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Our pest, weed and disease app CROPROTECT has received a major new update
Rothamsted has added a major update to its free pest, weed and disease management app, CROPROTECT.
The system provides farmers, growers and agronomists with guidance on pest, weed and disease management, especially in situations where effective pesticides are not available and alternative approaches are required.
The team behind it have now updated all the content for pests, weeds, diseases and crops so it is up to date with the very latest information from academia and industry.
They’ve also added an improved search functionality and the ability to sign in using Twitter and Facebook.
Laura Crook who manages the Croprotect app at Rothamsted said: “The app is an indispensable tool for all arable farmers seeking to optimise their pest management, but also any agronomists who might need to quickly check facts whilst in the field, or even agricultural students who are starting to learn about crop pests and their control.
“CROPROTECT allows rapid transfer of information to farmers and agronomists and actively involves a growing community of users. It groups together the pest-weed-disease complex for each crop, and these targets are tailored from feedback from our pioneer users.
“This means there is no faffing about - CROPROTECT tells you about the biology and impact of the target, and then goes straight to management recommendations.
“It’s also a two-way system which allows us to obtain a detailed picture of specific challenges growers face as conventional pesticide options are diminished - such as blackgrass in Winter wheat and flea beetle in oilseed rape.”
CROPROTECT provides growers with information about alternatives to pesticides, enabling them to move towards more integrated pest, weed and disease management that integrates pesticide use with other cultural, physical and mechanical control options.
“The loss of pesticide options to resistance and regulation means that growers have to think about integrating alternatives into their pest, weed and disease management strategies. CROPROTECT helps growers and agronomists to expand the toolbox for future, sustainable and smart pest management,” said Dr Paul Neve, leader of Rothamsted’s Smart crop Protection programme.
CROPROTECT is also working with users to map crop threats. By clicking on the "I have this" button or mentioning a pest/weed/disease when they register helps the developers to build a better picture of the different crop protection challenges faced across the UK.
You can download CROPROTECT free from your preferred app store or visit the website at https://croprotect.com/.For the latest news and updates, follow @croprotect on Twitter.
Contacts
Laura Crook
Weed Ecology Technician
ABOUT ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH
Rothamsted Research is the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world. We work from gene to field with a proud history of ground-breaking
discoveries in areas as diverse as crop management, statistical interpretation and soil health. Our founders, in 1843, were the pioneers of modern
agriculture, and we are known for our imaginative science and our collaborative approach to developing innovative farm practice.
Through independent research, we make significant contributions to improving agri-food systems in the UK and internationally, with
economic impact estimated to exceed £3 bn in annual contribution to the UK economy. Our strength lies in our systems approach, which combines strategic research,
interdisciplinary teams and multiple partnerships.
Rothamsted is home to three unique National Bioscience Research Infrastructures which are open to researchers from all over the world:
The Long-Term Experiments,
Rothamsted Insect Survey and the
North Wyke Farm Platform.
We are strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with additional support from other national and
international funding streams, and from industry. We are also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (LAT).
ABOUT BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid
from the UK government.
BBSRC invests to push back the frontiers of biology and deliver a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. Through our investments, we build and support a vibrant,
dynamic and inclusive community which delivers ground-breaking discoveries and develops bio-based solutions that contribute to tackling global challenges,
such as sustainable food production, climate change, and healthy ageing.
As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we not only play a pivotal role in fostering connections that enable the UK’s world-class research and innovation system
to flourish – we also have a responsibility to enable the creation of a research culture that is diverse, resilient, and engaged.
BBSRC proudly forges interdisciplinary collaborations where excellent bioscience has a fundamental role. We pioneer approaches that enhance the equality, diversity,
and inclusion of talent by investing in people, infrastructure, technologies, and partnerships on a global scale.
ABOUT LAT
The Lawes Agricultural Trust, established in 1889 by Sir John Bennet Lawes, supports Rothamsted Research’s national and international agricultural science through the provision of land, facilities and funding. LAT, a charitable trust, owns the estates at Harpenden and Broom's Barn, including many of the buildings used by Rothamsted Research. LAT provides an annual research grant to the Director, accommodation for nearly 200 people, and support for fellowships for young scientists from developing countries. LAT also makes capital grants to help modernise facilities at Rothamsted, or invests in new buildings.