is already rich in potassium but very low in nitrogen and slightly acidic. For years he has been paying for potassium he did not need, while his crop was held back by a lack of nitrogen and by acidity that kept phosphorus from being available.

By switching to a recommendation based on his soil test, perhaps adding lime to correct acidity and using urea plus a phosphorus source instead, he could spend the same amount of money or less and get a better harvest.

This is the core idea behind site-specific nutrient management: give the crop what it needs, where it needs it, in the right amount, at the right time.

Where Can Filipino Farmers Get a Soil Test?

There are several options:

• Soil Test Kit (STK). A simple kit developed in the Philippines lets agricultural technicians test pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the field using color reactions. Results come with a chart that translates into fertilizer recommendations for common crops. Many Municipal Agriculture Offices have these kits.
• Rapid Soil Test Kit. The Agricultural Training Institute and the Department of Agriculture have promoted rapid kits that give quick results for farmers and extension workers.
• Regional Soils Laboratories. The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and DA regional field offices run soils laboratories that provide more detailed analysis. Farmers can submit samples through their MAO.
• Mobile soil laboratories. The government has deployed mobile soil labs that travel to provinces and municipalities so farmers can have their soils tested closer to home.
• University laboratories. State universities and colleges with agriculture programs often offer soil analysis services.

Start by visiting your Municipal Agriculture Office. They can tell you which service is available in your area and whether it is free.

How to Collect a Good Soil Sample

A soil test is only as good as the sample. Follow these steps:

1. Divide your farm into uniform areas. If one part of your field is low-lying and another is on a slope, or if you grew different crops in different areas, sample them separately.
2. Collect from 10 to 15 spots in each area, walking in a zigzag pattern.
3. Scrape away surface litter such as grass, straw, or leaves.
4. Dig to plow depth, about 15 to 20 centimeters for most crops. Use a shovel or bolo to take a thin slice of soil from the side of the hole.
5. Mix all the slices thoroughly in a clean bucket or on a clean sack.
6. Take about half a kilo of the mixed soil as your composite sample.
7. Air-dry the sample in the shade, not under direct sun.
8. Label it clearly with your name, location, field name, previous crop, and the crop you plan to grow.

Avoid sampling near fences, roads, compost piles, animal pens, or spots where fertilizer was recently spilled or applied. These areas do not represent the whole field.

When Should You Test?

• At least two to four weeks before planting, so you have time to buy the right inputs.
• Once every two to three years for fields under regular cropping, or more often for intensive vegetable production.
• Whenever you notice unexplained yield drops or unusual symptoms like yellowing, purple leaves, or stunted growth.
• After major events such as floods, storm surges, or volcanic ashfall that may change soil properties.

Reading Your Results

Your soil test report will usually include a fertilizer recommendation written in kilograms of N, P₂O₅, and K₂O per hectare. To turn this into bags of fertilizer, you need to know the grade of the fertilizer you will buy. The grade is the three numbers on the bag, showing the percentage of N, P₂O₅, and K₂O.

For example, urea is 46-0-0, so a 50-kilogram bag contains 23 kilograms of nitrogen. If your recommendation calls for 90 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare, you would need about four bags of urea, assuming nitrogen comes only from urea. Your agricultural technician can help you work out the best combination of fertilizers for your recommendation.

If your soil is acidic, the report may recommend agricultural lime. Lime raises pH, makes phosphorus more available, and reduces aluminum toxicity. Lime works slowly, so apply it well before planting.

Don't Forget Organic Matter

Chemical fertilizer feeds the crop, but organic matter feeds the soil. Compost, animal manure, crop residues, and green manures improve soil structure, water-holding capacity, and biological life. Soils with good organic matter also use chemical fertilizer more efficiently. Combining a soil-test-based fertilizer plan with regular organic inputs is one of the best long-term strategies for productive farms.

