FieldWatch, Inc., a non-profit company that promotes communication and stewardship among crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators, announced that Alberta and Manitoba have joined as the newest member provinces. The two provinces have joined with 27 member states, Saskatchewan and Washington, D.C. FieldWatch’s mission, since 2008, is to develop and provide easy-to-use, reliable, accurate and secure mapping tools intended to enhance communications that promote awareness and stewardship activities between crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators.
The membership enables the provinces’ beekeepers (hobbyists and commercial) and crop producers (organic and conventional) to use a secure, easy-to-use online registry to identify and map the locations of apiaries and crop fields that pesticide applicators should avoid. The free and voluntary registries, DriftWatchTM and BeeCheckTM, will be available to all Manitoba and Alberta beekeepers and crop Producers. FieldCheck® is the online and mobile portal that pesticide applicators can use to improve decision-making and avoid damage from spray drift to crops and beehives.
“The goal is to get beekeepers ande crop producers registered through FieldWatch so applicators can access accurate information before spraying,” said Bob Walters, president and CEO of FieldWatch. “This model has been proven to build good stewardship and communication in agriculture.”
The decision to join was largely driven by the needs of producers and beekeepers who wanted to register the locations of their crops and apiaries.
“We’re excited to partner with FieldWatch to make this platform available to both Manitoba farmers and beekeepers,” said Marika Dewar-Norosky, executive director of Manitoba Organics. “this partnership offers Manitoba’s agricultural industry another tool to support communications, transparency and stewardship across the province’s leading sector – helping protect organic farms and promote co-existence among diverse farming systems.”
“The Province of Alberta is excited to partner with FieldWatch to make their innovative technology available to Alberta farmers and beekeepers alike,” said David Feindel, Ph.D., director or plant and bee health surveillance, Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation. “This partnership gives our farmers and beekeepers another tool in the toolbox as we work together to ensure the continued success of Alberta’s agriculture industry and make our industry more sustainable by promoting safe, effective and efficient pesticide usage.”
FieldWatch acknowledges the initial funding support from Western Canadian Aerial, Ltd., CropLife Canada, Manitoba Beekeepers Association and Manitoba Organic Development Fund – Manitoba’s farmer-run grain check-off.
“CropLife Canada is proud to support the launch of FieldWatch in Manitoba, reinforcing our commitment to innovation, stewardship and sustainable agriculture. Tools like FieldWatch enhance transparency and collaboration between growers and applicators, helping ensure the responsible use of plant science innovations while supporting the long-term success of Manitoba’s farms,” said Pierre Petelle, president and CEO of CropLife Canada. “CropLife Canada is [also] proud to support the launch of Field Watch in Alberta, underscoring our commitment to sustainable, responsible agriculture. By promoting greater transparency and communication between growers and applicators, FieldWatch helps enable both agricultural productivity and the stewardship of plant science innovations across Alberta.”
For more information about FieldWatch or its registries go to fieldwatch.com.