Site-Specific Apple Insect Control Through a Web-Based Application

Site-Specific Apple Insect Control Through a Web-Based Application

Summary

WORK ACTIVITES
As there are four cooperators in this grant, some time and mileage expense has been used to facilitate the preliminary meetings. First meeting -- worked toward creating an outline for the grant and a timeline for structuring the activities. Equipment for the gathering of data (temperature data loggers) and software were purchased and distributed to cooperators. Insect identification books have been purchased and distributed to cooperators. Meetings have been facilitated by the project leader at cooperators residences to observe gathering of technical information for the application of the project. Project leader traveled to “Advanced Apple Grower Retreat” in Tremplealeau, Wisconsin (02/20/08) to announce the project and to get growers to participate in the data gathering. Four out of twenty-three attendees are participating. Other expenses have been salary paid to cooperators for writing computer code, research on data loggers and compatibilities with programming, data gathering of insect phenologies and creating hardware for deployment of data loggers.

RESULTS
No results have been attained yet. However, the last eight months have presented challenges of coordinating technical information (insect phonologies), computer/ hardware compatibilities and explaining the nuance insect life cycles and their relationships to temperature dynamics.

WORK PLAN
As all of the foundation work to create the “Application” has been completed, we will be deploying the program this growing season. The coded program is schedule to be finished within a week of this writing (02/28/08). And a site for sending data from growers has been established. (ssaim@galatea.org)

OUTREACH
As the project is just getting ready to be launched, any shared information to date has been preliminary (i.e. Tremplealeau,WI/ twenty-three attendees). The project will be described in an issue of the Tree Fruit Growers Network newsletter. Also, the results of the project will be presented at the Organic Farming Conference (formerly known as the Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference) in La Crosse, WI in February 2009. Other opportunities will be through the Western Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Society (WISAS).