FieldWatch, Inc., a non-profit company that promotes communication and stewardship among crop producers, beekeepers and pesticide applicators, announces that Vermont has joined as the 32nd geography.
Vermont joins FieldWatch along with 27 other states, three Canadian provinces and the District of Columbia. The membership will enable Vermont’s beekeepers (hobbyist 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 Vermont beekeepers and crop producers. FieldCheck® is the online and mobile portal that pesticide applicators may 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.”
Vermont’s membership decision was especially driven by the needs of crop producers and beekeepers who wanted to register the locations of their apiaries and crops. “The State of Vermont is excited to partner with FieldWatch to make their innovative technology available to Vermont farmers and beekeepers alike,” said Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts. “This partnership gives our farmers another tool in the toolbox as we work together to ensure the continued success of Vermont agriculture and make our industry more sustainable by promoting safe, effective and efficient pesticide usage.”