Key Points for Licensure Examinees

• The three primary macronutrients are N, P, and K; secondary are Ca, Mg, and S.
• Fertilizer grades show %N – %P₂O₅ – %K₂O.
• Liming corrects soil acidity; the ideal pH for most crops is roughly 5.5–7.0.
• A composite soil sample is made by mixing subsamples from many spots in a uniform field.

Conclusion

A soil test turns fertilizer from a guess into a plan. It helps farmers save money, raise yields, and protect the environment by avoiding excess fertilizer that can wash into rivers and seas. If you have never tested your soil, make it your goal before next planting season. Visit your Municipal Agriculture Office, collect a proper sample, and let your soil tell you what it really needs.

Have you had your soil tested before? Did it change how you fertilize? Share your story in the comments.

References and Further Reading

• Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM): bswm.da.gov.ph
• Agricultural Training Institute — Soil Test Kit and Rapid Soil Test Kit information materials: ati2.da.gov.ph
• The Philippine Star — "Government deploys more mobile soil laboratories" (October 2025): philstar.com

From Seed to Harvest: A Beginner's Guide to Integrated Pest Management for Corn in the Philippines

Corn is the second most important crop in the Philippines after rice. It feeds people directly as white corn in many Visayas and Mindanao households, and it feeds the country's livestock and poultry industries as yellow corn. Yet every season, a large share of potential harvest is lost to insect pests. Many farmers respond by spraying more pesticide, but this approach is expensive, harms beneficial insects, and can make pests harder to control over time.

A better approach is Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is not a single product or technique. It is a way of thinking that combines several methods so that pests are kept below the level where they cause real economic damage, while protecting farmers' health, their income, and the environment. This beginner's guide walks you through IPM for corn from seed selection to harvest.

The Main Corn Pests in the Philippines

Before you can manage pests, you need to know them. These are the insects that cause the most trouble in Philippine cornfields:

• Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis). For decades this has been the most destructive corn pest in the country. Larvae feed on leaves, then bore into the stalk, tassel and ear. Damaged stalks break easily in strong wind, and bored ears produce less grain.
• Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Native to the Americas, this pest was first officially reported in the Philippines in 2019 and has since spread across many corn-growing regions. Larvae feed heavily inside the whorl of young plants, leaving ragged holes and sawdust-like droppings (frass).
• Corn aphids, which suck sap and can transmit viruses.
• Cutworms and common armyworms, which attack young seedlings at the base.
• Corn earworm and other ear-feeding caterpillars that damage kernels near harvest.

The Four Pillars of IPM

IPM rests on four connected ideas:

1. Prevention — grow a healthy crop in conditions that discourage pests.
2. Monitoring — scout the field regularly so you know what is really happening.
3. Thresholds — act only when pest numbers reach a level that justifies the cost of control.
4. Combined control — use biological, cultural, mechanical and, as a last resort, chemical methods together.

Stage 1: Before Planting

Choose the right variety. Use certified seed of varieties recommended for your area. Some hybrids have better tolerance to certain pests, and the Philippines has approved genetically modified Bt corn, which produces a protein toxic to corn borer larvae. If you use Bt corn, follow the refuge planting requirements so that pests do not quickly develop resistance.

Prepare the land well. Plowing and harrowing expose soil-dwelling pests such as cutworm pupae to sunlight and birds. Remove or plow under old corn stubble, which can harbor corn borer larvae from the previous season.

Plant at the same time as your neighbors. Synchronous planting across a village or cluster means pests have a shorter window of young, attractive plants to attack. When fields are planted weeks apart, pests can move from older fields to younger ones and multiply.

Consider intercropping. Planting corn with legumes such as peanut or mungbean can support natural enemies and make it harder for some pests to find corn plants.

Stage 2: Seedling to Early Vegetative Stage (0–30 days)

This is when fall armyworm and cutworms do the most harm. Young plants have little leaf area, so heavy feeding can kill them or set them back badly.

