Success Stories
FieldWatch registries provide solutions for many challenges faced by growers, beekeepers and applicators. Below, we showcase FieldWatch partners and members who explain the benefits of their collaboration and show the positive impact of using FieldWatch registries.
Reducing Crop Damage for Red Gold Growers
Challenge
In 2008, Red Gold Tomato filed claims worth more than $750,000 due to pesticide drift. The same year, as the largest privately owned tomato processor in the nation, with over 40 partnerships with Midwestern growers, became a founding member of FieldWatch.
Solution
By 2009, drift incidents decreased by 50% and damages were reduced by 90%. Today, Red Gold growers see negligible damage caused by pesticide drift.
Helping MFA Customers Mitigate Risk
Challenge
As a Missouri-based regional farm supply and marketing cooperative that provides application services, MFA needed a way to mitigate risk by preventing off-target movement.
With more than 100 company-owned retail locations spread across a wide range of geographies, MFA consistently seeks ways to promote stewardship in its operations and empower its customers to protect the environment.
Solution
MFA became a sponsoring member of FieldWatch, and its applicators began using the registries. The next step is to integrate FieldWatch registries into MFA’s Agronomy Dashboard digital platform.
Applicators have better awareness of sensitive crop locations (e.g., vineyards and gardens), and some make changes to the chemistries before spraying or avoid certain areas, resulting in better risk mitigation.
As a result, MFA receives fewer complaints from neighbors about off-target movement.
“FieldWatch plugs into two of MFA’s core values: Customer Partnering and Stewardship. We want to make sure we are being good neighbors to our customers and their neighbors, too.”
–Doug Spaunhorst, MFA, Director of Agronomy Services
Giving Automatic Access to Sensitive Sites
Challenge
Before spraying, applicators had to manually check state registries to avoid sensitive crops, beehives and field workers. The process was tedious, lengthy and untenable for the high volume of work and the short-time windows.
Solution
AgriSmart licenses the FieldWatch registries and integrates them into its Flight Plan Online® and Ground Control Online® software products.
Customers save time and gain efficiencies by completely eliminating manual cross-checks against individual state registries ahead of applications.
Customers have automatic access to sensitive sites along their spray routes and are in a better position to mitigate risk.
