CropScout

Summary

MyPestGuide CropScout is an application designed to assist growers, consultants and other field technicians apply spray thresholds for pests in crops.

CropScout will assist inspection of field crops for pests relative to spray thresholds and easily record and visualise results on a map. This field intelligence can then be used to optimise spray timing and, where possible, to target sprays to pest infestations where they are aggregated, such as along crop edges or in a portion of a crop.

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The CropScout canola aphid (winter/spring) module has integrated sequential sampling methods to reduce the number of plant inspections needed to assess cabbage and turnip aphids relative to spray thresholds. The sweep net module allows entry of sweep net results of native budworm, diamondback moth, and pea weevil and presents results relative to established threshold calculations for each crop type.

The crop scouting app works even outside of mobile or WiFi range and can be synced with your personal account when within range. Although mapped results can only be viewed on a mobile phone within range, the results are recorded for viewing later when within range elsewhere either via the mobile phone interface or by computer online through your personal MyPestGuide account. Survey results cannot be viewed by others unless indicated within your account. Crop scouting results can also be exported to an email account and viewed within Microsoft Excel, or exported as a .kml and viewed in Google Earth or Google Maps.

Further pest modules, such as for cereal aphids, are planned to be built.

MyPestGuide CropScout is part of the Boosting Grains Research and Development project, supported by Royalties for Regions.

Application Features

Runs field sampling algorithms for you in the background to optimise time and labour.
Automatic GPS recording, even out of mobile and WiFi range.
Reduces the number of plant inspections required relative to a spray threshold.
Ability to record field name, plant growth stage, and notes for each sampling run.
Ability to change the spray threshold and error rate parameters for the canola aphid sequential sampling plan.
View personal surveys on a map online, colour-coded according to spray threshold results.
Export field sampling results to the cloud or as a spreadsheet for record keeping and sharing with clients.
Email a .kml file to someone for viewing a map of results on Google Earth.
Learn how pests are distributed in crops and may be targeted in the field.

About

MyPestGuide CropScout is part of a family of pest identification and surveillance applications called MyPestGuide, developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). They have been developed to support industry and the community defend Western Australia’s agriculture industries and the natural environment from commonly occurring, as well as unusual or suspected exotic pests and diseases.

The sequential sampling algorithms for the canola aphid (winter/spring) module were taken from a research paper [4]. For information on native budworm threshold calculations and management, visit DPIRD’s webpage [5]. Diamondback moth (DBM) is resistant to some insecticide groups. For information on DBM thresholds and management, visit GRDC’s resistance management strategy [6].

Who we are

The department works with primary industries to safeguard our agricultural resources from biological threats and to maintain our export opportunities.

CropScout is based on a concept led by Dustin Severtson and Rob Emery with input from industry, local farmers, consultants and department employees.

The application coding is by ngperceptive.

Contact us

We welcome all comments and suggestions from the user community. If you think a MyPestGuide CropScout module should be produced for a particular pest or disease in a particular crop, please let us know. Our aim is to make crop scouting for pests easier, faster and more accurate to prevent economic damage to crops and unnecessary insecticide applications.