Scout at least once or twice a week. Walk in a W or zigzag pattern through the field and inspect a set number of plants (for example, 20 plants in each of five spots). Look for:

• Window-pane feeding or ragged holes in the leaves
• Fresh frass in the whorl
• Egg masses on the underside of leaves, often covered in fine scales
• Cut seedlings at soil level

Record what you find. A simple notebook with the date, number of plants checked, and number damaged is enough. Records help you see whether the problem is growing or shrinking.

Handpick and crush egg masses when you find them. On small farms, this simple step can significantly reduce the next generation.

Stage 3: Mid-Vegetative to Tasseling (30–60 days)

This is the peak period for Asian corn borer egg-laying. Corn borer moths lay flat, overlapping egg masses on the underside of leaves.

Release natural enemies. The Philippines has a long history of using biological control against corn borer:

• Trichogramma wasps are tiny parasitoids that lay their eggs inside corn borer eggs, killing them before they hatch. DA regional crop protection centers produce and distribute Trichogramma cards that farmers attach to corn leaves.
• Earwigs (such as Euborellia annulata) are predators that feed on corn borer eggs and larvae. They can be mass-reared and released into the field.

Contact your DA Regional Crop Protection Center or Municipal Agriculture Office to ask about availability.

Protect existing natural enemies. Spiders, ladybird beetles, lacewings, and many wasps already live in your field. Broad-spectrum insecticides kill these allies along with pests, which can actually lead to pest outbreaks later. This is one of the most important reasons to avoid unnecessary spraying.

Use biopesticides. Products based on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt sprays) or on insect-killing fungi such as Metarhizium and Beauveria target caterpillars while being much safer for beneficial insects and people.

Apply wood ash or fine sand into the whorl. Some farmers use this traditional method against fall armyworm larvae in young plants. It is cheap and can reduce feeding when applied early.

Stage 4: Silking to Harvest (60 days onward)

At this stage, plants can tolerate more leaf damage without yield loss. Focus shifts to the ears.

• Check ears for entry holes and larvae.
• Avoid spraying during silking unless absolutely necessary, as pollinators and natural enemies are active.
• Harvest on time. Leaving mature ears in the field invites more insect damage and mold.

When Should You Use Chemical Pesticides?

In IPM, chemicals are a last resort, not the first response. Use them only when:

• Scouting shows pest levels above the action threshold recommended by your local agriculture office, and
• Other methods are not keeping the population under control.

If you do spray:

• Use only pesticides registered by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) for corn.
• Choose selective products when possible and follow the label for dose and timing.
• Rotate between products with different modes of action to slow resistance.
• Wear protective clothing, and never spray against the wind.
• Respect the pre-harvest interval stated on the label.

After Harvest: Break the Pest Cycle

The work is not done once the corn is harvested. Chop and incorporate stalks, or use them as feed or compost, so corn borer larvae cannot overwinter in them. Rotate corn with a non-host crop such as mungbean or peanut when possible. Clean storage areas to prevent weevils and grain moths from damaging stored corn.

Why IPM Pays Off

Farmers who practice IPM often spend less on pesticides while maintaining or improving yields. They reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals, protect water sources, and keep natural enemies working for free. Over the long run, IPM also slows the development of pesticide resistance, which protects the usefulness of the products farmers do need.

Quick Review for Agriculture Students

• The scientific name of the Asian corn borer is Ostrinia furnacalis; fall armyworm is Spodoptera frugiperda.
• Trichogramma is an egg parasitoid; earwigs are predators.
• The economic threshold is the pest density at which control should begin to prevent losses greater than the cost of control.
• IPM combines cultural, biological, mechanical, and chemical methods.

Conclusion

Integrated Pest Management turns pest control from a guessing game into a planned, informed process. Start small: scout your field every week, keep simple records, protect the natural enemies already living there, and ask your local agriculture office about Trichogramma and earwig releases. Healthy corn, fewer pests, and lower costs are all within reach.

What pest gives you the most trouble in your cornfield? Let us know in the comments.

