REGINA’S PERSPECTIVE — Fieldwatch- Helping Chemical Applicators One State at a Time

Regina Farmer | regina.farmer@chem-man.com

For many years I’ve heard our Chem-Man customers say how great it would be if there was a program that helped with identifying the sensitive fields, beehives, etc. for a chemical applicator. When you think about it, what chemical applicator in his right mind would want to mess up someone else’s crop? He just needs the tools to have the ability to do his job. I know that some of our applicators in Arkansas have to fly around the area to see if they can identify what crops the growers are planting. This seems so archaic.

Several years back, we started selling quite a few programs in the mid-states area where there are many beehives and also sensitive crops. We got on board using an interface with a company that was then called “Driftwatch” and is now known as “FieldWatch”. I was amazed when I logged in and actually saw how many registries there were! Our customers are very happy with this release because we actually stream with the software. Streaming immediately displays the sensitive areas on our maps once an entry has been registered.

I have met with Fieldwatch rep. Bob Walters multiple times at conventions and even had him speak at our Chem-Man class at the NAAA in Orlando this year and at this year’s Arkansas convention in Little Rock. I believe Fieldwatch is a vital tool for aerial applicators. Fieldwatch is expanding into more states each year. I was very excited when they came to my home state of Arkansas where I originally started Chem-Man. Bob said Arkansas is really working out well with many users registering their crops.

I asked one of our new assistants, Kylie Meredith, to research the company from its website. Here is what she found:

“Driftwatch was designed through collaborative efforts from staff at Purdue University’s Biological Engineering and Agricultural Communications departments with support from Purdue Cooperative Extension Specialists. The registry tool is designed to encourage interface between pesticide applicators and specialty crop growers. The program shows user-submitted locations of specialty sites and provides contact information for grower attached to the site of interest. Their data is overseen by state-appointed stewards who work to verify each area submitted to the registry and is now operated by FieldWatch, a non-profit company created by Purdue.

Field Watch State and Year Activated. Indiana 2009, Illinois 2010, Wisconsin 2010, Michigan 2010, Minnesota 2011, Nebraska 2012, Colorado 2012, Montana 2012, Missouri 2013, Delaware 2014, Kansas 2014, New Mexico 2014, North Carolina 2016, Iowa 2017, Arkansas 2018, Ohio 2018, South Dakota 2018 , Tennessee 2018, Virginia 2018, California 2019, Maryland 2019, Pennsylvania2019 and Canadian Province Saskatchewan 2014

FieldWatch has four portals designed to meet different needs: DriftWatch for specialty producers, BeeCheck for beekeepers, CropCheck for row crop producers, and FieldCheck for applicators. Although these portals are designed for different sectors, they all work together in a single database, so an applicator can view all registered sites in one easy-to read map. The program requests a timeframe for sensitive sites and apiaries to help ensure the data is accurate and not from previous years’ plantings, which can prove extremely valuable for applicators planning their applications throughout the growing season.”

Most ag operators that I talked to in Arkansas are not aware that the Field Check program exists (although many Arkansas growers are registered). I’ve sent a letter with an instruction sheet to help assist in this process. Hopefully, drift claims will be reduced.

My vision for the future is that Fieldwatch will expand its service to all states where there are chemical applicators. I also believe someday there will be a “TowerWatch” where the soon to be database of towers will display on our maps. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Let’s make it happen!

For more information or to create an account, please visit driftwatch.com. If you have any issues with registration or viewing, FieldWatch support can be reached at support@ fieldwatch.com.