Online Mapping Platform Allows for Increased Communication and Awareness
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (AAFM) has recently joined FieldWatch Registries to promote communication and collaboration between crop producers, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators. FieldWatch (www.fieldwatch.com) is a non-profit organization that services 27 other U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia.
FieldWatch provides an online mapping platform (geographic information system (GIS)) that allows real time communication between farmers, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators in a secure environment with an easy-to-use mapping registry to identify and map the locations of apiaries and crop fields that pesticide applicators should avoid. The platform allows participants to determine the amount of information to be shared to pesticide applicators and/or the public.
**Image: Vermont is the first New England state to join the FieldWatch collaboration
AAFM is partnering with the University of Vermont (UVM) Bee Lab to promote participation in the FieldWatch program. The UVM Bee Lab will serve in the role of Data Steward, assisting participants in enrolling in the system, providing technical support for communication through the system, and approving user’s crops and apiary sites on the map.
Communication and cooperation are essential to successful farming and beekeeping in today’s environment. Beekeepers rely on growers for locations to place apiaries, and growers benefit from the pollination services provided by beekeepers. Close coordination of activities helps ensure more successful outcomes for all parties and promotes the overall success of Vermont agriculture.
The FieldWatch system will initially provide three services to Vermont agriculture: Fieldwatch – for pesticide applicators, Bee Watch – for Vermont beekeepers, and Driftwatch – for crop producers, both conventional and organic. All of these services are free to Vermont users and provide a way for participants to share information about field and apiary locations, crops planted and contact information. Participation is voluntary and there is no cost to join and participate.
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