References and Further Reading

• International Plant Protection Convention — Report of first detection of fall armyworm in the Philippines (2019): ippc.int
• Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry: bpi.da.gov.ph
• FAO AGRIS — Techniques for control of the Asian corn borer in the Philippines: agris.fao.org

Rice Under Pressure: How Filipino Farmers Can Fight Back Against Saltwater Intrusion

Walk along the rice paddies of coastal towns in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Cagayan or Central Luzon after a strong typhoon and you may notice something worrying: patches of rice that turn yellow, stop growing, and die even though water is plentiful. The culprit is often salt. As sea levels rise, storm surges grow stronger, and groundwater is pumped faster than it can recharge, seawater is creeping into farmland that used to grow rice without any problem. This is called saltwater intrusion, and it has become one of the quiet threats to food security in an archipelago where millions of farmers live near the coast.

The good news is that farmers are not helpless. With the right varieties, smart water management, and a few soil practices, many salt-affected fields can be brought back into production. This guide explains what saltwater intrusion does to rice, how to recognize it, and the practical steps Filipino farmers can take to fight back.

What Is Saltwater Intrusion?

Saltwater intrusion happens when seawater moves into freshwater zones, either above ground or below it. In the Philippines it usually arrives in three ways:

• Storm surge and coastal flooding. When a typhoon pushes seawater inland, it can leave a layer of salt on the soil surface after the water drains away. Farmers in typhoon-hit provinces have seen fields stay unproductive for one or more seasons after a single surge.
• Rising tides in rivers and estuaries. During the dry season, river flow drops and high tides push brackish water further upstream. If farmers irrigate from these rivers, they unknowingly apply salty water to their crops.
• Over-pumping of groundwater. In low-lying coastal areas, heavy use of shallow tube wells can pull seawater into the aquifer. Over time, well water becomes brackish.

Climate change makes all three worse. Higher sea levels mean surges reach further inland, longer dry spells reduce river flow, and hotter temperatures increase evaporation, which concentrates salt in the topsoil.

Why Salt Hurts Rice

Rice is moderately sensitive to salt, and it is especially vulnerable at two stages: the seedling stage and the reproductive stage (from panicle initiation to flowering). Salt damages rice in two main ways.

First, it makes water harder to absorb. When the soil solution is salty, plant roots must work harder to pull water in. Even in a flooded field, the plant behaves as though it is under drought. Growth slows, leaves curl, and tillering is reduced.

Second, it poisons the plant over time. Sodium and chloride ions build up inside leaf tissue. Older leaves show this first: their tips turn white or brown, then the damage spreads down the leaf. If salinity is high during flowering, spikelets may become sterile, which means empty grains and a sharp drop in yield.

Signs that your field may have a salinity problem include:

• Patchy, uneven growth, often worse in low spots where water collects and evaporates
• Leaf tips that whiten or burn, starting with older leaves
• Stunted plants with few tillers
• A white crust on the soil surface during dry periods
• Many unfilled grains at harvest even though the crop looked fine earlier

These symptoms can look like nutrient deficiency or drought, so it is worth confirming with a soil or water test. Your Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) or the regional soils laboratory of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) can help you measure salinity, which is usually expressed as electrical conductivity (EC).

Step 1: Plant Salt-Tolerant Varieties

The single most effective tool is choosing a variety bred to cope with salt. The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), working with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), has released a series of saline-tolerant inbred varieties, commonly known by the name "Salinas." These lines were selected to survive and produce acceptable yields in soils where ordinary varieties struggle.

Tolerant varieties do not make salt disappear. They simply handle it better, usually by keeping sodium out of their young leaves or by recovering faster after stress. In moderately salty fields, the yield difference between a tolerant and a non-tolerant variety can decide whether a farmer harvests a crop or loses it.

Ask your MAO, the nearest PhilRice station, or DA regional field office which saline-tolerant varieties are recommended and available for your province. In recent years, PhilRice and local governments have distributed seeds of these varieties to farmers in salt-affected areas after major typhoons.

