MFV-IPM Network

Massachusetts Fruit & Vegetable - Integrated Pest Management Network

The tripod: NEWA–MONITORING–FACEBOOK

Network for Environmental and Weather Awareness http://newa.cornell.edu

"The value of weather data is greater when it can be shared. NEWA makes it possible for farmers to share resources for weather data collection, analysis, distribution, and archiving. NEWA users reported that they can save, on average, $19,500 per year in spray costs and prevent, on average, $264,000 per year in crop loss as a direct result of using NEWA pest forecast models." http://newa.cornell.edu/index.php?page=about-newa

"NEWA connects you with data from electronic weather stations in the Northeast through the Internet. Farmers, consultants, food processors, NYS IPM, airports, and Cornell research farms provide the weather stations. The NEWA website provides weather information for more precise IPM and crop production practices. Weather information and pest forecast models enhance decision-making in IPM, especially for plant diseases and insects.
NEWA...

• provides weather data from >100 locations.
• summarizes and displays weather data – find it under Weather Data on the main menu.
• displays pest forecast model results – find them under Pest Forecasts on the main menu.
• links to pertinent information.
• displays weather radar images.
• displays and links to National Weather Service forecasts.

http://newa.cornell.edu/index.php?page=more-about-new

NEWA (currently) provides these models of interest to fruit & vegetable growers...

• Apple diseases (scab, fireblight)
• Apple insects (codling moth, Oriental fruit moth, oblique-banded leafroller, plum curculio, spotted tentiform leafminer, apple maggot)
• Grape diseases (powdery mildew, phomopsis, black rot, downy mildew)
• Vegetable diseases and insects (tomato and potato late blight; tomato and potato early blight; onion and cabbage maggot fly; cucurbit downy mildew)

NEWA Vision Statement

Monitoring: on-site pheromone trap/threshold/incidence monitoring for above insect pests and more by MFV-IPM staff; results input to Google Docs (collaborative) and NEWA and to set NEWA biofix; set growers up to use TRAC pesticide recordkeeping software; F2F with cooperating growers, eventually teaching growers to do monitoring; baseline data collection; basis for Facebook posts

Facebook Group updated by staff based on NEWA and scouting observations; questions/comments from participating MFV-IPM growers and others.

"Facebook Groups are used for discussions and events etc. Groups are a way of enabling a number of people to come together online to share information and discuss specific subjects. They are increasingly used by clubs, companies and public sector organizations to engage with stakeholders - be they members of the public, employees, members, service users, shareholders or customers. A group is comprised of but not limited to the following: the members who have joined, recent news contents, discussion board contents, wall contents, photos, posted items, videos and all associated comments of such items." http://bit.ly/6WZmL6