FieldWatch, Inc., a non-profit company that promotes communication and stewardship among crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators, announces that Alberta has joined as the third provincial member. Alberta joins FieldWatch along with 27 states, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the District of Columbia. The membership will enable Alberta’s 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, DriftWatch™ and BeeCheck™, will be available to all 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 and 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.”
Alberta’s membership decision was especially driven by the needs of producers and beekeepers who wanted to register the locations of their crops and apiaries. “The Province of Alberta is excited to partner with FieldWatch to make their innovative technology available to Alberta farmers and beekeepers alike,” said Dr. David Feindel, Director of 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 would like to acknowledge the initial financial support from CropLife Canada.
“CropLife Canada is proud to support the launch of FieldWatch 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,” says Pierre Petelle, President and CEO of CropLife Canada.