Step 2: Manage Water Carefully

Water is both the problem and the cure. Fresh water can wash salt out of the root zone, while salty water adds more. A few practices make a big difference:

• Check your irrigation source. If you pump from a river near the coast or from a shallow well, test the water's salinity, especially during the dry season. Avoid irrigating during high tide when brackish water travels furthest upstream.
• Flush before planting. If fresh water is available, flood the field and then drain it before transplanting. Doing this once or twice can leach surface salts below the root zone.
• Keep the soil from drying out. When salty soil dries, water evaporates and salt is left behind at the surface. Maintaining a shallow layer of water during sensitive stages helps keep salt diluted.
• Repair dikes and drainage canals. Good drainage lets you remove salty water after a surge. Strong bunds also help keep tidal water out.
• Use rainwater wisely. Plan planting so the crop's most sensitive stages fall when rains are reliable and salinity is lowest, typically in the wet season.

Step 3: Improve the Soil

Healthy soil handles salt better. Organic matter improves soil structure, which makes it easier for water to move through and carry salts away. Practical options include:

• Incorporate rice straw and compost instead of burning straw. Burning removes organic matter that the soil needs.
• Apply gypsum (calcium sulfate) in sodic soils, where sodium has damaged soil structure. Calcium replaces sodium on soil particles, and the freed sodium can then be leached out. A soil test should guide whether gypsum is needed and how much.
• Balance your fertilizer. Potassium helps rice plants regulate sodium uptake. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages lush growth that is more easily damaged.

Step 4: Adjust Crop Management

A few changes in how the crop is grown can improve survival:

• Use slightly older, sturdier seedlings when transplanting into salty fields. Very young seedlings are more easily damaged.
• Transplant two to three seedlings per hill instead of one, so that if some die, the hill still produces.
• Increase plant density slightly to compensate for reduced tillering.
• Time planting so flowering does not coincide with the driest, saltiest weeks of the year.

Step 5: Consider Diversifying

In fields where salinity is severe and long-lasting, rice may not be the best choice every season. Some farmers integrate other enterprises, such as brackish-water aquaculture during the dry season, or rotate with more salt-tolerant crops. Others raise ducks in rice fields or plant coconut and mangrove buffers along the coast. Diversifying spreads risk so that one bad season does not wipe out the household's income.

The Bigger Picture: Community and Government Action

Saltwater intrusion is not a problem one farmer can solve alone. Coastal dikes, tide gates, drainage systems, and groundwater regulation require cooperation among farmers, local government units, the National Irrigation Administration, and national agencies. Farmers' associations can help by mapping salt-affected areas, sharing information on which varieties perform best locally, and coordinating requests for seed and infrastructure support.

Mangrove protection and rehabilitation also matters. Healthy mangrove belts reduce the force of storm surges and help keep seawater from reaching farmland.

Tips for Agriculture Students and Licensure Examinees

If you are preparing for the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists, remember these key points:

• Salinity is measured as electrical conductivity (EC), usually in deciSiemens per meter (dS/m).
• Saline soils have high soluble salts; sodic soils have high exchangeable sodium that damages soil structure; saline-sodic soils have both.
• Rice is most sensitive to salt at the seedling and reproductive stages.
• Gypsum is the common amendment for sodic soils; leaching with good-quality water is the main way to reduce salinity.

Conclusion

Saltwater intrusion is a growing challenge, but it is not the end of rice farming along Philippine coasts. By planting salt-tolerant varieties, managing water carefully, building healthier soil, and working together as communities, farmers can protect their harvests even as the sea creeps closer. If you suspect salt is affecting your field, start with a simple step: have your soil and water tested, then talk to your local agriculture office about the best variety for your area.

Have you seen salt damage in your rice field? Share your experience in the comments so other farmers can learn from it.

References and Further Reading

• Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice): philrice.gov.ph
• International Rice Research Institute (IRRI): irri.org
• Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM): bswm.da.gov.ph